Adventist Tops National Physician Licensure Examination in the Philippines

By: Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and Adventist Review

For two years in a row, an Adventist physician has grabbed the top spot in the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination. With his 89.83-percent score, Clinton Rabadon, a graduate of West Visayas State University (WVSU), joins the ranks with last year’s top finisher, Jerald Pelayo. This feat makes him the fifth Adventist physician to take the first spot in the past 13 years.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) results published on March 14, 2019, showed that 1,209 of 1,579 applicants passed the licensure examination, with an average of 76.57 percent passing rate.

Alongside Rabadon were six other Adventist physician licensure examinees who made it to top 10, including Daniel Panaglima (3rd), Jessa Elaine Fronda (5th), Dave Ivan Bruel (7th), Jonathan Macatiag IV (8th), Temie Paul Villarino (9th), and Wilma Cleo Yvonne Dapog (10th).

Rabadon decided to follow the medical path after realizing the severe need for physicians in poverty-stricken communities. He was a consistent honors student in college and finished his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Bicol University of Polangui, where he landed in the top ten in the 2010 Nursing Licensure examination.

In a text message, Rabadon expressed how everything was finally sinking in, several days after he passed the examination.

“Words are not enough to utter how blessed I am for the results,” he said. “I sometimes ask the Lord, ‘What have I done to receive such blessings?’ I know that He wants me to tell the world that He is a generous Father, and I will be more useful if I witness on how He works in me by bringing me into this place.”

Like most exam takers, Rabadon said, he did not aim for the top spot but endeavored to make it to the top ten. He remembered praying only to finish the exam and to get a good rating.

“I asked the Lord to equip me with wisdom, that I will be more useful in His ministry,” Rabadon said. “I know that a lot of people are praying for me to reach the top, but I asked the Lord that whatever the outcome is, I will always be grateful.”

Sabbath Rest a Blessing

Rabadon recalls that in the months prior to the licensure exams, Saturday (Sabbath) became a day of reprieve from the exhausting reviews, providing him a special day of communion with God, renewing his physical as well as his mental and spiritual well-being. In terms of academic preparations, he stressed the value of quality over quantity of time studying.

Rabadon is a cousin of last year’s Physician Licensure Exam top-placer, Jerald Pelayo.

In recent years, Adventist health professionals have established an identity of excellence, particularly in the Philippines, which has given the church the opportunity to advance its unique health message with focus on health care and disease prevention.

Commenting on the impressive achievements of Adventists entering professional health service, Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Health Ministries director Rizaline Alfanoso said, “God is looking for men and women to change the world and advance His kingdom. And God has allowed these young professionals to excel in such a time as this, when the world is a lazar house filled with maladies, dysfunction, brokenness, and addictions.”

Rabadon said he plans on working part time as a general practitioner while waiting for his residency. He is now focused on joining various medical mission initiatives of the church.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.