Erwin Ken Angcual Parchaso, topnotcher of the March 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination, recounted his 10-year journey to becoming a doctor at the mass oath-taking ceremony on April 21 in Pasay City. He shared the emotional story of his three attempts and the struggles with his family. He urged retakers not to give up.
On April 21, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Erwin Ken Angcual Parchaso introduced himself as the topnotcher of the March 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination. “I’m Erwin Ken Angcual Parchaso. Not withheld. Not hidden. Just here,” he said in his speech at the mass oath-taking ceremony.
This was his third attempt at the board exam after two failures. In his first try, he failed shortly after learning his then-girlfriend, now wife, was pregnant. For the second, he did not proceed due to family needs and fear of failure, which allowed him to prepare emotionally and mentally.
On April 8, "name withheld" appeared for the topnotcher, leading Parchaso to cry, assuming he failed due to the grading curve. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) explained on April 20 that it conducted a comprehensive review because of his “remarkable and consistent performance.”
“Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the exam, or the PRC, or the curve. It’s ourselves,” he said. He urged retakers: “You don’t have to be unbreakable to be strong. You just have to keep showing up.” He thanked his wife, son, family, and Lyceum-Northwestern University in Dagupan City. Overall, 1,954 out of 2,781 examinees passed.