Born to a poor family in Barangay Kirayan Norte, Miagao, Iloilo, George Wilson Ran Escordial defied the odds and clinched the Top 1 spot in the November 2025 Nurses Licensure Examination.
Escordial, an alumnus of West Visayas State University (WVSU), garnered a rating of 93.80 percent to land at the top of the list of more than forty thousand board exam passers.
In an interview with DYRI RMN Iloilo, the Ilonggo topnotcher broke down in tears as he looked back on how he persevered in his studies despite the hardships.
“Maskin ano kabudlay sang kabuhi gakadto ako sa eskwelahan maskin wala balon sang elementary. Sa high school dumduman ko nagmasakit si papa, once a day lang kami gakaon [kag] ang sud-an patis, Barnuts (choco-peanut bars), chichirya,” Escordial shared.
He went on: “Nagtinguha gid ko nga magkadto sa eskwelahan, to do my best, to excel and give them (parents) honor kay amo lang gid na ang mabalik ko sa ila sacrifices kag hardwork.”
Escordial recalled that he also tried to find ways to help ease the financial burden of his parents, who had a hard time sending them to school. His father is carpenter while his mother is a housewife.
“Puro nalang utang kag ako mismo nagahakot balas, nagasag-ob tubig para may extra [income], para makabulig-bulig man [sa] ginikanan,” he said.
According to Escordial, growing up in poverty became his biggest motivation to strive hard, finish his school, achieve his dreams, and give his family a “comfortable and happy life.”
“Proud gid ako sa akon parents…gin-ubra gid nila tanan para mapa-eskwela kami nga tatlo nga mag-utod,” he said.
Escordial shared the top spot with Johannah Marie Gerardo Acevedo, also a WVSU graduate.
WVSU, which posted a 100 percent passing rate, produced a total of 36 topnotchers in the board exam, based on the results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Thursday, Nov. 27.
PRC reported a national passing rate of 90.04 percent, with 40,692 out of 45,192 examinees passing the board exam.IMT
