LEGAZPI CITY – A beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from the village of Panoypoy, Camalig town in the province of Albay, topped the social workers licensure examination held earlier this month.
As per the results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Monday, Sheena Mae Magdato Obispo, a graduate of Bicol University (BU) Daraga Campus, led the university’s 116 takers after obtaining a rating of 87 percent to top the examinations nationwide.
Her alma mater was also hailed as the top performing school among those with 51 or more examinees after achieving a 100 percent passing rate.
Obispo, 23, considers her recent feat a blessing from God.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect the results. I was just hoping that all of us from BU would pass, given how much effort both the faculty and the university have put into supporting us. But as for topping the board, that I felt as impossible as reaching for the moon,” she said in the vernacular.
While she graduated cum laude, Obispo admitted that she struggled a lot during her board examination journey.
“The emotional toll was the hardest part to manage. I was consumed with self-doubts because there were still so many topics that I could not totally grasp a week before the exam,” she said.
“On top of that, there was also the financial strain as staying in Manila is expensive.”
The eldest in a brood of three, Obispo credits her success to the sacrifices of her parents and the support of the government.
“My father is a construction worker who also takes on jobs as a house painter, while my mother works as a housekeeper. Growing up, I saw how much they loved us unconditionally, even to the point of depriving themselves just so they could provide for our needs,” she said.
“I am also very grateful for all the external help that we received from 4Ps, as it empowered our family to not only rely on the assistance we receive but also to be self-reliant.”
Her message to her fellow 4P beneficiaries is simple: “We should make the most of the support generously given to us and use these opportunities to grow and become productive members of the community.”
High passing rate
Aside from BU-Daraga Campus, Davao del Norte State College also posted a 100 percent passing rate for its 78 test takers.
The BU-Tabaco satellite campus also clinched the third spot with a 98.53 percent passing rate.
For those with less than 50 examinees, the top performing schools were Leyte Normal University, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, and Notre Dame of Marbel University, which all recorded a 100 percent passing rate.
According to the PRC, 4,587 out of 7,113 passed the examination, which was given by the Board for Social Workers at testing centers in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao on Sept. 16, 17, and 18, 2024.
Meanwhile, DSWD-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio extended his congratulations to Obispo.
“Congratulations on being the Top 1 of the 2024 RSW (Registered Social Worker) licensure examination. Her achievement as a 4Ps beneficiary demonstrates that this program is a powerful stepping stone towards success,” Laurio said, adding that her hard work and dedication inspire others and prove that with the right support, anyone can reach their ultimate potential.
“DSWD Bicol is proud of you,” he added. (With a report from Connie Calipay/PNA)