A group of friends who passed the June 2025 OT Licensure Examination looked back on how they manifested themselves to be included in the top 10 of the board exam.
Despite skipping the first board exam, four friends who graduated Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at UP Manila College of Allied Medical Professions made it in the list.
Kristine Esquivel (top 1), Erika Domingo (top 2), Juliana Galbizo (top 7), and Darren Sta. Ana (top 10) got candid on how they managed to reach their dream of being a topnotcher.
“Gumawa ako ng group chat. Tapos in-add ko po, kaming apat. 2024 pa lang, pinangalanan ko na po ‘yung group chat na Topnotchers June 2025 OTLE. And ‘yung mga nicknames po namin sa group chat na ‘yun, topnotcher Moira, topnotcher Erika, topnotcher Christine. Hindi pa nga po nag-start eh, pero ginusto na po talaga namin. Kasi wala naman talagang mawawala kapag nag-aim ka for the stars,” Juliana told The Philippine STAR.
The four had their respective reasons why they did not take the first board exam in 2024.
“Sa original batch po namin, may mga na-delay po. So, hindi po sila nakapag-take ng board exam nung December. For me, Moy and Erika and Kristine, parang, dinelay po namin ‘yung pag-take namin ng board exam due to personal reasons din po namin for family and to find time to focus on healing muna from the difficulties we had,” Juliana shared.
Julliana and Moira even enrolled in the review center before deciding to take a pause for their well-being.
“‘Yung physical health ko, medyo pagod din po kasi ako nung time na ‘yun. Pero, pinili ko pa rin na mag-enroll ng review center kasi parang ayoko na ma-stop ‘yung momentum ko in a way,” Moira said.
For Julliana, she listened to her body even if it means delaying her dream of being a licensed OT.
“Katawan ko na po mismo ‘yung nag-give up sa akin. So, talagang nagka-physical manifestations po ako ng stress na hindi ko na po magalaw ‘yung mga kamay ko. Talagang nalalagas na ‘yung buhok ko,” she emotionally said.
“May mga bald spots na. Ina-anxiety every time na iniisip ko po ‘yung board exam. Hindi ko ma-describe kung bakit nanginginig na ako sa takot. So nag-decide po ako na, okay, parang ito po ‘yung necessary pause. Sige, I will take care of myself first, and then I will take it next time,” she added.
While Erika first wanted to have a breather after joining a chorale competition in Europe, she eventually needed the time to mourn the death of her mother.
“‘Yung mom ko po is nagkaroon ng parang health problem talaga. October 27, last year lang po, nawala po siya. So, very unexpected po talaga. Akala ko ‘yung break ko from ‘yung board exam, para magpahinga for org. Parang nagkaroon ako ng another perspective from that pause, na siguro this is the moment for me to mourn din. Nagkaroon ako ng time to grieve and to have time with my family and to reflect,” she narrated.
Even if Kristine got delayed in graduating, she landed in the top spot of the licensure exam.
All of them admitted that they felt sad and down when they got a bit “delayed” in achieving their goals after graduation
“Of course po, may ganun na feeling. Lalo na, lahat po talaga ng friends ko dun sa original friend group ko, nag-take na po sila,” said Moira.
“Lalo na feeling nila that they’re getting left behind. Kasi kapag nag-set ka ng goal na by this time, gusto ko na maging ganito, ganyan, and then hindi mo na reach ‘yung goal na ‘yun. Parang nafi-feel mo na, no, feeling ko nade-derail na ‘yung complete life ko,” Julliana echoed.
Adding, “But really, redirection is not denial. There is something na that is meant for you and it’s yours already to take. “When the time is right, the opportunity is there. So, if you were not ready, you would not have the opportunity. And if you’re not capable, you would not have the desire.”
They also stressed the importance of having a good support system while embracing the uncertainty in taking the exam.
“Dun sa group chat na ‘yun, syempre merong lungkot na hindi kami makakasabay sa iba naming blockmates.‘Yung group chat na ‘yun ‘yung naging support system namin. Nag-send lang kami ng memes and kung ano-anong mga bagay na nakakapagpasaya or motivate sa amin,” Kristine said.
Up until now, they couldn’t believe that they were all included in the top 10 and all their hardwork finally paid off.
“Very, very emotional po to the point na, ‘yung mga kapatid ko po, sobrang nagsisigawan po sila dito sa bahay nung nalaman nila kasi sila po ‘yung una kong sinabihan na ‘yung pangarap ko na sana mag-topnotcher as a gift, as a birthday gift po dun sa mama ko. Tapos kami naman pong sa group chat naman po namin ‘yun, nag-call din po kami. Lahat sila nagsisigawan, nagulat sa results na talagang lahat kami nandun sa topnotchers list na dati, pangarap lang namin ‘yun, mina-manifest lang namin. Tapos nakita talaga namin ‘yung names namin,” Erika ecstatically said.
“Nakita ko ‘yung results ng exam, nasa St. Jude ako. Super saya, syempre nung nakita ko,” Kristine added.
The group of friends vows to fulfill their duty as there is a shortage in their profession in the Philippines.
They also left some advice to individuals who somehow feel a “delay” in their dreams.
“We could always look at the bigger picture, no? We zoom out dun sa idea na delayed ka. Tapos makikita mo na ang daming tao pa rin na nandyan para sa’yo, na hindi ka nila iiwanan. At ‘yung pangarap mo, hindi mo siya, dapat iwanan lang dahil lang na-delay ‘yung timeline na inaasahan mo,” Erika stressed.
“So, just keep on dreaming, just keep on desiring. Kasi if you have the capability to think of it, if you have the capability to want something, it’s already yours. So, it’s okay to take a pause. And then, let’s return to our dream later on. Kasi it’s always going to be there. Hindi naman siya mawawala,” Julian added.
“Allow yourself to grieve. Kasi loss naman din talaga siya. And then after, parang regroup, rethink, and reflect kung ano ‘yung mga next steps na gagawin. So, andyan ‘yung opportunity, panghawakan lang ‘yung pangarap and then, show up every day,” Kristine noted.
