Against all Odds: How Two Midwifery Board Placers from Bicol turn Setbacks into Success

Bringing life into the world is no easy task, some wouldn’t even consider it a career. But for two midwifery students, one from Tabaco, Albay and the other from Ticao Island, Masbate, their grit and grace guided them through a different kind of labor: the long, challenging process of becoming board exam placers. 

In the recent April Midwifery Board Exams, 21-year-old Gabriel Antonio Berces secured 2nd place, while 21-year-old Angela Mae Mascariñas placed 5th.  Both are scholars under the Department of Health (DOH) and Ago Medical and Educational Center (AMEC) Foundation programs. Their journey was paved with obstacles, financial strain, and emotional challenges, but also with unwavering determination and community support.

A Delayed but not Denied Moment

Originally scheduled to take the board exam in November 2024, both students were met with a sudden deferral due to unresolved requirements.

“Yung sa PRC, yung cases ko po hindi na-accept since may mga requirements po. Kaya ‘di po ako naka-take nung November,” Berces recalled. This was just the start of a string of challenges. (With the PRC, my cases weren’t accepted because there were certain requirements. That’s why I wasn’t able to take the exam in November.)

In January, his grandfather passed away, forcing him to pause and grieve. “Nag-mourn po ako. Grabe po yung adjustment. Pero tinanggap ko na lang po. Pakiramdam ko talaga pang-April ako,” he shared. “Parang may plano po talaga si God para samin.” (I grieved. The adjustment was really tough. But I just accepted it. I felt like I was really meant for April, it’s like God really had a plan for us.)

Determined to refocus, he stopped all school activities by October and spent the early months of 2025 in full review mode. 

“Nag-start po ako mag-review February 2025. Two months tuloy-tuloy, walang pahinga. Mas nahasa po kami sa EDMG review center.” (I started reviewing in February 2025. Two straight months, no breaks. We were really sharpened at the EDMG review center.)

Meanwhile, Mascariñas also faced her own hurdles, primarily financial. 

“Parang yung mga goal po namin parang na stop din po kasi po magastos nga po,” she said, “It’s not about the delay but also the expenses po.” (It felt like our goals were put on hold too because it was really costly,” she said. “It’s not just about the delay, but also the expenses.)

At times, she struggled with social anxiety and self-doubt. She shared how the random check-ups from her friend Kyla and her sister’s invitations to go out encouraged her to keep reviewing.

The Support System

Their preparation was long and intense, rooted in the training they received from AMEC and their review center.

“Parang kahit sa panaginip ko po, nagre-review ako,” Berces joked, adding that the support from their teachers and classmates made a big difference. (It felt like even in my dreams, I was reviewing)

Mascariñas credited their academic foundation: “Nag start kami sa EDMG din po and then dun po talaga kami nahasa sa test taking kasi parang eto pong success namin, hindi lang po sa effort naming dalawa but it’s about the people who help us along the way din po,” she shared. (We also started at EDMG, and that’s really where we were trained in test-taking. It feels like this success isn’t just because of our own efforts, but also because of the people who helped us along the way)

Now licensed midwives, both top placers expressed their desire to give back to the community. 

“Since DOH scholars po kami, two years na po kaming supported, now it’s our turn to give back,” said Berces. “Plano ko po talaga ay mag-return service sa community.” (Since we’re DOH scholars, we’ve been supported for two years, now it’s our turn to give back, my plan is really to do return service in the community.)

Mascariñas agreed: “Even before po na pumasok kami ng DOH, our goal po talaga is to serve the underserved po na community, yung mga remote areas po,” she shared. “Magbabalik po kami ng service just like what DOH do to us,” Mascariñas told BicoldotPH, adding that they also hope to pursue medicine if scholarships become available since it’s an expensive path and they still need to save up.(Even before we joined the DOH program, our goal was really to serve underserved communities, especially those in remote areas. We will give back, just as the DOH supported us.) 

Recognition and Giving Back

As board placers, both received ₱100,000 each in incentives. For Berces, the money is a lifeline. 

“Ang totoo talaga po ini pong 100k pangbayad ko po ng tuition since ngayon po 3rd year student pa lang po ako,” he shared. “Tigsabay ko po last year yung school po then review so ini pong incentives po big help na po samo.” (To be honest, this 100K will go to my tuition because I’m still in my third year. Last year, I juggled both school and review, so this incentive is already a big help for us.)

Mascariñas added, “Malaki po ang balance namin sa tuition. Thankful po kami kay Doc Ago. Kung sa ibang school po kami, baka na-kick out na kami. But Doc understood our situation.”

Despite the sacrifices, both say the recognition isn’t just about money.

“It’s not all about the money, it’s all about the recognition po sa school po namin,” Berces said. “It’s about honoring our department. Midwifery is small, but our achievements are big.”

A Broader Mission

During the recognition ceremony, President of AMEC BCCM, Dr. Angelita F. Ago, emphasized the school’s commitment to inclusivity. 

“We welcome people who cannot afford [education], and we have scholarships. With your support, we can look for them and help them,” she said. She also noted AMEC’s broader mission: “We’ve even started exploring lifelong learning programs for adults alongside our basic and master’s courses.”

Behind every topnotcher is a story worth telling, one marked by sacrifice, resilience, and hope. For Gabriel and Angelica, their journeys remind us that true recognition isn’t always about the results, but also about the struggles, the people who uplift us, and the purpose that keeps us moving forward. Their triumph is not theirs alone to celebrate, but also a tribute to the dreams that persist despite delays and doubts.