With a mix of hard work, prayers, and some smart study moves that involved blending tech and old-school techniques, Cris Vinz Tomboc clinched the top spot in the November 2023 Philippine Nurses Licensure Exam (PNLE).
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Cris, a graduate of West Visayas State University, shared the struggle and the dedication he gave not just to make the cut but also to top the list of 25,761 successful examinees, scoring 91%.
By his account, his latest feat wasn’t handed to him on a silver platter. Revealing his review secrets, Cris said he memorized over 8,000 nursing flashcards—studying about 500 to 1,000 of them daily—until the answers were etched into his memory.
He also tackled a staggering 20,000 to 30,000 questions to prepare for the exam battleground. To breeze through those exam questions effortlessly, Cris also resorted to the power of technology, enlisting the help of “Anki,” an app that allowed him to create and review flashcards anytime and anywhere.
“The moment I saw the results, I was overwhelmed with joy, relief, gratitude, pride, disbelief. I cried uncontrollably as I shared this moment with my family. I didn’t care about anything else. I felt like I had won the lottery. I felt like I had conquered the world. I felt like I had earned this moment. I remembered all the hard work, commitment, dedication, and effort that I had put into my preparation,” said Cris in his Facebook post.
He recalled dedicating 8 to 12 hours daily to study during the review season, firmly focused on the goal of topping the boards.
“I often reminded my friends that if I’m working hard, there’s someone out there working even harder, so I must strive to work the hardest,” he added.
The Professional Regulation Commission released the results of the PNLE on December 2. With 32,203 examiners, this year’s board exam has an 80 percent passing rate.
