LEGAZPI CITY – Moments after he took the April 2023 Licensure Examination for Criminologists, a Bicolano by the name of Kenneth Dela Torre felt that he would come off as a topnotcher because most, if not all, of what he had studied during his review period came out in the board exam—and it turned out real when the board result came out Thursday, May 4.
“When I left the exam hall, I have this slightest feeling na siguro magta-top ako kasi masyado akong confident d’on sa mga answer ko…and talagang yung mga pinag-aralan ko is lumabas (sa exam),” Dela Torre said.
Dela Torre claimed the highest rank in the list of topnotchers in the Licensure Examination for Criminologists with a rating of 89%.
He is the second child among the three (3) children of a pharmacist’s aid mother and a carpenter’s father who live in San Isidro, Tinambac, Camarines Sur.
‘𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀’
The moment the result came out, Dela Torre found it hard to process what he had learned.
“N’ong gabing iyon, medyo nahirapan pa akong mag-process (ng result) kasi marami na yung nagtsa-chat sa akin. Marami na yung naga-add sa akin,” Dela Torre shared.
Not used to being in the limelight, Dela Torre shares that he’s not the kind of person who engages a lot on social media, but he appreciates the experience and thought of people recognizing him.
“I am not usually the kind of person for those kinds of things. Di po ako sanay ng mga gan’ong exposures (na) pino-post sa mga balita or sa mga social media. (But) The experience was very beautiful po and I really appreciate it,” Dela Torre said.
Dela Torre didn’t forget the smiles he saw from his family the moment they learned the result.
“The smiles. Si Mama umiyak. Lahat kami masaya sa pamilya and my friends. It’s a very wholesome experience,” he said.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Dela Torre shared that his preparation for the board exam was very hard.
His preparation was not smooth. He even nearly sleeps.
“May mga times na nagbi-breakdown din po ako. Naga-doubt ako sa sarili ko na baka hindi ako makapasa. Nagiging depressive din po ako,” Dela Torre shared.
Dela Torre even came to a point where he uninstalled his social media accounts and applications that distracted him from reviewing.
“Naka-focus ako sa review,” he said.
𝗨𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀
Dela Torre shared his thoughts on his plans after his great feat of becoming a topnotcher.
He said that it is hard to decide where to work because there are a lot of offers that keep coming to him.
“Mahirap magdecide. Sa ngayon po, magpapa-guide na lang po ako kina Mama and kay Papa kung ano po yung mas suitable sa akin. At in the end, the final decision will be mine and I just like to consult. Yon na lang muna,” Dela Torre said.
Similarly, Dela Torre also considers the idea of pursuing law.
𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
Dela Torre advises all aspiring criminologists to build their study habits because this is a very difficult thing to do.
“Mahirap kasi…kailangan mo talaga siyang gawin araw-araw hanggang sa masanay ka na yon na ang routine mo. Pagkagising mo, mag-a-almusal ka na. Maliligo ka na. Then balik na sa pag-aaral. And then, kakain ka na ulit and then, magri-rest and then balik na naman (sa pag-aaral) hanggang sa matulog ka,” he said.
When preparing for the board exam, Dela Torre then shared that the exam-takers should focus on the ‘need to know’ and that they should make sure they clearly understand the concepts.
“Focus on the “need to knows” or mag-base doon sa table of specifications kasi nand’on talaga yung mga laging lumalabas (sa exam). ‘Yon yung mga importante. Kung magme-memorize, okay din naman. Pero it is much better kung naiintindihan mo yung mine-memorize mo and yung binabasa mo kasi ‘yon yung key sa board exam.”
Dela Torre dedicates his feat to his family for being understanding during his review period.
He also offers his endeavor to his girlfriend, who inspired him to pursue more and do more.
Dela Torre originally planned to take the exam in December 2022, but because of limited time to prepare his credentials and because of their family’s financial situation, he failed to do so.
He then took the National Police Commission (Napolcom) exam. Dela Torre passed.
“Ito pong exam na ito is blessing po, blessing kasi 2/2 exam po, napasa ko. I am very blessed. I felt very blessed. I cannot explain it. And I am very thankful to God.”
According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), only 4,139 of 13,000 aspiring criminologists passed the April 2023 Licensure Examination for Criminologists. | Arvie Bediones