VSU posts 100% passing rate in November 2025 nursing boards with five topnotchers
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- Written by Riza Mae L. Maningo
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Published: 11 December 2025
Visayas State University once again recorded a perfect performance in the November 2025 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE), with all first-time exam takers passing and five graduates securing spots in the Top 10 of the board rankings.
With 50-99 examinees, VSU also ranked as the top performing school in the Philippines.
Leading the results from VSU are Princess Sybil B. Doroy (Top 7), Marchael Isaac L. Manigque (Top 8), Viamma Mae M. Gurra (Top 9), Althea Denise D. Paquibo (Top 10), and Mary Agnes C. Ratilla (Top 10).
Roads to Success
Behind the rankings are personal stories of struggle, discipline, and the constant pressure of expectations.
For Ms. Doroy, her journey started with uncertainty. At first, she had to explore and try out different study methods to know which one would suit her best. Feeling pressured and overwhelmed, she ended up doing others’ routines.
It made her realize that what she really needed was to go back to just reading, understanding concepts deeply, taking review classes seriously, and trusting her own process.
“Since most of what I see from others kay they just answer practice questions, I chose to trust my own process,” she shared
[Since most of what I see from others is that they just answer practice questions, I chose to trust my own process.]
However, her greatest struggle was about living up to the expectations of other people, self-doubt, and the constant worry that there is still so much that she has not done. Whenever these negative thoughts came in, she revealed that prayer, a consistent routine, and the people who believed in her helped her through.
Meanwhile, for Ms. Gurra, preparation meant discipline and emotional readiness. She built daily routines, focused on both content mastery and test-taking strategy, and fought silent battles that many nursing students know too well, including burnout, fear, pressure, and the weight of wanting to make loved ones proud.
“Nag-start ko with building routines like daily reading schedules, consistent test-taking drills, and focused review on my weak areas,” she recalled.
[I started by building routines like daily reading schedules, consistent test-taking drills, and focused review on my weak areas.]
Leading to the board examination, there were nights when she cried herself quietly to sleep. In times like these, she reminded herself of the reason why she started. Faith, she said, carried her through every drill, every lecture, and every doubt.
For Mr. Manigque, the road to the boards was shaken not only by academic rigor but also by uncontrollable life events. Days before the national board exam, typhoon Tino flooded their home. Right before the examination day, he caught a fever and suffered with flu-like symptoms.
“While everyone was nervous about the exam, all I could do was lie in bed with the worst headache I have ever felt and a nose so congested I could hardly breathe, hoping my fever would subside enough to get through it. I kept thinking that I needed to power through it”, he said, adding that he had to do better to “honor the people who helped him come this far.”
On the other hand, for Ms. Paquibo, the review journey was not about chasing rankings but maintaining balance. She allowed herself rest, embraced hobbies, went on quiet breaks, and grounded her preparation in intention and wellness.
“I tried my best to live by everything I learned, not because I wanted to pass or top the boards, but because I wanted to become the safest and kindest nurse I can be. I was preparing for the lives I would eventually care for”, the topnotcher revealed.
She emphasized that caring for oneself is essential for anyone preparing to enter a profession centered on saving and caring for others.
Ms. Paquibo’s story somehow resonates with Ms. Ratilla who shared that success was not born out of perfection.
She studied when needed, sought the review environment that fit her learning style, and reminded aspiring nurses about balance. She acknowledged the emotional toll of living away from home during review season, but her gratitude to family, friends, and instructors defined her journey more than any struggle.
“This success is all thanks to my loved ones who have supported me since day one. They inspire me to do better every single day.”
A decade of consistent excellence
VSU has sustained a strong track record in board exams for nurses for almost a decade. Back-to-back perfect ratings in 2018-2019 signaled the start of this performance.
The university’s first topnotcher emerged in November 2022 when Althea Grace C. Mosende ranked 8th.
In November 2023, VSU posted a 98.15% passing rate compared to the national rate of 80%, with Erikka Blaze Monredondo placing 8th.
The following year continued the rise. In May 2025, Jhon Philip C. Maloloy-on ranked 9th. Then in November 2024, the university delivered another 100% passing rate, accompanied by three topnotchers, namely Maria Paz O. Orang (Top 9), Caryl Anne D. Cagara (Top 10), and Hazel Ann E. Gonzales (Top 10)
These achievements have built a strong identity for VSU’s nursing program on the national stage.
The Dean of the VSU Faculty of Nursing (VSU-FON) Mr. Christian Vie P. Baldonado said that the entire faculty credits the success to their teamwork.
VSU FON Dean Mr. Christian Vie P. Baldonado, said that the nursing program’s strong performance comes from the combined effort of the faculty and the consistency shown by its students in both training and review.
“This remarkable achievement of Batch Moonstone, together with the consistent performance of the Faculty of Nursing in previous NLEs, proves that nothing is impossible with hard work and fervent prayers. The faculty members and the students alike take immense pride to have been part of Moonstone's journey, and VSU-FON shares this success with the entire VSU academic community, our stakeholders, hospital and community partners, and all who helped us continually produce not just nurses by name and record, but professionals by heart and deed". Kudos to the new Viscan nurses!”, he said.
Here is the full list of the new #ProudViscan nurses:
- Abdullah, Bianca Nadjeerah A.
- Albina, Sharmaine Samantha I.
- Antigua, Ysa Carmela P.
- Araño, Recca Mae S.
- Bacasno, Maria Thyrza H.
- Ballais, Mariel P.
- Banos, Lorence Carmie E.
- Bas, Kyra Anne C.
- Borja, Ma. Antoniette D.
- Cadayona, Erica Mae O.
- Cadorna, Ron Pearl Angelie C.
- Cajeme, Kathleen May M.
- Canda, John Franco C.
- Cardillo, Jea Mykah Bianca B.
- Caumpoy, Carolina
- Cayone, Paul Vincent G.
- Cinco, Ma. Dawndree Clau B.
- Cosares, Jennivyb Anne P.
- Daniel, Janiela Ritchel B.
- de Leon, Pearl Joy G.
- Doroy, Princess Sybil B.
- Dumaguing, Princess Aljhen L.
- Eco, Sean S.
- Galloniga, Ricele Aive P.
- Galon, Mykhaella Joy C.
- Gurra, Viamma Mae M.
- Lantajo, Leoza Mae T.
- Lim, Guillian Mari N.
- Linguis, Vichel Jean R.
- Lumangco, Nadjah Blaise S.
- Magallanes, Rhyza Angela S.
- Manawatao, Angel D.
- Manigque, Marchael Isaac L.
- Maningo, Fatima Eloisa
- Mapute, Mary Guille B.
- Morete, Bian Angelo A.
- Niere, Marry Luchie B.
- Paquibo, Althea Denise D.
- Pardillo, Desiree Cristina I.
- Pino, Micole Matthew D.
- Ratilla, Mary Agnes C.
- Salva, Sheena Jane S.
- Suganob, Farah Paula V.
- Sy, Joshua D.
- Tabaranza, Czejan Rae
- Tabaranza, Merry Eloise P.
- Telin, Rean Ian Miguel V.
- Ticoy, Generose A.
- Trazo, Tessa Isabelle A.
- Zabala, John Eric S.
As VSU ushers the newly licensed nurses as they prepare to enter the healthcare field as professionals, the university remains true to its commitment of training compassionate and competent nurses driven towards strengthening the nation’s health sector.
This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal No. 4: Quality Education.
