‘It's Never Too Late’ Batch 2013 grad secured 6th spot in Master Plumber exam
In the recent February Master Plumber Licensure Examination 2023, an alumnus from BU College of Engineering Batch 2013 proved that it's never too late to learn and succeed.
Exequiel Roandanga Huab, a father of two beautiful girls from Juban, Sorsogon, ranked sixth among 776 passers with a laudable average of 83.40%.
Homework Key to Topnotcher
They say that our family will always push us to reach greater heights. But that's not exactly how Exequiel's younger brother inspired him.
He said taking the exam never crossed his mind, but because his younger brother, a 1st-year student of BS Geodetic Engineering, keeps bugging him with his math homework, he was forced to restudy all of the lectures from his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
"Honestly, wala po talaga sa isip ko na magtake ng Master Plumber Board, it just so happened na yung brother ko is a 1st year student taking up BS geodetic engineering sa BU, lagi akong tinatanong regarding sa mga math subjects niya, kaya napilitan din ako ireview yung mga inaral ko dati nung college ako. That time din last year around October, marami akong free time kaya naisipan ko na why not mag-take ako ng Plumbing Board. Yung wife ko din, she encouraged me na kunin yung exam since n kaya ko pa naman daw."
Aside from his brother, his wife also motivated him to take the exam, for she believed that he could do it. And he did, for his family, especially for his two daughters.
Challenges as Student
Exequiel said the struggles that he mostly encountered during his bachelor days were financial problems because there was no UNIFAST then. In addition, he also experienced sleepless nights and strict professors. But those struggles pushed him to keep going, for it will be worth it when he graduates.
"Challenges during bachelor's days, mostly financial. That time kasi hindi pa libre ang tuition fee. Typical struggles din po just like any college student, siyempre may mga terror na prof. Sleepless nights during exam days lalo na kapag finals or midterms. Worth it nman lahat nung struggles once na makapagtapos and you start to earn your living by practicing yung kung ano man yung professional na napili mo."
He believed that his education was an opportunity for him to improve himself and also to help his family.
"I considered my education an opportunity for me to improve myself and to help my family."
Overwhelmed
When asked what he felt when he saw his name in the top six spot of the board exam, he explained using one word only. Overwhelmed.
"What was my reaction when I learned that I was in the top 6 on the board? Overwhelmed po, nagulat that time kasi goal ko na lng talaga is pumasa. Halos buong January kasi hindi ako nakahawak ng review materials kasi busy sa project ng company sa NCR."
Exequiel is currently working on a project for a company located in NCR that made it hard for him to focus on his review; that's why he said that consistency and enthusiasm were the habits that helped him push through those worst times. "I always make sure na makakasagot ako at least 500 questions a day," he added.
‘Focus lang sa Goal’
A bit of advice from an alumnus from Batch 2013, is that you need to exert extra effort if aiming for the top.
"It was 10 years ago when I finished my college degree, kaya pang i-recall yung lessons. You just need to exert extra effort. Focus lang sa goal!" (by Avril L. Precillas, BUCPRO Student Affiliate, CIT/IDeA)
