In a historic feat celebrating its 120th year, the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) has dominated the August 2025 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination (MTLE), securing six spots in the Top 10. The university swept the top three places with Myles Chaesel Sunit Ejara achieving a 93.10% passing rate, followed by Hannah Belle Dioso Dave at 92.70%, and Sam Allen Esquivel Uy at 92.60%.
The university’s impressive performance continued with Joshua David Astudillo Castronuevo (Top 5, 92.20%), Rex Juab Valdueza (Top 7, 91.90%), and Ramon Monching Adolfo Señor (Top 9, 91.70%).
This remarkable accomplishment garnered the attention of several local media outlets at a press conference held on August 27, 2025, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. The event was facilitated by the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps. Four of the six topnotchers, alongside University President S. Ma. Marissa R. Viri, RVM, and UIC-CMBS Dean Mr. Rvin John T. Servillon, attended
The most anticipated question for the group was the secret to their success. Top 1 placer, Ms. Myles Ejara, credited the strong foundation and support provided by the university.
“Speaking humbly, because of our program, we actually thought we could still pass the exams even without a review center. We were really shaped by the knowledge and skill that our professors and our clinical instructors taught us.”
She also cited prayer and finding strength in the Lord, sharing that she consistently prayed the rosary to seek peace of mind before the review started. Other topnotchers also referred to their program’s effective curriculum and faith in God as key factors in their success.
News outlets also inquired about the faculty’s role in preparing the students. Dean Servillon shared that the CMBS faculty has made it a tradition to pray for the examinees every year. He also highlighted the college’s best practices, ensuring a responsive curriculum that caters to students’ needs.
“The preparation for them not only happened during their last year before the exam but it starts as soon as they set foot in UIC. The faculty meets every semester to discuss what will be taught to the student, ensuring the foundation is strong enough that even if they might not remember some parts, their general understanding of a topic will be retained. The faculty will meet to address the student’s concern and improve the curriculum, as these discussions arise from the student’s worry. We do not depart from the standard. However, what makes the curriculum different is that we try our best to make our curriculum responsive.”
University President Sister Marissa Viri, RVM, added that strong professional development must support a rich curriculum, emphasizing that a curriculum without proficient instructors will not be effective.
Questions about the topnotchers’ plans after this milestone were also raised. As a Department of Health scholar, Top 1 placer Myles Chaesel Sunit Ejara shared her plan to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) exam and return service to the DOH. Department of Science and Technology scholars Hannah Belle Dioso Dave (Top 2) and Rex Juab Valdueza (Top 7) are also due for return service to DOST. Ms. Dave added that she also plans to pursue medicine. Meanwhile, Top 9 placer Ramon Monching Adolfo Señor expressed his wish to help his sister continue her education, just as his eldest sister helped him with his.
A PTV journalist raised the concern about the country’s shortage of medical professionals. Sister Marissa addressed the issue, explaining that UIC instills the value of nationalism in its students. She emphasized that while UIC shapes its students to be globally competitive, this does not mean they are obligated to work abroad. Instead, they can embody a globally competitive mindset and skill-set even while serving within the country.
This sentiment perfectly reflected her opening statement at the beginning of the press conference:
“We believe that the joy the University is feeling is the same joy that Davao is feeling. It shows that the education that provincial schools, like Davao, provide can compete with the schools in Metro Manila.”
Adding to its remarkable performance, the University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) was recognized as one of the top-performing schools nationwide, securing the 9th spot among the top 10 with an impressive 91.33% passing rate
UIC has been consistently achieving milestones nationally, and their international endeavors prove that their pursuit of excellence knows no borders.
