Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Midwifery Licensure Examination (MLE) topnotchers from the University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences (SHS) shared their inspiring journeys and commitment to providing quality healthcare to underserved communities.
A Journey to Embracing Community Health
Samantha May Aglit Torcuan, who placed second highest in rank among 1,698 board passers in April 2024, reflected deeply on her transformative journey at the SHS Baler Aurora. “I entered SHS and met a lot of people who, in their own ways, taught me a lot about life and gave me lessons I will forever carry and reflect on as a person,” Torcuan shared. She emphasized the unique ethos of SHS, where competition is replaced by collaboration. “I never felt the need to compete with anyone because we do not have numerical grades and academic rankings. We were trained and taught to help each other in terms of studies,” she explained.
Torcuan said she had a different mindset when she entered SHS. “I [entered as someone who] didn’t see the value in working in the community because my mind was all about walking the hallways of the hospital,” she admitted. “The journey in SHS changed that. Being in the community and immersing myself into how community people live their daily lives greatly affected how I wanted my career as a healthcare worker will turn out. The community health that I know so little of became a huge part of me.”
A Vision to Serve the Underserved Areas
Decemya Wawey Amayag, who placed fourth in the MLE, explained that her journey at SHS was driven by a commitment to deliver her services to the unserved and underserved areas as inspired by her community immersions in Bagnen Oriente, Bauko, Mt. Province, and similar isolated communities.
Amayag said, “I was aware that most of our professors came from Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) areas as well when they were starting from the very bottom. Sharing their real-life experiences throughout their journey in the institution is an inspiration to students like us who are aspiring to be like them someday.”
The thought of serving her community motivated Amayag to strive for excellence in her profession. “With this achievement of mine, I can say that in terms of health needs in our community, I can contribute greatly, especially in rendering health education activities and medical missions being brought here in our little community.”
Discovering Passion in Healthcare
Suhaila Abdulbayan Akmad, who took the No. 8 spot in the MLE, underscored the transformative power of SHS education in her life. She originally aspired to become an engineer but financial constraints led Akmad to shelve her dreams which also led to a year-long hiatus in education. Later, a scholarship from the Department of Health (DOH) allowed her to study at UP Manila Koronadal Campus.
“Every one of my instructors has significantly influenced my success. They taught and supervised us to the best of their abilities. From lectures to community practicums and clinical duties, they made sure that we received the best quality education,” said Akmad.
“Over time, I learned to love my course. I love the idea of serving people, especially the underprivileged. I plan to utilize my expertise by giving back to my community by participating in any program relevant to people’s health and community development,” she elaborated.
Torcuan, Amayag, and Akmad plan to continue their journey to the next step of the SHS ladder by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The three topnotchers join the success of 48 newly-licensed midwives from SHS, collectively highlighting the institution’s role in fostering healthcare professionals ready to contribute significantly to society.
The SHS had a national passing rate of 84.21%, ranking 8th among the top-performing schools in the May 2024 Midwifery Licensure Examination.
