When Dreams Wait, Discipline Speaks: How Engr. Vincent Cagampang Overcame Delays to Become a CELE Top 5 Passer in November 2022
When the pandemic disrupted his first shot at the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination in May 2020, Engr. Vincent Cagampang of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila had no choice but to put his dream on hold. Two years of working in the field passed before he returned to his review in May 2022 - determined to fulfill both his own aspirations and the last wish of his late stepfather: to see him in the top 10. In November 2022, he made that dream a reality, placing 5th nationwide.
ENGR. VINCENT CAGAMPANG
5th Place, November 2022 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination
Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila
Full-Time Instructor, Review Innovation
When the pandemic disrupted his first shot at the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE) in May 2020, Engr. Vincent Cagampang of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila had no choice but to put his dream on hold. Two years of working in the field passed before he returned to his review in May 2022 - determined to fulfill both his own aspirations and the last wish of his late stepfather: to see him in the top 10. In November 2022, he made that dream a reality, placing 5th in the CELE.
Originally eyeing a career in education, Engr. Vincent found himself in civil engineering almost by chance. But his love for teaching never left him - pushing him to aim for the top as a way to enter the classroom as an instructor and review mentor. His preparation was built on discipline: waking up at 5:30 AM, using the Pomodoro technique, making notebook summaries, and mastering formulas through the Anki app. Balance, he says, was key - mixing in short gaming sessions as “cooldowns” to avoid burnout.
Engr. Cagampang admits returning to “zero” after two years away from study was his toughest challenge. To overcome this, he listed down difficult subjects and made it a habit to explain them to classmates - teaching as a way to master. Even setbacks, such as missing the top 10 in early pre-board exams, only fueled him to cut distractions and sharpen his focus.
For aspiring civil engineers, Engr. Vincent emphasizes three things: aim for perfection to push your discipline higher, keep a notebook summary alongside a good sleep schedule, and most importantly - enjoy the journey. “No matter if you were just an average student in college, set your goal high. If I was able to do it, so can you.”
Today, as a full-time instructor at Review Innovation, Engr. Vincent stands as proof that setbacks can be turned into comebacks - through discipline, resilience, and purpose.
Personal Journey
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you studied?
I am Engr. Vincent Cagampang from Polytechnic University of the Philippines, graduated May 2019. 2. When did you start preparing for the board exams?
Nagprep ako for may 2020 na board tho alam nyo naman siguro ang nangyari, 1 and half month before board exam biglang nagkaroon ng Covid and nacancel ang board exam. Nagwork ako for 2 years, and bumalik ako May 2022 for Nov 2022 board exam.
3. What motivated you to pursue civil engineering and to aim for the top?
Educ ang no. 1 option ko noon pero since di natanggap medical ko sa PNU, napilitan akong mag-PUP,nagbago ang ihip ng hangin at bigla na lang akong nag CE. Nag aim ako mag top, simply para magamit ko ito at makapagturo sa mga university or review center, ito kasi ung naiisip kong way para makaturo agad. Ang driving force ko rin para magtop ay aking late step father na nawala noong COVID days (Sept 2020), nagka-cancer at may taning na ang buhay nya during my May 2020 board exam preparation, kaya sobrang sakit sakin nung biglang hindi ito natuloy dahil parang inaantay nya na lang matapos ang board exam ko. Ang last na wish nya sakin noon is sana makita nya akong makapasok sa top 10, kaya lang hindi natuloy ang board nung may 2020, kaya tinodo ko talaga nung nagprep na ako for Nov 2022 board.
Study Habits and Strategies
1. How did you structure your review (daily routine, schedule, or approach)?
One month before review session sa RI, nagready na ko. First 2 weeks is about consistency, since back to zero ako dahil nga nagwork ako ng 2 years, kailangan ko magkaroon ng disiplina. Yung unang 2 weeks, pinilit ko gawin ang mga sumusunod:
• Wake up 5:30 am and Sleep before 9 am
• Pomodoro technique
• Notebook summary
• Gumamit rin ako ng ANKi app para sa ibang formula and terms which is ginagawa ko for one hour.
• Naglalaro din ako ng dota( 1 game) kapag pagod na. Ang tawag ko dun ay cooldown.
• Balance lang dapat, mahirap magtop kapag di mo naeenjoy ang preparation mo.
2. What review materials or techniques worked best for you?
Di ako gaano gumamit noon ng mga books, focus lang ako sa module ng RI. Pomodoro technique, Notebook Summary and Anki app ang best para sa akin.
3. How did you handle subjects or topics you found difficult?
Before start of review, meron akong masterlist. Nakalagay dun mga subject na hirap ako nung college. After the lecture sa RI nung topic na nahihirapan ako, imemessage ko yung mga classmate ko para ituro ko sa kanila yung topic. Teaching the topic makes you master it.So yun ang way ko pag nahihirapan ako sa subject, itatry ko syang ituro.
Mindset and Challenges
1. What were the biggest challenges you faced during your review journey?
Yung back to zero ka, laging factor yung nagwork ako for 2 years. Halos natunaw lahat ng mga natutunan ko nung college.
2. How did you stay motivated and focused despite burnout, pressure, or self-doubt?
Once na maburnout, nagdodota lang ako, yun ung pinakapahinga ko talaga. Dun ko binubuhos lahat, kahit kampi ko tatrashtalkin ko haha. Once naman natapos na yung laro, balik aral na ulit. Pag nafefeel ko na mahina ako, iniisip ko na lang na malayo na ko sa dati. Sobrang adik ko kasi sa dota noon to the point na umaabot ako ng 7 am sa comshop tapos ngayon nageaim na magtop.
3. Did you ever experience setbacks or low points? How did you bounce back?
Wala ako sa top 10 ng first preboard sa RI. Di ko na lang inisip yung result, inisip ko na lang na basta mataas score ko. Since di ako nakapasok, mas dinisiplina ko pa sarili ko ng kaunti, yung cp screen time medyo binawasan ko na. Hindi kasi option ang maging malungkot sa mga result ng eval exam/ preboard exam, ang mindset ko is dapat makaisip agad ng solution and maging better sa susunod na araw.
Advice to Future Takers
1. What are your top 3 review tips for future board exam takers?
a. I-aim mo maperfect ang exam, yes mahirap pero kapag ganyan mindset mo ganyan din level ng disiplina mo. Di mo man makuha ang perfect score, sobrang laking chance na makuha mo yung pagiging topnotcher. No matter kung average or below average student ka nung college, I aim mo maperfect ang exam. Ako nga nagawa ko eh, ikaw pa kaya.
b. Mag-notebook summary ka, kahit anong talino mo di sapat ang stock knowledge sa board exam prep. May mga times na may makakalimutan ka. Isama mo na rin ang pomodoro technique at ang Magandang sleep schedule mo.
c. Enjoyin mo yung prep, mas magiging madali ang lahat kapag ineenjoy mo sya.
2. If you could talk to your “reviewing self” a year ago, what would you say?
Thank you kasi inilaban mo, may maganda kang work sa future dahil sa tiyaga mo.