When the unplanned path becomes the road traveled: #ProudViscan Romnick Malulan lands 8th place in 2026 Geodetic Engineering Licensure Exams

Engr. Romnick Olarte Malulan never imagined that the course he knew almost nothing about would one day land him on one of the top spots of one of the most competitive board exams in the Philippines. 

When he entered the gates of VSU, Geodetic Engineering (GE) was not even his first choice. He had initially planned to take statistics after taking the VSU College Admissions Test (VSUCAT), but a suggestion from a former punong barangay of his community led him to consider a different path. 

Knowing that the course involved mathematics, the strongest subject where he excels, he decided to give it a try, 

“Kaning BSGE, dili jud ni aho choice… not my first choice. Misulod ko ani na course like zero knowledge, wala koy alamag. It was our ex-barangay captain ang nag push nako [to enrol] for the course kay puros Math ra daw, which I excel gyud na subject”, said Engr. Malulan in an interview.

[This BSGE course, it was really not my choice… not my first choice. I entered this course with zero knowledge, I have no idea. It was our former punong barangay who pushed me to enrol in the course because he said it was mostly about Math, a subject I really excelled in.]

Four years later, that decision brought him somewhere he never expected. 

The cum laude graduate from Hinundayan, Southern Leyte, ranked eighth nationwide in the September 2026 Geodetic Engineers Computer-Based Licensure Examination, earning an 88.00% rating.

The youngest of two siblings, Engr. Malulan was raised by his mother who is a housewife and a father who works as a farmer. 

Throughout his life, his family remained a source of support for what he achieved today.

Choosing Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering (BSGE) was only the start for Romnick. 

As he progressed through the program, he found out that the course was far more challenging than he had initially expected. The subjects required serious study, and getting through the program meant putting in the time and effort.

“Ang GE course jud kay very challenging kaayo. If dili ka mo exert og effort to study the course, mahagbong gyud ka. I am very proud pud kay nairaos na ko ang BSGE program,” said Romnick.

[The GE course is really very challenging. If you do not exert effort to study the course, you will definitely fail. I am very proud of myself because I completed the BSGE program.]

Despite these challenges, Romnick kept going. 

In July 2026, he graduated with flying colors earning cum laude, becoming the top of the class of his batch in the GE program.

It was also a proud moment for him for finishing the four-year program without a failing grade. It was a major achievement, especially knowing how difficult the program could be.

Rising above pressure, a learning experience

One of the hardest moments in his academic journey at VSU came during his  fourth year, when he was working on his thesis.

After being asked to revise his manuscript several times and to make changes on his work, Romnick broke down and worried that he might not graduate on time.

He thought about the possibility of spending another year in college and the additional expenses it would bring to his family.

“Nagbreakdown jud ko ato… nagworry ko talig di ko ka graduate on time, dagdag tuig, dagdag sad gastos. Maong, I tried my best na mairaos jud to naho thesis era,” he recalled.

[I really broke down during that time. I was worried that I would not graduate on time. An additional year means additional expenses. That’s why, I tried my best to overcome the thesis era.]

With the guidance of Assistant Professor Martin Mercurio, his thesis adviser, he worked hard to accomplish his thesis and finish what he had started.

Aside from those challenges, financial struggle also added to the difficulty of his college years.

But through it all, his family found ways to support his studies and gave him strength to continue.

That same pressure followed him after graduation.

As a cum laude graduate and the top student of his batch, Malulan felt that people expected him to become a board topnotcher. While he was grateful for their confidence in him, he could not help but worry about what would happen if he failed.

“Unsaon na lang kung dili ko makapasar sa GELE?” [What if I will not pass the GELE?], was one of the questions that crossed his mind before the examination.

He knew how much he had worked for his degree and how much his family had sacrificed for his education. 

More than earning a place among the topnotchers, his greatest wish was to pass the board examination so he could help his family.

Four months of discipline and sacrifice

To prepare for the GELE, Malulan moved to Cebu City for a four-month review that started in the last week of June.

During review, his days followed a strict routine. 

Malulan would wake up around 7 AM and study from 8 AM to 11 AM. His review starts at 1PM and ends at 5PM. After returning to his boarding house, he would resume studying and continue until midnight. 

Sundays served as his days to rest and recharge. He would visit nearby malls and spend time walking around Cebu City to clear his mind before starting another week of review.

To prepare for the exam also meant to give up the things he enjoyed.

As a tech savvy, he made a conscious effort to reduce his exposure to any gadgets and social media use so he could focus on reviewing.

Discipline became one of the most important lessons of his journey.

