CIT-U produces another topnotcher in electrical engineer licensure exam

Local

FOR the third consecutive examination, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) produced a national No. 1 passer in the Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination (REELE).

The university announced that in the September 2026 REELE, three of its graduates landed in the national Top 10.

The university announced the achievement during a press conference at its Wall of Fame Library on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Charles Anthony Saceda Santillan tied for first place nationwide with Dan Joel Monte de Leon of Palompon Institute of Technology-Palompom after both posted a rating of 94.25%.

Two other CIT-U graduates also ranked among the country’s top performers, with Kienth Vincent Espere Oracio placing third with 93.55% and Niño Louie Pala Verame ranking sixth with 93.05%.

The three CIT-U topnotchers are also graduates of the university’s Senior High School programs.

CIT-U said it has now produced 786 topnotchers across various licensure examinations, including 96 who placed first nationwide.

Santillan said he did not feel pressure from his family but acknowledged that he placed expectations on himself, especially because of CIT-U’s reputation for producing board topnotchers.

“Thankful ko nakuha tanan and wala na gyud bug-at. And wala na ang impostor syndrome nga dili nako deserve ang pagka King of Engineer,” he said.

Santillan was previously named CIT-U’s King of Engineers, a title awarded during the university’s annual Parangal ceremony to the highest-performing graduating student in the College of Engineering and Architecture.

He said he is a scholar of a private firm and already has a job waiting for him.

For aspiring board takers, Santillan advised them to set clear goals and write down their plans so they can use them as a guide.

He said becoming the King of Engineers was among his goals, followed by earning the No. 1 spot in the licensure examination.

Oracion, meanwhile, said he had hoped to become a topnotcher but still felt nervous while taking the examination.

He deactivated his social media accounts during the review period to help him stay focused. He said he is open to both practicing electrical engineering and entering the academe.

Oracion encouraged future examinees to put in extra effort, focus on their review and sacrifice leisure during the review season.

He also stressed the importance of having a support system.

“Pangita og group o circles nimo. Helpful kaayo na mag-share mo sa knowledge,” he said.

Verame said he was already working as a photographer at the Minglanilla municipal public information office when he took the September examination.

He had skipped the April licensure examination because of personal circumstances, including his mother’s hospitalization.

Verame said he was grateful for the opportunity to take the September examination and become an engineer, even though he did not expect to make it into the Top 10.

He said he is open to continuing his work in the public sector, this time as an engineer.

His motivation, he said, was to provide a better life for his family.

Dr. Evangeline C. Evangelista, dean of CIT-U’s College of Engineering and Architecture, said 44 of the university’s 84 examinees passed the September examination.

She said 87% of CIT-U’s first-time takers passed, while repeaters pulled down the overall passing rate.

Evangelista also said CIT-U posted the highest number of examinees and passers among Cebu schools in the examination.

Engr. Lowell Ratilla, chair of the Electrical Engineering Department, and Engr. Genry Oñate also joined the press conference.

Oñate, known as “Coach G” to the CIT-U topnotchers, is a CIT-U alumnus who also placed among the topnotchers in the April 2011 Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination.

He is now a faculty member of the university’s Electrical Engineering Department.

Cebu schools secured five of the national Top 10 spots in the September examination.

Aside from the three CIT-U graduates, Jeff Kepler Sombilon Teves of Cebu Technological University-Tuburan ranked second with 94.00%, while Jeremiah Gecana Lausa of CTU-Main placed ninth with 92.40%.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said 1,676 of 3,399 examinees passed the Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination administered by the Board of Electrical Engineering in 17 testing centers nationwide.

For the Registered Master Electricians Licensure Examination, 715 of 961 examinees passed.

The PRC also said the results of four examinees were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examinations.(MyTVCebu)