Si Justin Adriel Zent Gautier Togonon, mas kilala bilang Jaz, ang Top 1 among the 5,958 examinees sa October 2022 Physician Licensure Examination.
Nakakuha siya ng rating na 89 percent.
Ang 25 years old na tubong Iloilo City ay nagtapos sa College of Medicine ng University of the Philippines-Manila noong August 7 bilang magna cum laude.
Sadyang isang achiever, nagtapos din si Jaz bilang valedictorian sa Philippines Science High School-Western Visayas Campus.
Sa panayam sa kanya ng inquirer.net noong November 10, inamin niyang pinaghandaan niya ang licensure exam.
Nagagawa umano niyang magsingit ng isa hanggang dalawang oras ng pagre-review habang naka-duty siya bilang intern sa Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Ani Jaz, “So that’s what we did during internship, and then I’ve had like a four or five-month period of really studying intently during that period.”
At nang papalapit na ang mismong araw ng exam, sinikap niyang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili.
“Because once you’ve already tried to store all the information in your head, it’s more of trying to actively recall and extract that information.
“Take rest din and have few cheat days na watching Netflix, spending time with your family, and then going out then with your friends also.”
“TAKE IT ONE EXAM AT A TIME”
Ganito ani Jazz ang kanyang naging mindset dahil na rin sa mga ipinayo sa kanya ng kanyang seniors tungkol sa kakaharapin niyang licensure exam.
“It’s a four-day exam, as what our upperclassmen told us.
“You’re not doing a 100-meter sprint. Don’t think that you’re Usain Bolt, think that you’re doing four triathlons.”
Payo pa umano ng mga ito, “Take it one exam at a time. And then after that event, wala na, leave it behind na, and focus your attention on the remaining exam na.”
HINDI INAKALANG MAGIGING TOP 1
Sa kabila ng kanyang kahandaan, nabigla pa rin siya Jazz noong siya ang naging Top 1. Nahirapan kasi siya during the exam kaya ang nasa isip na lang niya pagkatapos ay sana makapasa siya.
“After day one, I was really down. My mom really tried to cheer me up. Even my classmates know, we were all cheering each other up.
“At the end of the four days, parang all of us agreed na, sige kung ano na lang yung nandiyan. What’s important naman is that we pass.”
Usapan pa umano nila ay super happy na talaga sila kung makakapasa.
“It’s an achievement already for us.”
THANKFUL NA IBINIGAY NI LORD
Humabol lang din si Jaz sa huling araw ng application para mag-exam.
"Because I was still having second doubts. I was thinking to myself, maybe I can learn one or two more things if I push back na March [2023] na lang ako mag-apply.”
Kaya nagulat siya nang lumabas na ang resulta.
“I was really, really shocked actually. After seeing my personal assessment of my performance on day one, I said, 'Uy, parang wala na...'
“But you know, still thankful na ibinigay ni Lord.
"Sobrang thankful talaga namin. Sobrang in shock! Elated talaga yung parents ko, mga kapatid ko. It's a happy occasion here at home po."
EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE ANG PANDEMIC
Ibinahagi rin ni Jazz ang naging experience bilang intern noong pumutok ang pandemya.
“That was really an eye-opening experience to most of us here na mga medical students noong time na yun.
"There were a lot of deaths from frontline workers, mga professors namin.
"That time parang napapaisip ka na rin if it would be worth it.
"But over time, parang thinking about it you'd turn it na lang into a source of inspiration, to protect yourself and your family.
"And then to use their stories to fuel your drive further to serve the Filipino people.”
Sa ngayon ay plano ni Jazz na magturo at maging surgeon sa hinaharap.
Gusto rin niyang makita na maisulong sa ating bansa na ang kalusugan ay isang karapatan para sa mga Pilipino.
"Na wala na sanang Pilipinong mamumulubi dahil sa mga bill sa medical expenses sa mga ospital.”