Tarlac State University College of Engineering and Technology recorded a topnotcher who ranked second among the top 10 passers of the April 2023 Electronics Engineer Licensure Examination, as announced by the Professional Regulation Commission on April 26, 2023.
Rommel G. Gadia, a cum laude graduate in 2022, received an 88.50% rating in the said board exam. At present, he is a Science Research Specialist at the Office of University Research Development (OURD).
22-year-old Gadia said the Mathematics and Electronics categories, which he answered on the first day, were challenging. According to the topnotcher, he guessed the answers to most of the items, but he was surprised to know that he scored highest in the said categories.
“During board exam, halos magbreakdown ako sa Math and Electronics. During first day sobrang hirap, tapos bigla-bigla silang dalawa pala 'yung highest ko; what a twist! 'Yung sa sobrang hirap, pagbalik namin sa transient (lodging) ng mga kasama ko (who are also board passers now), wala, puro tulala and accept the [fate] na lang sa sobrang hirap,” Gadia told the Office of Public Affairs in an interview.
Gadia said he placed his trust in the process and schedule of the review center. During the review, he made sure to asses the topics that he had not mastered yet. He added that mastery is also one of the factors why he did not pursue the October 2022 ECE boards.
“Na-adapt ko 'yung kay Sir Don Louie (Engr. Sanvictores) na [mag] focus sa concept as much as possible. Hanggang hindi ko kayang i-discuss 'yung topic, ibig sabihin not enough pa iyon. Kaya nga inabot ng almost a year ang review ko kasi before [graduation] pa lang, nagstart na ako magreview,” Gadia said.
Moreover, Gadia is a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholar in college. Despite the pressure of being a scholar and struggling with the online learning setup during the pandemic, he still managed to enjoy while studying.
His father, a security officer and an electrical engineering graduate, inspired him to become an engineer. He was also motivated to pursue his dreams as he intends to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Robert Marcos, OURD OIC Director and his immediate supervisor, and Engr. Don Louie Sanvictores, former ECE faculty member.
“May isang review center na nagsabi sa amin during orientation [to] 'aim perfect' kasi [it's okay] kahit ma-short ka (points), mag-fall na sa next lower [rank], which is yung being topnotch. And sabi nila don't prepare para sa sarili; prepare para sa mga taong mahal mo at sumusuporta sa iyo. And lastly, wala namang masama mag claim and manifest. From that, na-adapt ko siguro iyon during the April [board exam]. Wala namang masama doon kasi I boosted my confidence and never ako nakaexperience ng burnout,” Gadia shared in the interview.
He also mentioned that his first choice of program is Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics. However, with the guidance and inspiration of some TSU professors who were visiting lecturers when he was in senior high school, he realized that enrolling in an engineering program would be better for him. Gadia completed his SHS at St. Rose Catholic School in Paniqui town last 2018.
Among these professors is Dr. Marcos, who was with him in his journey from SHS, BS ECE, board exam review, and up to the workplace at OURD. He also said the OURD had been supportive of his board exam review.
Gadia plans to continue working at TSU even after passing the board exam. TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco invited him to teach under the CET Electronics and Electrical Engineering Department.
