MANILA, Philippines – In a moment that turned national attention toward a story of resilience and redemption, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 1,954 out of 2,781 examinees, or 70.26 percent, successfully passed the March 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE), marking another milestone for the country’s newest physicians.
Among the passers, however, the spotlight shifted beyond the numbers when the topnotcher was initially released under the label “Name Withheld,” sparking speculation and curiosity across the medical community.
That unnamed top rank would later be revealed as Dr. Erwin Ken A. Parchaso of Lyceum-Northwestern University (LNU), who officially emerged as the Top 1 after a 10-year journey marked by repeated attempts, hesitation, and life-altering decisions.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Dr. Erwin Ken Parchaso |
Speaking before fellow new physicians during the face-to-face oathtaking at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, he opened his speech with striking honesty and humor, saying, “Hello. Yes, that’s my name up there. And no, my name is not ‘Name Withheld.’”
He described himself as a repeater, even a would-be third taker, revealing how doubt once prevented him from taking the exam altogether, admitting, “I sat at home, stared at my books, and admitted: ‘I’m not ready.’”
His journey began with a first attempt that was disrupted by a life-changing revelation that he was about to become a father, a responsibility that reshaped his priorities and ultimately led to failure in that exam cycle.
“I failed that first take… not because I wasn’t smart enough. But because life happened,” he said, adding, “I wouldn’t trade that failure for anything… it gave me my family.”
By his second attempt, fear had taken over, and instead of sitting for the exam, he stayed home, choosing reflection over risk and telling himself, “Not yet. But soon.”
The emotional weight of his journey became even more evident during the release of results, when he believed he had failed again after seeing the top spot listed as “Name Withheld.”
“I was crying outside our house. I saw that the topnotcher was ‘Name Withheld’ and under investigation,” he recalled.
He admitted his frustration in that moment, saying, “Sabi ko, ‘Siya siguro ang rason bakit hindi ako pumasa. Hindi ako pasok sa curve dahil sa kanya. Buti nga sa kanya! Under investigation siya!’” unaware that the name he was blaming was his own.
The realization that he was the very topnotcher he resented became a defining twist in his journey, turning confusion into reflection and self-awareness.
Looking back, he told fellow examinees that his path was not defined by speed but by endurance, saying, “Ten years… that’s how long it took me to become a licensed doctor.”
He emphasized that struggle was part of becoming, not failing, adding, “You are not your past scores. You are not your failures.”
He also reminded repeaters and first-time takers alike that perseverance matters more than perfection, saying, “You just have to keep showing up. Even when it hurts.”
He added a message that echoed through the hall as a closing reflection on purpose: “So as we take our oath today, with tears or with smiles. Let us remember, we are not just passing an exam. We are answering a calling.”
 |
| Speech of Dr. Erwin Ken Parchaso, Top 1 in the March 2026 Physician Licensure Exam (PLE) |
 |
| Speech of Dr. Erwin Ken Parchaso, Top 1 in the March 2026 Physician Licensure Exam (PLE) |
 |
| Speech of Dr. Erwin Ken Parchaso, Top 1 in the March 2026 Physician Licensure Exam (PLE) |
The PRC is also expected to publicly disclose Parchaso’s official rating soon, while Lyceum-Northwestern University noted that his initial—yet still unconfirmed—rating is high, pending final verification.
In closing, he reclaimed his identity with quiet conviction: “I’m Erwin Ken Angcual Parchaso. Not withheld. Not hidden. Just here,” transforming what once was an anonymous label into a story of persistence, faith, and a decade-long rise to the very top.
— The Summit Express