A 23-year-old graduate from the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) Visayas in Talisay City, Negros Occidental ranked Number 1 in the April 2024 Electronics Engineers Licensure Examination.

Niele Shem Bañas, from La Carlota City, topped the licensure exam with a rating of 91.80 percent.

Bañas said getting to the topmost is something that still came as a big surprise because he somehow struggled during the review despite performing well in his mock exams.

He said that it was of tremendous help to have developed a studying habit that puts premium on letting the brain cells take a respite from the mental grind.

“Ang style ko po hindi everyday na mag-aral talaga. Like may rest day ako, like two days, three days,” Bañas said.

His teachers have taken pride in his achievement knowing how Bañas worked his way to success painstakingly. His achievement has carved a first for the Electronics and Communication Engineering program at TUP Visayas.

“First batch natin ng ECE was in 1994; ngayon pa lang tayo nag-first placer sa Board,” TUP Visayas Director for Administration Patrick John Delumpa said.

Bañas is set to receive P200,000 in incentive from the university.