Two Adventist higher education institutions — the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) and Manila Adventist College (MAC) — received congratulations from leaders of the North Philippine Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NPUC) congratulated for their students’ outstanding achievements in the March 2024 Medical Technologist Licensure Exam. The AUP secured the position of the sixth top-performing school, while MAC clinched an outstanding 100-percent passing rate.

In the Southwestern Philippines Union Conference, Mountain View College (MVC) students also demonstrated remarkable performance in the examination, achieving an 82.3-percent passing rate, with 56 individuals passing out of the 68 examinees.

Moreover, Pittzman Jo R. Acosta, an AUP graduate, ranked seventh among the 9,068 examinees from across the nation.

Reflecting on his academic experience, Acosta, a summa cum laude graduate, acknowledged that at one point during the pandemic years, “pessimism clouded my mind.” He isolated himself, buried himself in studying, and felt insecure seeing his classmates having fun. As face-to-face classes resumed, he heard his classmates’ stories, which served as a reminder from God that he was not alone and that “we were all walking the same path.”

Acosta also attributed overcoming his negativity to AUP’s whole-person-focused programs, which he believes set Adventist education apart. Describing his professors, he said, “They are an army of God-fearing individuals who inspired us to be our very best. They linked faith to the subject lesson, which cultivated in us a deeper appreciation of God.”

Sharing some lessons learned, Acosta stressed the importance of community. “Surround yourself with good friends,” he said. “Be a witness to other people’s testimony. Their stories and their life experiences may just be what you need to get through.

“If you’re aiming for the best, do it. In doing so, however, you are to do it right. Do it just. Do it with God,” Acosta added.

Yanna Yvonne Macayan, chair of the AUP Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Department, described Acosta as “a student who consistently demonstrated diligence in class.” She added, “One of his most admirable qualities is his concern for others. Instead of opting for an easier project for our community and public health class, he surpassed expectations by collaborating with the barangay [village] to organize a large-scale activity.”

Lalaine Alfanoso, health ministries director in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Adventist Church, which oversees the Philippines, extended heartfelt congratulations to all the individuals who participated in the examination, emphasizing the significant effort required to succeed. “The examination was challenging, and your dedication and perseverance have now yielded fruitful results,” Alfanoso said.

She further added, “We extend our warmest congratulations to all examinees. Your commitment to health and life exemplifies the bright future of health ministries in the Philippines as you continue to positively impact lives worldwide.”

AUP is among the top schools in the country, ranking sixth out of 145 institutions nationwide. Of its 59 medical technology students, 58 passed the exam, achieving an impressive 98.31-percent success rate. As the pioneering school of Bachelor of Medical Technology in the Philippines, AUP consistently excels in board exams. The Adventist Church runs AUP, a Level IV autonomous institution, which is a tertiary boarding school, in Silang, Cavite.

Meanwhile, MAC leaders said they are overwhelmed with joy as the school celebrated the success of its board exam candidates. Only six years into its operation, this marks the third board exam for its Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program.

When asked about the preparation strategy employed for the exams, Jovy Acopio, dean of the School of Allied Health, highlighted the importance of prayer. “Our secret is fervent prayer,” she said. “It is not a superficial lip service but a prayer of faith, believing that God is faithful and will accomplish His promises in His own good time and way.” Acopio recalled appealing to God, saying, “Lord, You have been so good to our sister institutions; I trust that You will also do the same for us and give us 100-percent results, all for Your glory. It’s Your name at stake here. This school is in the city. Let Your name be exalted in the city amidst the presence of prominent universities.”

Additionally, the department actively engaged with candidates, providing individual support to ease their anxieties and boost their confidence. Faculty members shared personal experiences of how God saw them through their own life challenges. This proved to be instrumental in uplifting the spirits and morale of the candidates.

The college attributed the accomplishment to the dedication of MLS students who diligently studied in preparation for the exams, and to the entire MLS faculty, under the leadership of Jeramie Galapon, for their tireless efforts in mentoring the students. Reflecting on the outcome, Acopio could only exclaim, “Prayer works. God is amazing! The Lord we are praying to hears, answers, and is faithful.”

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