News feature:Top 10 engineer wants to inspire Estehanons that they too can make it

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

Thursday 17th of May 2012

Vincent Tegerero Tegio was not excited to see the exam results, he was nervous. He felt he may not have done his best in the 300 item-Civil Engineering board Exams recently.

But he could not escape the deluge of congratulatory messages beeping one after the other from his cellphone - he did not only pass, he was among the top 10 ranking along with one from Dela Salle University and another from Mapua Institute of Technology.

This is the first time that a student from Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) has placed this high in an engineering board exam, according to Engr. Leovegildo Cardenas, dean of the College of Engineering at ESSU.

“I could not believe it, I thought of God immediately and how He rewarded my parents and my sacrifices,” Tegio said over the phone.

Vince, as called by friends, got only an academic excellence award in high school where he studied in a Science and technology curriculum at the Dolores National High School.

“But the guy was very good in mathematics,” said former teacher Pia Codiamat, at Dolores High.

Vincent is the eldest son of a family of five children; younger siblings are into accountancy and math teaching courses.

“We are not rich, my father works at the municipal agriculturist office while mother teaches at the public school,” Tegio explained as he wanted to emphasize that his was not an easy climb uphill.

“There were times when my allowance was not enough and I had to make do with what I had,” he said.

“My family was my inspiration, I am aware of the sacrifices my parents do to send us all to school,” he added.

“Where I was short of cash, I made it through with tons of determination to succeed,” he said.
This bright lad credits one Sir Dindo Esplana, from his review center in Manila, Sir Cardenas and ESSU President Reynaldo Lombrio as guiding forces for his motivation to do his best in the exams.

“But my anxiety haunted me that I was almost afraid to check if I passed,” Tegio shared.

Dean Cardenas, in a phone interview, said that the school will be honoring the bright and handsome lad with a motorcade on Friday, May 18 and a cash incentive which he did not disclose.

“We give cash incentives to our top three graduates who pass the board, I hope it will be bigger for our top 10,” Cardenas said.

Presently, this bright lad is reaping tons of accolades for his extraordinary feat, from his hometown Mayor Emeliana Villacarillo to his mother’s co teachers, his father’s friends at the munisipyo, high school classmates, who like him could not believe the great news and his neighbors in Barangay 12 Dolores, Eastern Samar.

He still is set to visit ESSU where he is excited to meet his former classmates in engineering and compare notes.

And after all the speeches and messages are done for the appreciation of his bringing honors to his school ESSU, Vince will apply for his license and plans to apply in construction firms.

There are offers for him in review schools, but he would rather go mainstream and work in the real world of engineering.

“And yes, maybe, I will write in my resume that I placed top in the board exam and who knows, it may give me an edge over my job competitors,” he said. (ldl/nbq-PIA 8, Samar)