Sa kabila ng kanyang pagluluksa, nagtagumpay si Ina Desiree L. Mamauag bilang isa sa topnotchers ng March 2025 Physicians Licensure Examination.
Ang 27-year-old resident ng Jones, Isabela, ay nakapasok sa Top 10, at may rating na 85.50 percent.
Nagtapos si Ina ng Doctor of Medicine sa Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) College of Medicine noong August 2023.
Sa email na ipinadala ng OLFU sa PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last April 19, 2025, hiniling nitong maibahagi ang kuwento ni Ina.
Nakasaad sa email: “Her achievement comes just nine days after experiencing a profound personal tragedy—the loss of her father, the very person who inspired her to pursue medicine.”
Read: John Michael Bundalian Amio: Top 1 in criminology board exam
TRAGEDY BEFORE INA DESIREE MAMAUAG's BOARD EXAM
Noong April 14, nag-post si Ina sa kanyang Facebook account ng larawan nilang mag-ama nung nagtapos ang dalaga ng medisina.
At the time of her posting, lumabas na ang resulta ng board exam.
May mahaba siyang caption (published as is) sa larawan.
Pagsisimula niya: “In all honesty, I never thought I would still make it this far.
“Because to me, PLE isn’t solely about how good your foundation is during med school, how well you did during the preparation and the board exam itself, or how intelligent and hardworking you are as a person.
“It’s more of a test of faith and how you are still able to think critically despite challenges and hardships that come with it.”
Ikinuwento niya ang mga pangyayari bago siya kumuha ng pagsusulit.
“It was March 21, nine days before the board exam, when I lost the very reason why I pursued medicine, my Papa.
“I just finished reviewing Pathology that time, and I ended up with a case of a man suffering from retrosternal chest heaviness for more than 30 minutes not relieved by nitrates.
“The case was asking for a type of necrosis. After answering the last case, I went to bed and said my prayer to God. I asked him to heal my mom [because she was sick that time] and to heal my dad as well if he has any illness that we don’t know about.”
Read: Siddarth Nandyala creates app that detects heart-related issues
DEATH OF INA DESIREE MAMAUAG’S FATHER
Parang biro ng pagkakataon ang nangyari kay Ina.
“Little did I know, while I was asking for God’s healing and protection that time, my sister and my mom were also hustling, trying to revive my father, who was suffering the same fate as the case mentioned above.
“In less than a few seconds after praying, I closed my eyes in preparation for sleep. That’s when I heard my phone ringing. It was my sister calling me at exactly 1:16 a.m.
“With an uneasy mind, I calmly asked her, ‘Bakit?’
“She answered, ‘Ate, na-heart attack si Papa.’”
Pinanatili ni Ina ang hinahon sa kabila ng narinig sa kabilang linya.
“In a most composed way, I asked her again, ‘Na-CPR mo ba siya? Ano ginawa mo?’
“My sister, as calmly as she could, told me the details of how she responded to my father and that they were already at the hospital when she was able to call me.
“From the background, I could hear my mom shouting in pain, crying for help, catching her breath as she was desperately asking for a miracle.
“In despair, I also asked the doctor to make at least 20 epi-CPR, hoping for a divine intervention.”
Pero ayon kay Ina, may ibang plano ang Diyos.
“He took His greatest gift to us, my Papa. For a second, I hoped and wished it was all just a dream, a nightmare.
“But I was vividly awake, and from that moment on, I knew life would never be the same.”
Read: Zach Yadegari: Millionaire at 18, rejected by top universities
INA DESIREE MAMAUAG’S PAINFUL HOMECOMING
Umuwi si Ina sa kanilang probinsiya para agad makita ang mga labi ng kanyang ama.
Habang nasa biyahe, hindi niya maiwasang alalahanin ang mga huling sandali na nakita niya itong buhay pa.
“It was when they brought me to the bus terminal going back to Manila in preparation for my final exam, and the last thing he said was, ‘Pagbalik mo dito, anak, licensed doctor ka na.’”
Ang masakit para kay Ina: “But I haven’t taken my board exam yet; I’m here going back home again.
“The worst part is I’m heading home to a lifeless father.”
Read: The life of Meen: From street sweeper to model, brand ambassador
INA DESIREE MAMAUAG's decision not to take the exam
Ang pagpanaw ng ama ang pinakamasakit na balitang narinig ni Ina sa kanyang buhay.
“Not until I saw him lying on a morgue stretcher, cold, breathless, stiff, not smiling nor moving at all.
“I held his hand, the hand he used to hold and protect me whenever I was scared, the hand he used to provide our needs, the hand he used to guide us, but it’s not holding back anymore.”
Pumasok daw sa isip niyang huwag nang ituloy ang pag-aaral ng medisina..
“I lost my Papa. My body couldn’t handle the reality, the pain, the death of my father.
“The thought that I couldn’t even perform basic life support to my father when he needed it the most consumed me.
“All I could think of was to stop pursuing medicine anymore because I already lost the very reason why I pursued it in the first place.”
Sinabi niya sa kanyang pamilya na hindi na siya kukuha ng board exam.
“My mind was clouded, and I couldn’t think of any reason why I still needed to become a doctor.”
Read: Woman finds real dad thru his old photo, love note to her mom
INA DESIREE MAMAUAG’S LAST CONVERSATION WITH HER DAD
Lumipas ang mga araw, nag-scroll si Ina sa kanyang smartphone at binalikan ang mga pag-uusap nila ng kanyang ama.
“Our last convo was all about how confident he is that I'll pass and top the board exam, that I just need to ask God for guidance and will surely pass and even top it.
“It also led me to think of the time when I asked him to sharpen the pencils I’ll be using for my board exam.”
Bago umano nito iniabot kay Ina ang mga tinasahang lapis, sinambit ng kanyang ama na: “’In Jesus’ Name! Sana ibigay ni Lord yung desire ng heart mo.’”
Dahil doon, napagdesisyunan ni Ina na kailangan niyang ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan.
“That I needed to take the board exam.
“Hence, even with loads of unfinished review materials, with barely even watched intensive review lectures, with a shattered heart and a confused mind, I took the board exam.
“Because I am my Papa’s daughter. I am fueled by his unwavering love, support, and guidance.
“And with God’s help and protection, no amount of trials shall stop me from achieving our goal: to be a licensed medical doctor.”
Sa hulihang bahagi ng kanyang post, isang paalala sa mga makakabasa nito ang ibinahagi ni Ina: “In the midst of life’s trial, let me be a living testimony that our God is a faithful God.
“He hears and grants our prayers according to His will because He is our God who is never without a plan.”
Sa inilabas namang official statement ng OLFU last April 15, pinuri ng unibersidad ang courage and spirit ni Ina, at tinawag ang naging pagsubok sa kanya bilang isang “testament to faith, family, and the unbreakable spirit of a Fatimanian.”
Read: Alona Canovas: From constant late enrollee to board topnotcher