After losing his mother and experiencing a two-year delay in college, Clement Paul Susada Dacuscus of Midsayap, Cotabato, placed seventh nationwide in the September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination with a rating of 92.35%.
A graduate of Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Dacuscus overcame grief, a failed subject and months of board exam preparation away from his family to achieve his goal of becoming a licensed civil engineer.
Both his parents were secondary school mathematics teachers who nurtured his interest in numbers and problem-solving. Their influence helped inspire his choice of civil engineering, but his mother’s death became a painful turning point.
“Labis kong dinamdam ang kanyang pagpanaw, ngunit sa kabila ng sakit at kawalan, kailangan kong tanggapin ang katotohanan: kailangan kong magpatuloy,” he shared.
His academic path was far from straightforward. After four years at a state university, he transferred to Notre Dame of Kidapawan College. Failing a subject delayed his studies by two years, but support from his family and mentors helped him continue toward graduation.
He later enrolled at Megareview Center, spending months away from home to prepare for the licensure examination. Instead of relying only on memorization, he concentrated on understanding engineering principles, reviewing mistakes and practicing active recall to strengthen his knowledge.
Dacuscus took the board examination in Cebu City on Sept. 26 and 27. His 92.35% rating secured seventh place nationwide, completing a journey shaped by personal loss, academic setbacks and years of determination.
He dedicated the achievement to his family, mentors, friends and late grandfather, who had inspired his ambition to become an engineer.
Now licensed, Dacuscus hopes his journey encourages students facing academic failure or delays to keep working toward their goals.
“Sa mga kapwa ko mag-aaral, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa sa tuwing may mga pagsubok na dumating,” he said.
