Locked down in Cavite due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Felix Jayson Magleo Vegella, the topnotcher in this month’s medical technologist licensure exam, is raring to go home to his hometown San Carlos City, Pangasinan to serve the community.
Vegella said he is excited to see his family and friends in school and at the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in Dagupan City where he took his on-the-job training.
"Gustung gusto ko na pong umuwi at nais ko na rin pong makapiling ang ibang kamaganak at kapatid ko at makita ang mga kaibigan ko (I wish to go home to be with my relatives, my sibling, and friends),” Vegella, who had been living with his parents who are fruit and vegetable vendors in Cavite since he started reviewing for the exam, said.
“Will check muna iyong restrictions on traveling and will coordinate with the Mayor’s Office in San Carlos City (Will check restrictions on traveling and coordinate with the Mayor’s Office in San Carlos City),” added Vegella, the youngest among four siblings.
He said he will take some time off and wants to teach at his alma mater Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMUF) to give back to the community that helped him succeed.
Vegella thanked all those who believed in him – his inspiration in his goal to reach the top. “Naging inspirasyon ko rin po iyong mga taong nakilala ko sa VMUF, R1MC, kaibigan ko, mentors na talagang naniwala po sa akin (The people at VMUF, R1MC, friends, and mentors were my inspiration),” he said.
He recalled his struggles which cemented his will to achieve.
Vegella said reviewed all by himself and dealt with distractions at their home in Cavite such as the problem of poor internet connection.
“Struggle po talaga, ‘yung disiplina sa sarili kasi po sobrang hirap po talaga mag aral sa bahay, sobrang dami pong distractions (It was a struggle studying at home because of the many distractions),” Vegella, who studied medtech from 2015 to 2019, said.
“Iyung aral ko pa sa review center noong November 2019 to March 2020 face-to-face pa noon at pagkatapos noon sa bahay na (I had face-to-face review in a review center from November 2019 to March 2020 and when the pandemic came, I was forced to review at home),” he added.
Vegella disclosed that his auntie Ofelia Magleo, an Overseas Fiipino Worker in Japan, sponsored his studies. “Nagpapadala rin po minsan si tatay ko ng dagdag allowance (My father sends some allowance to me sometimes),” he added.
Vegella topped the exam with a 91 percent rating.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) which conducted licensure examination said 1,921 out of 3,251 examinees passed the test given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pangasinan, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga early this month.