From Failing Integral Calculus to Top 10 in the November 2025 CELE: The “Redemption Arc” of Engr. Raniel Dann Irag
Behind every topnotcher is a story and Engr. Raniel Dann M. Irag’s story is one of redemption, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to become the best version of himself. Hailing from Davao City and a proud graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, Engr. Irag’s journey toward becoming a Top 10 passer in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE) is anchored not only in academic discipline, but in deep personal purpose.
ENGR. RANIEL DANN M. IRAG
TOP 10 CELE NOV 2025
ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY
Behind every topnotcher is a story and Engr. Raniel Dann M. Irag’s story is one of redemption, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to become the best version of himself. Hailing from Davao City and a proud graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, Engr. Irag’s journey toward becoming a Top 10 passer in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE) is anchored not only in academic discipline, but in deep personal purpose.
A Journey Rooted in Hope and Purpose
Raniel began preparing for the board exams even before graduation. After completing his last academic obligations—final exams, thesis, graduation requirements—he immediately shifted into review mode.
His reason was simple: “My momentum was still there, and I needed that to stay focused.”
While others took a break after college, he saw the transition as an opportunity. Without delay, he enrolled in a review center and committed himself fully to the long, demanding months ahead.
A Dream Fueled by Family and Redemption
For Engr. Irag, civil engineering wasn’t just a profession - it was a calling to contribute to the nation’s progress.
He wanted to be part of building a developing Philippines.
He wanted to honor the trust of the people who supported him.
But above all, he wanted to make his loved ones proud - especially his mother, an OFW working as a babysitter abroad.
“I want to make them feel that their struggles and efforts in supporting me are worth it.”
Yet behind his success lies a personal chapter he calls his “redemption arc.”
In college, he did not graduate with honors. He missed his dream of becoming a Cum Laude after failing Integral Calculus. That painful chapter became the fire that ignited his pursuit of excellence.
Becoming a topnotcher was his way of rewriting his academic story.
“I was desperate to become a topnotcher… so I quadrupled my effort.”
His Study Habits: Consistency Over Perfection
Raniel faithfully followed his review center’s schedule, trusting their structured approach to cover all CELE topics. But when it came to solving problem sets, he embraced a different strategy—one he calls “freestyle”: no fixed time, but with a non-negotiable rule:
No backlogs. No topic left behind.
He understood that mastering every set required patience, discipline, and laser-focused consistency.
His most effective technique?
Mastery through repetition.
For difficult topics, he solved problems again and again—until they felt easy.
The Toughest Part: Freedom Given Up
While many feared certain subjects, Engr. Irag’s biggest challenge was more personal.
“I felt like a prisoner.”
He isolated himself, distancing from hobbies and old routines to give his full attention to reviewing. The sacrifice was overwhelming, but necessary.
Staying Motivated: Respecting Human Limits
Even the most disciplined reviewers reach a breaking point. But Engr. Irag’s strength lay in understanding what many forget:
Rest is part of productivity.
He battled burnout and pressure not by pushing harder, but by pausing, breathing, and giving his mind and body space to recover.
“We are only humans. We need to respect our body’s limitations.”
His Best Advice to Future Civil Engineers
His top three tips are simple yet powerful:
1. Eat well. Fuel your body with nutritious food—your brain needs it.
2. Stay focused. Stay disciplined. Don’t procrastinate.
3. Sleep well. 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep can make or break your retention, focus, and performance.
He also encourages future engineers to aim high: “Do not settle for less. Aim for the top and everything else will follow.”
And to every aspiring civil engineer: “Do not compromise your principles. Never sacrifice integrity for personal gain. Our duty is to ensure the safety of society—always.”
Engr. Raniel Dann M. Irag’s story is more than a tale of academic success.
It is the triumph of discipline over doubt, purpose over pressure, and integrity over convenience.
His journey reminds us that the best engineers are not only those who excel in numbers -
but those who build with honesty, conscience, and heart.
Personal Journey
Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you studied?
I am Engr. Raniel Dann M. Irag, I am from Davao City, and I studied at Ateneo de Davao University.
When did you start preparing for the board exams?
After all my obligations in school (i.e. Final exams, Thesis, Graduation applications, Graduation pictorial, etc.) and even before our graduation, I immediately started to prepare for the upcoming CELE. So, from school acads I immediately enrolled in a review center, because for me my momentum in studying is still there and I needed that momentum to stay focus on my review.
What motivated you to pursue civil engineering and to aim for the top?
The thing that motivated me to pursue civil engineering is the idea that our country is always developing as time goes by, and I want to have a part of that development. Because, as we all know, when we say “development,” civil engineers play a major role, especially in planning and building sustainable structures and infrastructures.
My family, friends, the one who supported me and especially my mother which is an OFW (babysitter) keeps me motivated to aim for becoming a topnotcher in the board exam, because I want to make them the proudest people on earth, and I want to make them feel that their struggles and efforts in supporting me is all worth it. Also, I aimed in becoming a topnotcher because I considered it as my major achievement in my academic journey. Because I graduated in college without any awards, and I failed to achieve my dream of becoming a Cum Laude because I have failed one subject which is the Integral Calculus. So, becoming a topnotcher in the CELE board exam was like my “redemption arc”. Keeping that in mind, I did not only doubled my effort, but quadrupled it because I am so desperate in becoming a topnotcher.
Study Habits and Strategies
How did you structure your review (daily routine, schedule, or approach)?
Since I enrolled to a review center, I just followed their schedule or structure in covering all the topics that are needed for the board exam. On the other hand, I have no certain schedule in completing or studying the sets that are given by my review center (I just “free styled” it), and I aimed that I will have no backlogs or topic that is left behind after the review.
What review materials or techniques worked best for you?
For me, it is best to enroll in a review center because all the materials and sets will be given to you. The only thing that you need to do is to complete and master all the sets and practice problems that are given to you. It sounds easy but it needs focus, discipline and dedication to “complete” all the sets that are given.
How did you handle subjects or topics you found difficult?
I mastered the topic that I found difficult through studying and solving problems related to it repeatedly until I found it easy.
Mindset and Challenges
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your review journey?
For me, the biggest challenge during my review journey is the feeling of being a “prisoner” because I isolated and limited myself from doing the things I did before so I could focus more on reviewing.
How did you stay motivated and focused despite burnout, pressure, or self-doubt?
I stay motivated and focused despite burnout, pressure, or self-doubt by resting, because remember that we are only humans, and we need to respect our body’s limitations.
Advice to Future Takers
What are your top 3 review tips for future board exam takers?
Eatwell - don’t forget to eat healthy foods during your review days because our body and mind needs nutrition stay focus throughout the day.
Study well – stay focused, avoid distractions, and don’t procrastinate.
Sleep well – for our brain to function at its ultimate condition, we need to have 7-8 hours of straight and uninterrupted sleep and we also need this to efficiently retain the concepts and formulas that we studied.
If you could talk to your “reviewing self” a year ago, what would you say?
“We made it to the top!”
3. What mindset should future engineers have as they prepare for the board exam?
Do not settle for less and aim for top and everything else will follow, the proper sleep, proper study habit, and discipline.
Any final message to inspire future civil engineers?
To my fellow civil engineers and future civil engineers, I hope we adhere to our principles and do not compromise the integrity of any structures for personal gain. We must remember that our top priority is the safety of our society.