After quietly pursuing a second engineering degree, the August 2026 Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination (MELE) topnotcher has received a P600,000 cash incentive in recognition of his achievement.
Junry Vistal, who ranked first in the August 2026 MELE with a 92.20% rating, received the incentive from University of Cebu Chairman Augusto Go during a courtesy call at the UC–Main Activity Center on August 17, 2026.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook / LAKANDIWA |
The P600,000 reward is part of the University of Cebu’s tradition of recognizing its top-performing graduates with major incentives, which have traditionally included a brand-new car or a cash prize.
For Vistal, however, the recognition goes beyond the cash award, as his MELE achievement represents a deeply personal comeback after his earlier experience in the Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination (REELE).
In an interview with Lakandiwa, the official student publication of the University of Cebu, Vistal opened up about why he pursued Mechanical Engineering after becoming a Registered Electrical Engineer.
“Sauna katu’ng [REELE], sakit sa part na wala ku na-top kay for five years nag-goal ku na masulud sa topnotchers, but in the end wala ku na-top” (Back then in the REELE, it hurt because I failed to make the topnotchers list after spending five years aiming to become one), he said.
“For me, nagskuwela ku’g ME para ma-redeem aku’ng kaugalingun, para at least aku’ng inner wounds ma-heal” (For me, I studied Mechanical Engineering to redeem myself and, at least, heal my inner wounds), he added.
“Kay before, gi-down naku aku’ng kaugalingun” (Because before, I put myself down), Vistal recalled.
“At least karun, nibalik og saka aku’ng confidence and self-esteem” (At least now, my confidence and self-esteem have risen again), he said.
The journey was so private that only some of his workmates and students knew he was studying Mechanical Engineering.
SEE ALSO: Cebu electrical engineer tops August 2026 MELE after missing REELE Top 10 in 2019
“Work hard in silence. Let your success make the noise,” Vistal wrote in a social media post, reflecting on the approach he took throughout his studies.
“This is exactly what I did,” he said, explaining that even his family did not know about his studies.
Vistal graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree this year but decided not to attend the graduation rites.
He also never publicly posted about his journey as a mechanical engineering student because he preferred to keep things low-key and avoid additional pressure.
“For anyone confused why I was able to take the ME board exam, I hope this clear up your confusion,” he said.
His quiet approach eventually produced a result that could not remain hidden: a No. 1 finish in the national MELE.
Following his achievement, Vistal was invited to a homecoming by his high school alma mater, where he shared a message that reflected the sacrifices behind his success: “Without sacrifices, there’s no reward.”
The P600,000 incentive now adds another meaningful chapter to a story that began with a painful setback and continued through years of sacrifice, discipline, and quiet determination.
For Vistal, however, the greatest reward may be more personal—the confidence and self-esteem he said he had lost after falling short in the REELE, and which he has now found again.
— The Summit Express
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