MANILA, Philippines – The norm is to always interview the topnotcher first. People want to know how he did it, if he’s even great – you know, all that jazz. Along the story, the writer might mention who placed second and third, but the limelight is always on the first-placer.

But let’s give credit where credit is due, especially when the first and second placer of the 2013 Electronics and Communications Engineer (ECE) Board Exam did not only both hail from the Mapúa  Institute of Technology, but are also the closest of friends.

How they met

Rimson and Irister were in the same college, with the same course (BS ECE) and specialization (Power Electronics), so bumping into each other was not impossible.

But staying friends is another thing, what with the competitive world they were in back in college. They participated in national contests together and helped in one of Mapúa’s program that involved peer advising.

Irister says people keep comparing them to each other in college. “We are always asked who’s better. But between us, there’s no competition. In fact, [Rimson] is my mentor and I always look for him whenever I need something. I think the same is true for him, and we’re used to the comparisons.”

More than the academic side, though, they are good (Rimson’s word) and close (Irister’s) friends.

“We’ve shared problems [with each other], both academic and personal,” Rimson shares.

“Maybe the reason we became friends is simply because we both dreamt of becoming an Electronics Engineer and acted to fulfill that dream,” Irister explains.

The sticky-note writer: Irister Javel

Irister Javel, 22, placed second in the board exam. Rimson beat him by 1.1%, but the wide smile in his face during his celebratory party showed no regret whatsoever of his ranking. On the day he knew the results, this Laguna native was unstoppable—he told his mom, grandmother, aunt, and other people who were “his source of strength and motivation.” He was shouting, crying, and being so noisy, even his neighbors knew he passed.

This is definitely not the reaction of someone regretful.

“I am a person who loves to become involved, to develop good relationships, and to be able to contribute positively to society,” Irister muses.

And being involved he did. He was not only academically excellent, but he also shared himself in service to the Mapúa community. As one of the twenty regional finalists of the 2013 Search for Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP), he underwent a formation that aimed to “humanize the achiever” and create outstanding nation-builders.

The TOSP is an award that according to Irister, “aims to recognize students who, more than being academically excellent, have also shown leadership excellence and provided social service rooted on the development of the nation.” He is this year’s lone nominee from Mapúa, and the second Mapúan to be part of the prestigious search.

The TOSP nomination, plus his high placing in the board exam, must be putting pressure on him. But, as he wrote in a sticky note once, he says ‘No to Pressure!’

“I think I should hold onto [the sticky note] longer,” he jokes.

This now-licensed engineer has no specific industry he wants to enter in yet, but he definitely wants to be a teacher.

“One thing I’m certain right now is that I will choose to be involved with something that I love. I believe that we are at our best when we do what we love.”

In a way, Irister is idealistic, and he thinks this is why, ironically, he is realistic too.

“It scares me to think of losing the concept of being idealistic. It’s like putting a limit whereas potentially you can go way beyond what you set for yourself. We are able to move forward because we hold onto ideals that we can carry on.”

In his truly bubbly way, he created an acronym out of the letters of his course–tips which he lived by to get to where he is now.

“Excellence is a standard. Always remember that you are not just preparing for the examination itself but you are ensuring that you may become an excellent electronics engineer.”

“Keep the child in you. A child is curious—make sure to keep yourself interested. A child also loves to play—make sure to give yourself a break.”

“Learn to entrust. Though the licensure exam is to be faced alone, the truth is, you are never alone in this battle. You carry with you the people who believe in you and you are guided by the Almighty Father. You must learn where to put your confidence. Believe!”

The guy who cleans: Rimson Junio

This was how Rimson knew he was topnotcher: saddened by how he performed in the exam, he flew home to Pangasinan, turned his phone to airplane mode to avoid calls, and told his parents (both abroad) not to expect him to top the exam, nay, not even get into the top ten.

And then he answered a phone call meant for his brother. It was his aunt, who said: “Alam mo na yung balita? Top one ka sa board!” (Do you know the news? You’ve topped the board!)

It was, by far, the happiest moment in Rimson’s life.

Rimson Junio, 20, thinks he barely passed college. Hearing that from a topnotcher makes the rest of us look bad, but he explains himself, “I did not enjoy going to [all school activities] but I did join some activities and went to outings. Believe it or not, I got drunk in most of those.”

It is hard to believe, indeed, especially with his student affiliations. He dedicated more than two years of college in an organization called Center for Student Advising where he taught students who needed help in their academic concerns.

“To keep them in line with their goals,” he continues and adds, “Sounds too noble!”

And if it is nobility we’re talking about, Rimson shies away from it too. After all, topping the ECE board exam means getting the media’s attention, and it is attention he wanted the least. “I don’t like catching too much attention because in some way it can control you and change you into something you don’t want to be.”

“Topping the board isn’t everything and it doesn’t strip you off the license of having failures or [looking] dumb sometimes,” he adds.

Clearly, he is not afraid of failing. But getting the top spot in a major exam is not all that easy, either. So what does a Rimson do to de-stress?

He cleans.

“You might find it weird but when I was at home and super stressed, I washed my clothes, washed the dishes, or cleaned the house,” he shares. It does sound weird, but not after he adds that he stress-eat too, like most stressed people do. Yep, he’s still one of us.

Now that he’s a licensed engineer, he admits that while he still has no clear direction on what to do next, he would like to see an engineering world that lets people grow in it.

But he knows the world he’s about to enter is not an ideal one, just as he is no longer an idealistic person. Take the board exams, for example, where he exceeded his own expectation. It must have been more fulfilling that way.

“Start with the belief that you don’t know that much,” he tells future topnotchers. – Rappler.com