BAYBAY CITY, Leyta — Jose Arnil Colina Corong Jr., a graduate of Visayas State University (VSU), emerged as the topnotcher among 3,264 successful examinees in the February 2026 Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination (MELE).
Corong secured the first-place position with a stellar rating of 93.25%, significantly outpacing the national passing rate of 51.86% reported by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Out of 6,294 hopefuls who took the exam across the country from February 11 to 13, Corong stood at the top of the list.
The VSU-Main Campus achieved a 71.43% passing rate, producing 20 new mechanical engineers. Meanwhile, VSU Isabel, an external campus, added 10 more to the roster. With a total of 30 newly licensed professionals, VSU continues to solidify its reputation as a premier institution for mechanical engineering in the Philippines.
For Corong, the only cum laude of his BSME batch, the journey to the top began long before the review season. He credited his success to a foundation built during his undergraduate years, inspired by his instructor, Engr. Mark Anthony S. Arcayan, who himself topped the February 2022 board exam.
“My preparations started way back on my first day in college. During review days, I applied the strategies that best suited my learning style—strategies that I discovered while I was still studying at the Visayas State University. I was very intentional in all the little details,” Corong said in an interview.
Recalling his inspiration, he added: “Seeing that our instructor topped the board exam made the goal more concrete. I figured that if I were in the same school, with the same exposure and training, why not try?”
The Mechanical Engineering board is widely regarded as one of the most grueling licensure exams in the country due to its rigorous coverage of mathematics, physics, thermodynamics, and machine design. Corong’s approach relied on discipline and a philosophy of incremental progress.
“Don’t focus too much on distant goals. Shift your focus on what you can do now. Be intentional. Over time, watch how your efficiency compounds.”
He further emphasized the importance of preparation over mere ambition: “You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.”
Corong attributed his milestone to the unwavering support of his family, partner, friends, and the VSU Department of Mechanical Engineering (DME). He noted that the confidence his mentors had in him pushed him to excel.
“They had great faith in me. It kind of rubbed off on me, so I felt the responsibility to give my best. They planted the seeds,” he said, referring to the faculty.
The February 2026 MELE was conducted in various testing centers nationwide, including the National Capital Region, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Zamboanga.| (PIA, Riza Mae L. Maningo, VSU-UIMPA)
