Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU honors new physical therapists, 3 topnotchers

By Ian Paul Villanueva

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) honored its 64 Physical Therapists Licensure Examinations (PTLE) passers, including its three topnotchers, during a Testimonial Program on July 14 at MMSU Teatero Ilocandia. 

A momentous occasion for the new professionals who propelled MMSU to become the second top-performing institution in the June 2026 PTLE, the testimonial program gathered the passers, physical therapy students and faculty members, and university officials to celebrate the university’s commendable performance in the exams.

With 64 passers from the MMSU College of Health Sciences (CHS), the university garnered an institutional passing rate of 92.75%, widely surpassing the national rate of 72.25%. The numbers were enough for the university to gain the honor of being the Top 2 among institutions with over 25 examinees and an above 90% passing rate.

Leading MMSU’s newest physical therapists is second placer Mr. Aldrei Edu, who garnered a rating of 91.55%. He is followed by Ms. Ainsly Rhyss Gapusan (3rd placer) and Ms. Richmelle Respicio (6th placer), who logged ratings of 91.20% and 90.90%, respectively. 

The three topnotchers took their time to reflect on their academic journeys. Attributing their success to the people who helped them in their studies, the three topnotchers also expressed their gratitude to the university on behalf of their whole batch of licensure exam passers.

In his message, MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., praised CHS for bringing immense honor to the university with its victory in both the high institutional passing rate and the inclusion of MMSU graduates among the topnotchers.

Dr. Manzano also urged the new physical therapists to “follow career paths where you could serve and pay forward the learnings you gained from your time as students in MMSU.”

“What makes us in the administration continue to do the things that we do is our one purpose to maintain and keep improving the quality of the education that our institution offers,” he told the new professionals, noting that their success is but one of the results of the university’s active efforts to improve the quality of education. 

Wishing for them to find meaningful, productive, and fulfilling careers, CHS Dean Cheryl Didi Nellie Obra encouraged the licensure examination passers to serve their patients and communities with integrity, compassion, and excellence.

“You have truly shown to the whole MMSU community that CHS is the college of topnotchers and top-performing school in nursing, pharmacy, in physical therapy, and, in two years’ time, radiologic technology,” she said.

Beyond the college’s performance in the physical therapy licensure exams, its equally commendable performance in the nursing and pharmacy examinations now places the university among the best health sciences schools in the country. 

In the November 2025 Nurses Licensure Examinations, the college posted a perfect passing rate, earning it the title of Top 1 Performing Nursing School in the Philippines. The university once again became the country's top-performing school in the April 2026 Pharmacists Licensure Examinations, where it obtained a commanding 90.43% institutional passing rate.