An Unplanned Journey to Top 2: The Inspiring Story of Engr. Jan Patrick Barboco, 2nd Placer in the 2025 Civil Engineering Licensure Exam
Placing Top 2 in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination, Engr. Jan Patrick D. Barboco of PHINMA – University of Pangasinan proves that success is possible with perseverance and faith. Jan Patrick admits he wasn’t motivated at first—college life was about mobile games, anime, and basketball. But everything changed when he realized he could excel. Joining competitions and earning the trust of his mentors sparked his drive to aim higher.
Placing Top 2 in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination, Engr. Jan Patrick D. Barboco of PHINMA – University of Pangasinan proves that success is possible with perseverance and faith.
Jan Patrick admits he wasn’t motivated at first—college life was about mobile games, anime, and basketball. But everything changed when he realized he could excel. Joining competitions and earning the trust of his mentors sparked his drive to aim higher.
His strategy? Consistency and discipline. He started preparing as early as third year, without a review center—just self-study. During review season, he solved 200–300 problems daily, helped friends understand concepts, and prioritized 8 hours of sleep. For tough topics, he gave extra time, believing that mastering the hard ones strengthens the basics.
The journey wasn’t easy. Exam rescheduling disrupted his momentum, but he bounced back by pushing harder during the final month. Through pressure and burnout, he relied on faith:
"We don’t know what the future holds, so surrender it to Him."
His advice to future engineers:
"Even if it feels like a long shot, fight for it. Push through. And remember—Engineers against corruption!"
Engr. Jan Patrick’s story reminds us that success isn’t about where you start—it’s about how you finish. Stay focused, keep learning, and trust the process.
ENGR. JAN PATRICK BARBOCO
Top 2, November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination
PHINMA - University of Pangasinan
Personal Journey
Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you studied?
I'm Jan Patrick D. Barboco, from Phinma-University of Pangasinan.
When did you start preparing for the board exams?
I started preparing for boards since 3rd year without a review center just by myself.
What motivated you to pursue civil engineering and to aim for the top?
At first I'm not motivated, sabay lang talaga sa agos. I only play mobile games, watch anime and play basketball during my early years in college. I don't have grades to maintain since I'm not a scholar, so I just do what I want. Nagstart lang talaga yun nung naramdaman ko na kaya palang sumabay sa mga idol ko. Nagsnowball nalang lahat yun, since nagtiwala sila sakin and we join competitions during college days. Sobrang saya lang nung feeling na kinakaya mo yung hirap ng engineering subjects. I saw everything as a reason to continue.
Study Habits and Strategies
How did you structure your review (daily routine, schedule, or approach)?
I spend a lot of time reviewing, solving 200-300 problems a day this is only during review days, helping my friends to understand the concepts helps me a lot and I sleep 8 hrs.
What review materials or techniques worked best for you?
Learn from my instructors then practice solving until I master the lesson.
How did you handle subjects or topics you found difficult?
I'm always giving time to them, because learning difficult topics means learning the basic ones.
I just solve random topics because I know, we all know there is a guy, he is too random, giving random topics in the board exam, I respect him, he is great. I practice decoding erroneous problems for I know, no one is perfect. Even legends commit mistakes or maybe it is already the system? I answer problems incorrectly, because they lead you to the right one. They made the board exam too challenging.
Mindset and Challenges
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your review journey?
The rescheduling of the exam made me stop for a month, momentum change, sobrang blanko talaga, although I got the courage to continue for the last month solved preboard examinations everyday and only stopped solving, started reading formulas and reading concepts two days before the examination. Took the exam with a lot of pressure.
How did you stay motivated and focused despite burnout, pressure, or self-doubt?
Hindi ko alam if may patutunguhan yung mga ginagawa ko, nagtiwala lang ako sa itaas. Since we all don't know what the future holds, whatever you think surrender it to him.
Advice to Future Takers
Kahit minsan may mga bagay sobrang suntok sa buwan, and maraming pumipigil dito, Ilaban lang natin yan, bomba sa apat na letra. Lastly, Engineers against corruption!