FROM THE WARDS TO THE BOARDS: Love Letters from 2025 Thomasian PNLE Topnotchers

MANILA, Philippines - STEP into the historic corridors of the UST College of Nursing, and the legacy of excellence is a living, breathing entity. For the 2026 Thomasian board takers bracing themselves for the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE), looking back at the brilliant minds of the November 2025 batch: led by class valedictorian and 5th placer Alexis Sandra E. Mangaoang, R.N. (93.00%), alongside 6th placers Althea Ysabel D. Macagba and FJ Rio Rey D. Bantugan, R.N.. (92.80%), 7th placers John Carlo A. Colacion (92.60%) and Maria Allyssa M. Causapin (92.60%), 9th placers Aristephanie V. Navarro and Anne Margaret M. Tayer (92.20%), and 10th placer Sofia N. Pablico (92.00%) . We hope that this article will provide an intimate window into the triumphs and private struggles behind the institution's legendary streak of a hundred percent passing rate for 11 years straight.

The journey begins long before the exam rooms open, it starts in the agonizing limbo of the waiting period. Althea recalls how waiting for results felt far more grueling than the exam itself, amplified by relentless online posts and malicious fake news pages circulating deceptive "results are out now" announcements. Aristephanie woke up past midnight to a phone call from a close friend, realizing her primary dread hadn't been failing, but the terrifying prospect of being the reason the college's ten-year streak ended. John Carlo survived the radio silence by diving into a social media detox to escape unverified rationales, while Maria Allyssa faced the long-awaited moment with a mix of surreal self-doubt and the triumphant, grounding declaration, "I told you I can do it".

The immediate shift from the fast-paced style of undergraduate clinical duties to self-directed board review tested every facet of personal discipline. Admitting that her disciplined study habits didn't magically materialize overnight such as solidifying her system only by October, just a month before the boards, Alexis leaned into intuitive study goals rather than rigid, suffocating time blocks. Her day began promptly at 6:00 AM with prayer and breakfast, flowing into review sessions before dedicating hours to answering and rationalizing at least 200 questions, reviewing flashcards, and reading concepts dynamically. Crucially, Alexis remained fiercely strict about her sleep, ensuring she turned in by 9:00 or 10:00 PM after spending quiet moments in prayer. 

This balanced approach mirrored Althea Macagba’s journey of overcoming lifelong procrastination by deleting TikTok and carving out 6 to 8 hours of focused study, Aristephanie Navarro’s advice to lean on established undergrad study styles rather than copying others, John Carlo Colacion’s strategy of setting realistic daily question and concept goals, and FJ Rio Rey Bantugan’s realization that when classroom structures vanished, raw discipline had to step into the vacuum as a deliberate professional responsibility.

Confronted with an overwhelming avalanche of reviewers, transes, and mock exams, topnotchers quickly learned that mastery is about selectivity rather than exhaustive cramming. Alexis emphasized trusting the competence built over four years, viewing the review season as a seamless continuation rather than a separate beast, and highlighting that a rock-solid foundation in Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, and Fundamentals of Nursing will always carry you to the finish line. Aristephanie recommended focusing on core subjects one at a time using initial practice exams to target weak spots, while John Carlo reminded takers to trust that UST's seasoned instructors have already fine-tuned what truly matters. FJ Rio Rey focused on concepts he could explain rather than endless memorization, and Maria Allyssa tackled the immense volume through active repetition, refusing to punish herself for forgotten details and trusting that eliminating wrong choices naturally points to the correct answer.

Carrying the historic name of the UST College of Nursing naturally conjures profound pressure, but topnotchers successfully reframed that weight. FJ Rio Rey stopped viewing the institutional legacy as an intimidating benchmark, viewing it instead as a protective foundation proving he was already meticulously prepared. Althea chose to see the streak as a testament to the education that helped her get there, while John Carlo noted that pressure can be harnessed as a positive force to show up for oneself. That clinical judgment was deeply forged inside UST's simulation labs and hospital wards, where case presentations trained them to analyze data systematically and give safe, by-the-book answers. Maria Allyssa kept herself anchored by recalling a poignant line from Bar Boys: The Musical – reminding herself that every minute spent mastering a lab value or clinical sign is a moment dedicated to saving a patient's life.

Emotional fatigue and self-doubt inevitably tested their endurance. FJ Rio Rey openly acknowledged his vulnerability, even booking online psychotherapy sessions to process the heavy psychological toll. Althea wove small, joyful rituals into her days such as brewing matcha, going for runs, journaling, and enjoying K-pop content, while Alexis made a strict rule never to negotiate with exhaustion, resting intuitively whenever her body demanded it. Aristephanie reminded takers to step out of the student role and spend time with family, and John Carlo noted that the exam is a marathon where scheduled breakdowns are completely normal. None of them walked the path in isolation; family members stepped in to manage household chores and deliver home-cooked meals, while friends, roommates, and batchmates shared notes and provided a shoulder to lean on, with Maria Allyssa visiting her province to reconnect with the people she does it for.

When the actual mornings of the exam arrived, managing anxiety meant anchoring oneself in physical calm. Alexis Mangaoang ensured she got seven hours of sleep, took a cold shower, ate breakfast, and energized herself by listening to her favorite video game soundtrack on the way. Outside the testing center, Alexis and her friends engaged in lighthearted banter rather than toxic last-minute cramming, sitting down with the mindset that this was simply another exam like those taken countless times in UST. Alexis also recognized a vital, often overlooked truth: endurance is one of the must-haves for the board exams, because knowing everything goes to waste if mental fatigue takes over. During breaks, she paced herself, avoided overthinking, and sat in quiet reflection (tulala lang) to maintain her momentum. Similarly, Aristephanie lifted everything up in prayer and ran through pre-set systems, John Carlo packed essential snacks and used long breaks for silent prayer and restorative naps, and Maria Allyssa Causapin projected an aura of absolute command over the room using a "fake it 'til you make it" reaction-formation mindset.

Offering her five golden pieces of advice, Alexis Mangaoang reminds everyone: do not underestimate the board exams, but realize that others make it a million times more difficult than it actually is. You are being tested on what an entry-level nurse should know, which is challenging due to volume, but entirely doable. Rest is never a waste of time, your feelings of unreadiness are completely normal, your mentors know what they are doing, and the Lord never abandons those who seek Him.

Coupled with Althea Macagba’s reminder that feeling unprepared does not mean you are unprepared, Aristephanie’s call to trust your four-year foundation, John Carlo’s encouraging cheer to claim your license, FJ Rio Rey’s reminder that you have been formed for this, and Maria Allyssa’s triumph, the wisdom of the November 2025 topnotchers provides an enduring sanctuary of truth. 

With these messages, step into that testing room with your head held high, trust the foundation your mentors built, and remember that you carry the heart, grit, and excellence of a true Thomasian nurse.

Best of luck, future Thomasian Nurses! Best of luck, Batch 2026!

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note that while outreach was extended to all November 2025 PNLE topnotchers from the UST College of Nursing, two of our topnotching alumni were unable to respond or accommodate our interview requests prior to publication. Their remarkable achievements are nonetheless celebrated in this feature, and we hope to share their insights in future issues of the UST Nursing Journal.)

Written by: Kiera Andjela Mayamaya/ UST Nursing Journal