A native of Sultan Kudarat who graduated from the Western Visayas State University in Iloilo City ranked Number 1 in the November 2023 Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination. 

Cris Vinz Tomboc scored 91 percent. 

Tomboc shared the top spot with Aristotle Castronuevo of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

They topped the 10,764 who passed the exam with 14,364 examinees.

Tomboc said that his family inspires him to always aim for the top, although the achievement still came unexpectedly.

“What kept me going po talaga during the review is my family. Para sa kanila talaga to kahit pumasa lang ako para sa kanila talaga to, yung RN [title] na to para talaga sa kanila. If mag-top, blessing na lang po talaga. Dini-dedicate ko yung na-achieve ko sa parents ko,” Tomboc underscored.

When asked whether he knew of the result immediately, Tomboc said it was his mentor from Western Visayas State University who passed the word.

“Nabigla po ako nung sinabi niya na Top 1 po ako, like, weey di nga Top 1. Tapos yung si-nend niya sakin yung screenshot, dun ko pa lang na-realize na 'my God, Top 1 talaga ako,'” he said.

Three of his batchmates also made it to the roster of topnotchers.

Dennyl Marie Chavez scored 89.60 percent and copped the eighth spot; Pert Henry Mabaquaio with 89.40 percent secured the ninth spot, and Jannah Kyra Javelona who made it to the tenth spot with  89.20 percent.

The Western Visayas State University posted a 100-pecent passing rate.