iKalinga ranks 7th in 2025 Respiratory Therapists board exam

Behind every achievement is a story of perseverance and hard work amid barriers to success.

For an iKalinga respiratory therapist, her journey to topping the board exam includes overcoming loss while she was out preparing for her test.

Karyl Joyce Dawadao who finished her degree at the Cagayan State University in July 2024 was named top 7 in the February 2025 Respiratory Therapist Licensure Examination (RTLE).

Before the remarkable feat, however, she had to deal with a ‘great heartbreak’ while she was in Manila preparing for the board exam in November last year.

“Biggest heartbreak ko during my review is yung namatay yung pinsan ko.  [I] Badly want to go home pero ang sabi sa akin ng tita ko who is yung mama nung pinsan ko, ay huwag na raw since marami naman na sila sa amin na tumutulong ken makidanggay. Magfocus na lang daw ng magfocus,” she recounted, adding that she was close to her cousin making it harder for her.

While she was grieving, Karyl who is from Rizal, Kalinga followed her aunt’s advice to focus on her review. She then used the experience as her motivation to push through and do better in her study, managing her time to go over all the readings she needed.

In spite of her extensive preparations, the 23-year-old admitted she did not expect to be included in the list of topnotchers.

“I didn’t expect to. Marami kasi akong hindi sure na sagot during my exams. Cried for that one subject also kasi akala ko babagsak na ako sa kahirap nung mga tanong. Sinabi ko pa na kahit maka 80 lang sana ako doon na subject,” she said.

Secret to topping the boards

When asked what she thinks is the secret to topping the board exam, she answered it is ‘faith and trust in God’.

“Ang pinakasecret lang diyan is your faith and trust in God, as long as you did your best na magreview at mag-aral, itiwala mo na lahat sa Kaniya. He will really give what you are praying for,” she said.

As for her advice to those who will be taking the RTLE next, she said “study all the areas covered by the exam and don’t forget to pause and rest when tired, before going back to reading.” Above all, she said, prayer is the best weapon to pass the board exam.