“Dapat mag-impose gyud ka og discipline sa imo kaugalingon jud para ma-attain nimo imoha goal na makapasar sa board exam. Dapat magtuon jud kay lisod na og maka-take na sad ko og utro,” Malulan stressed.

[You really have to impose discipline on yourself to achieve your goal of passing the board exam. You really need to study harder because it is difficult to have to take the exam for the second time.]

He also said that getting enough sleep is very beneficial and preparing a timetable could divide his study time among different subjects.

Even with months of extensive preparation, he knew that the board examination could still bring unexpected questions.

On the day of exam in Tacloban City on September 23 and 24, he encountered alien terms and questions that were not covered by his practice materials.

He was very uncertain of his answers to those questions. He only prayed to God for His guidance during the exam.

“Nagpray ra jud ko, sige sampit sa Ginoo to guide me. Dili mag-rattle, and believe sa aho gitun-an during the review,” he recalled.

[I just kept praying and asking God to guide me. I told myself not to panic and to trust what I had learned during the review.]

There was also one subject that left him worried after the examination. To his surprise, Theory in Practice, the subject he had been most concerned about, turned out to be the one in which he earned his highest rating.

Romnick took this as a reminder of how much he had to be thankful for.

A family's joy, an unexpected blessing

When the results came out on September 28, Engr. Malulan was with his family. He was hoping to see his name among the successful examinees, and passing the examination was already enough for him.

It was his sister who first noticed that the results had been released. After checking the list of passers, she looked at the names of the topnotchers and discovered that her younger brother had ranked eighth nationwide.

Their home was filled with excitement and joy.

“Happy na ko kaayo na nakakita ko sa ahoa name sa list of successful examinees, pero pagtan-aw sa ahoa Ate sa list of topnotchers, grabeng lipaya namo kay nag Top 8 ko. Grabeng dakong kalipay,” Engr. Malulan recalled with excitement.

[I was very happy to see my name in the list of successful examinees, but when my older sister checked the list of topnotchers, we were very happy to find out that I ranked eighth. It was a great joy.]

His parents, who had supported him throughout his education and review, were especially happy to see their son achieve something they had not expected.

Classmates, friends, and people who have been part of his journey also congratulated him for placing 8th. Even the person who pushed him to enrol in GE, his former punong barangay, was very happy with his success.

With all his achievements, Malulan remains humble and grateful for all who helped him in his journey.

He thanked his parents for all their financial, emotional, and personal support and for being his greatest source of strength. 

The teaching and lessons of his professors, instructors, and mentors at VSU also played a significant role in his success. 

Most importantly, to God above, for all His guidance, strength and wisdom that carried him through every challenge along the way.

“In everything, put God first. Thank you kaayo, Lord for your guidance and blessings sa akoa. Grabe jud si Lord mohimo og milagro,” Engr. Malulan said with gratefulness.

[In everything, put God first. Thank you so much, Lord, for Your guidance and blessings in me. The Lord truly works miracles.]

To remain humble, to move forward

With this achievement, Romnick hopes to carry the learnings he gained at VSU wherever life takes him.

He believes that true success should not make an individual forget where they began.

“I am very grateful to my instructors, professors, and mentors sa ilaha gipangtudlo namo. Especially, sa mga lessons na if ma-successful na, dapat humble lang ta always… then stay your feet on the ground, share your knowledge, and be always grateful sa imo university,” he said. 

[I am very grateful to my instructors, professors, and mentors for everything they have taught us, especially the lessons about staying humble when we become successful, keeping our feet on the ground, sharing our knowledge, and always being grateful to our university.]

For students who may be struggling with their studies or questioning whether they can finish their degree, Malulan has a simple message drawn from his own experience.

“Padayon, bisag sa kalisod, padayon. Dapat mag-effort jud ka sa imo kaugalingon na dapat matabok jud nimo ang challenges through your hard work and discipline,” Romnick emphasized. 

[Keep going amid hardships. You must do your best and push yourself to overcome challenges through hard work and discipline.]

Romnick’s journey is a good reminder that not everyone begins with a full understanding of where our choices take us.

Sometimes, the path we chose only gets clearer when we keep going and overcome our struggles through hard work and faith.

His story resonates with the kind of #ProudViscan VSU hopes to develop. His hard work, discipline, faith, and willingness to help others are what made him a true-blue Viscan.

The journey, for Romnick, does not end with a place among the ten topnotchers of the country, as that was only the beginning. Now, more than ever, he is ready to keep moving forward.

This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal No. 4: Quality Education.

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