Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) produced its third consecutive national first placer in the Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination, with three of its graduates finishing in the Top 10 of the September 2026 exams.
Charles Anthony Saceda Santillan tied for first place with Dan Joel Monte de Leon of Palompon Institute of Technology-Palompon after both posted a rating of 94.25%.
Kienth Vincent Espere Oracion placed third with 93.55%, while Niño Louie Pala Verame ranked sixth with 93.05%.
CIT-U announced the results during a press conference at its Wall of Fame Library on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Santillan, a summa cum laude graduate, had earlier been named the university’s King of Engineers, the title awarded during its annual Parangal ceremony to the highest-performing graduating student in the College of Engineering and Architecture.
He said CIT-U’s track record of producing board topnotchers pushed him to set high expectations for himself. During his review, he cut back on gaming and skipped some outings to focus on his preparation.
Santillan said he wrote down his goals and broke them into milestones. Becoming King of Engineers was among those goals, followed by becoming the country’s top electrical engineering examinee.
“Thankful ko nakuha tanan and wala na gyud bug-at. And wala na ang impostor syndrome nga dili nako deserve ang pagka King of Engineer,” he said.
A scholar of a private firm, Santillan said he already has a job waiting for him.
Oracion likewise limited distractions during the review by giving up gaming and deactivating his social media accounts.
Although he had hoped to become a topnotcher, Oracion said he remained nervous while taking the examination.
He urged future examinees to intensify their review and surround themselves with people who can provide academic support.
Verame took a different route while preparing for the exam, balancing his review with his work as a photographer at the Minglanilla municipal public information office.
He missed the April 2026 examination because of personal circumstances, including his mother’s hospitalization, but continued preparing for the September exams.
All three CIT-U topnotchers also completed the university’s Senior High School programs.
CIT-U College of Engineering and Architecture Dean Dr. Evangeline C. Evangelista said the university identifies and supports students who show topnotcher potential through additional academic programs.
These include Saturday sessions, peer mentoring and the university’s Learning Enhancement Program.
Of CIT-U’s 84 examinees, 44 passed the September examination. Evangelista said 87% of the university’s first-time takers passed, while repeaters affected its overall passing rate.
Cebu schools accounted for five of the national Top 10 finishers.
Jeff Kepler Sombilon Teves of Cebu Technological University-Tuburan placed second with 94%, while Jeremiah Gecana Lausa of CTU-Main ranked ninth with 92.40%.
Photo by Kaiser Jan Fuentes
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