Central Colleges of the Philippines

        Engr. Rommel Pabaya, the latest addition to the roster of CCP's board exam topnotchers, must be reaping what he has sown. Guided by the philosophy "What you sow is what you reap," he now enjoys one of the fruits of his labor, that is, a place in the Top Ten in the May 2004 board exam for civil engineers.
       Engr. Pabaya promised himself that he would make it to Top Ten. This he did by not only reviewing in the best engineering review centers, but also reviewing twice. Immediately after graduation in 2003, he took his review at the Besavilla Review Center. After taking this review, he was certain that he would pass. Feeling discontented, he said to himself, "I don't want to simply pass. I want to be a topnotcher. I know I can be won." So he did have another review, this time at the Padilla Review Center. Right after the second review, he took the CE board exam. And he was not wrong; he place ninth.
       This self-motivated engineer was born in Kamuning on April 25 to Mr. Dionisio Pabaya and Mrs. Arica Casimiro Pabaya 24 years ago. He has only one sibling, his brother Marcos. He grew up in a small family in their compound in Novaliches, Quezon City. His parents and brother were so supportive of him that they never distracted him with any problem. Unfortunately, at the age of eleven, his mother died of cancer. Five year later, his father passed away due to kidney failure. His brother, who is older by 14 years, assumed the role of his parents. The two brothers were guided by their grandmother.
       The apartment that was erected by his parents when they were still living served as his and his brother's primary source of income. With the money generated from the apartment rental, he was able to support his studies at St. James School of Quezon City (now St. James College) where he completed his elementary education and finished third year high school. In his fourth year, he transferred to Capitol Institute where he finished high school.
       In grade school and high school, he was merely an ordinary student. Although not an outstanding student, he already displayed facility for numbers and some leadership skills. Mathematics easily became his favorite; however, responsible as he was, he did not neglect his other subjects. He used to be always in the star section.
       His liking for numbers was a factor in his choice of Civil Engineering as a course. It was in CCP that he honed his mathematical and engineering skills. In his five-year (1998-2003) stay here, he not only fulfilled his curricular requirements but also participated in various extra-curricular activities. He joined the CCP chapter of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), of which he was elected Vice-President (External) for the school year 2001-2002 and President in the succeeding school year. He further developed his numerical and analytical skills by joining interscholastic competitions. In 2002, he and his teammate ranked fourth among seven pairs in the National Civil Engineering Student Quiz sponsored by the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Association of Civil Engineering Schools (ACES). This competitions prepared him fot more challenging tasks of passing the board exam.
       Ready was he when he took the board exam this year. He had equipped himself with the knowledge and skills in the engineering profession. Moreover, he had made himself proficient in English, the medium used by the Professional Regulations Commission for board exam purposes. When he was my student in English 111, he already manifested proficiency in the universal language. He has almost always the group leader in class activities. He greatly improved his oral and written communication skills. Thus, he had the facility in analyzing exam questions written in English.
       However, it was not all work and study for Mel (Engr. Pabaya's nickname). He found time for his hobbies: reading a lot of books, watching movies and TV shows, and playing chess, singing, and playing the guitar.
       One of the best things about Engr. Pabaya in his religiosity. Educated in a Catholic school, he leads a life of prayer and devotion to God. In fact, he advises his fellow Centralians, "Write your name with Love, Kindness, and Mercy to all the people you meet and it will be an indelible masterpiece none can ever forget." He also wants to share the words of one of his instructors, "Remember your CREATORS in the days of your YOUTH!."
       Presently, he is planning to pursue graduate studies either at the University of the Philippines or Technological University of the Philippines and to put up his own engineering firm after two years or so of actual field work.
       Having no regrets for not landing in the Dean's List or the Honor Roll, this late-bloomer reminds one and all: "To attain success, think positively and always bear in mind that there will never be a time too late to become a better person." And quoting T.S. Eliot, he declares, "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."