BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — A government scholar from Cordillera brings pride to her hometown after landing third in the April 2025 Licensure Examination for Midwives.
Mae Amanda Apioten from Masla, Tadian, Mountain Province ranked third with a rating of 92.40 percent. She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines Manila School of Health and Sciences (UPM-SHS)-Baler Campus.
“When I first learnt that I passed the board exam, I was overwhelmed and did not know how to react, and I was even doubting if it was true. I was only able to confirm it after one of my friends sent the screenshot from the PRC confirming that I actually passed and also ranked 3rd ” she said.
To pass the licensure exam, Apioten poured her heart out during the reviews. She said that her family and friends are a factor in her drive to pass the exam.
“I have to admit that I doubted myself if I would be able to achieve my goal, but what kept me going were my parents and friends who always reminded me that I was on the right track and that they would always be proud of me no matter what the result would be,” she said.
“During the review season, I would say that I was dedicated to passing so that I would not have any regrets afterwards. I made sure to attend all the review sessions conducted by the school and review center, and I always made sure to take notes of the topics that I was not familiar with,” she added.
Apioten was the endorsed barangay scholar of her community in the step-ladder curriculum of the UPM-SHS.
The UPM-SHS is a competency-based and community-based curriculum which integrates the training of the broad range of health manpower from midwife, nurse, nurse practitioner to Doctor of Medicine ina single, sequential and continuous curriculum.
The admission is based on community need and the scholar’s willingness and commitment for community service, of which, individuals from barangays are endorsed.
With the free education, Apioten expressed gratitude to the government.
“When I was accepted, the scholarship became a way for me to be able to explore more and be moreopen to the reality of life. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Tadian local governmentunit for the opportunity to be one of the scholars of the municipality and for the support they have given to me” she said.
She also gave an advice to those who are pursuing medical courses.
“My advice to future examinees is to always listen to your faculty. It is also important to surroundyourself with friends who would motivate you to study and be there with you in times when you would doubt yourself. I assure you that a right circle of friends will be very much helpful to you and, most especially, to always pray,” she shared.
Apioten plans to further her studies. Under their curriculum, a student can go on for another five quarters of study graduate, and will be conferred with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This qualifies them to practice nursing after passing the Nurse Licensure Examination.
Scholars are required a return service obligation of two years of service for every year of study which ensures the availability of health workers, especially in underserved areas. (JDP/CVBT-PIA CAR)
