MANILA, Philippines – At 22, Eluhim Caranto Machucar has already achieved a milestone that many aspiring criminologists dream of—emerging as one of the topnotchers in the Criminologists Licensure Examination (CLE).
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Eluhim Caranto Machucar |
Machucar placed fifth in the August 2026 CLE with a rating of 93.05%.
A native of Manila who now resides in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, Machucar earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Araullo University-San Jose. Interestingly, becoming a criminologist was not always part of his childhood dream.
“It was not my dream,” Machucar admitted, in an exclusive interview with The Summit Express.
However, his interest in the field grew throughout college, eventually turning into a commitment. He found himself drawn to the discipline, knowledge of the law, and confidence that the program helped him develop.
His journey, however, was far from easy. During his board exam preparation, exhaustion became one of his biggest challenges as he faced the repetitive cycle of reviewing. What kept him going was the support of the people closest to him—including his mother, the love of his life, college mentors, instructors, and friends.
For Machucar, having a strong foundation in every subject was crucial. He also answered as many question-and-answer reviewers as possible and maximized social media, particularly Facebook, where educational reels helped expand his knowledge.
His hard work paid off in an unforgettable moment. While riding public transportation, Machucar learned that he had made it among the CLE topnotchers. Overwhelmed with happiness, he accidentally screamed upon seeing the result.
“Of course I was happy. I was on public transportation and I accidentally screamed when I found out I was one of the board topnotchers,” he said.
Now, with a major achievement behind him, Machucar has plans for the future—but he prefers to keep them private for now.
For aspiring board examinees, his message is simple: do not give up. Review fatigue is normal, but perseverance can bring rewards beyond expectations.
“Huwag po kayong susuko sa review. Normal lang po maumay sa pagre-review pero ituloy n’yo pa rin. Pagod man kayo, magbubunga naman na higit pa sa inaasahan n’yo. Mag-focus sa sarili. ‘wag nagkukumpara sa iba. You know yourselves. Don't let them define who you are,” he emphasized.
Congratulations, Eluhim!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
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