MHAM alumna-topnotcher: Dr. Venil Lovely E. Bolambao
“To become a doctor has always been my dream”…
This has been the very words of Dr. Venil Lovely Estella Bolambao whose name has made MHAM trended on news portals as she landed the first place during the February 2015 Physician Licensure Examination.
With a 88.33 percent grade out of 832 takers nationwide, Dr. Bolambao could only unfold her most-promising dream when she was still young, enamored by a television series character who became a teenage medical practitioner.
Yes it was. Twenty-two years ago, a first-grader Love- as she is fondly called, was one of the ardent televiewers of Doogie Howser, MD, an American comedy-drama television series portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. Twenty years after, fate has come on its way as this intellectually-gifted girl who was born and raised in Talisay City had earned a meritorious recognition after topping the February 2015 Physician Licensure Examination. For her, gone were the days of Dr. Doggie Howser. From such time, it was she who played and portrayed the real drama in real life. Behold, she became the headline.
A recipient of MHAM full scholarship grant, she expressed her undying gratitude to her Alma Mater along with those fruitful years as she was blessed with genuine friends and supportive mentors. Out of 594 passers nationwide, all eighteen (18) first-time MHAM examinees passed the examination.
Interview with the pride of MHAM, Venil Lovely E. Bolambao, RN, MD at Chong Hua Hospital…
“We were in a beach resort when I was told about the results and in explicit delight I knelt down with tears as I didn’t expect to become the top 1 although it was my aim to be in the top 10”, said Dr. Bolambao with an elated smile.
This 29-year old former post graduate intern and sophomore resident at Chong Hua Hospital at present was dedicating her academic triumph to her beloved grandmother who passed away in 2010. Looking back, her grandmother took care of her when she was still young and was Dr. Love’s first mentor aside from accompanying her to Marie Ernestine School-Ramos Branch where she graduated in elementary as the class valedictorian in 1999.
One-on-one with the TOP 1: Venil Lovely E. Bolambao, RN, MD
Q: So you were saying that your grandmother contributed much of your academic journey?
Dr. Bolambao: Yes, she was. My Lola used to prepare a pre-test at home before a particular examination inside the classroom took place. Her way of creating a test paper was more difficult than my teachers back then. Filling the blanks was always present along with her clever ways not to put pressure on me but as a challenge for me to keep going. Moreover, I was brought up into practice and develop a good study habits along with the love of reading because of my Lola Visitacion. My faith tells me that wherever she is right now, she is happy that my childhood dream became a reality.
Q: And your parents?
Dr. Bolambao: My father (Venancio) was working as a bank manager before he retired and my mother (Nilda) was a committed businesswoman. Both of them were occupied on their work and that was the main reason why I was with my Lola during my elementary years as I am the youngest. At present, they are enjoying in their 60’s and I dedicate my lifetime achievement to them who worked hard for me and my sister’s future.
Beaming with pride, her parents used to be at the center stage every time Dr. Lovely received an academic award rooted from her willful spirit in taking her studies responsibly. In 2003, she graduated at the Cebu City National Science High School reaping the second honorable mention award and had been active into extra-curricular activities.
Because it was her dream to become a full-pledge physician, she took up Nursing as her pre-med degree at the Cebu Normal University and graduated in 2007, earning the honors as Cum Laude. She passed the Nursing board exam on the same year and decided to teach in CNU for two years as a Clinical Instructor.
Dr. Bolambao with the rest of the Matias graduates in April 2013…
Heaven must have heard her prayers where she draws strength from life’s challenges when she availed the Matias Hipolito C. Aznar full-scholarship grant. For four years, she was able to maintain a 2.0 average grade as required and to make it more laudable, Dr. Lovely graduated as Magna Cum Laude during the April 2013 College of Medicine Commencement Exercises.
The pride of MHAM…
Q: Are you the type of student who used to be a book’s best friend but lacks social life in general?
Dr. Bolambao: Most people think I was that kind but on the contrary I have a very active social life with favorable friends who saw my ups and downs and knew me very well. Like any other typical student who does not want pressures especially during major examinations, I normally take things soothingly although I am really committed into studies. There were times wherein my concern was more on my love life status instead of worrying a major exam. It made me chuckled as I remember those memories where my close friends would make sermons to set aside personal issues before taking those major exams. In addition, I can also relate to anyone who is hooked with Defense of the Ancients (DotA) games as I used to be a game warrior inside the internet cafes together with other DotA players. Most of all, I am still single but wonderfully blessed with a happy love life.
Q: Bearing the tag line #WeAreMHAM, what are your special MHAMemories?
Dr. Bolambao: There were lots of memories I had to treasure with, being a MHAM student. Having such genuine friends who are also academically-inclined is worth-remembering for and I was and am truly blessed. There was ‘life’ as I connote it during my Medicine studies and it was just a remarkable throwback.
Dr. Lovely’s MHAMemories…
A year after Dr. Bolambao’s feat, another MHAM product- Dr. Al Patrick Alajas once again made headlines when he landed as top 1 among 483 passers during the March 16, 2016 Physician Licensure Examination with 88.67 percent grade out of 1,044 takers nationwide.
Pass-it-on: Inheriting the pride of being a MHAM product- 2016 and 2015 Physician Licensure Examination 1st placers (Dr. Al Patrick Alajas and Dr. Venil Lovely Bolambao) in a phenomenal memoir…
Unknown to many, Dr. Bolambao and Dr. Alajas were both addicted to DotA games and these first placers were former classmates inside the internet cafes along with their DotA titles as scourge and sentinel zealous warriors. Twisting it aright, Dr. Bolambao was his Clinical Instructor and who guided him throughout his entire medical schooling. Before Dr. Alajas took the 2016 examination, he and his former CI took a memorable pose and posted it online along with many wishes from friends and mutual friends, wishing the former to pass the feat to the latter. Days after, such phenomenal memoir became real with unstoppable online news feeds.
To date, Dr. Bolambao is in her second year as a resident-physician at Chong Hua Hospital specializing Internal Medicine. “I am happy here at Chong Hua where I can feel the spirit of belongingness surrounded by working people in a family-mode environment. I must say that the training here had met my expectations”, Dr. Bolambao said.
Q: What are your other plans in the future?
Dr. Bolambao: I look forward to become a dedicated physician as I always dream for, aside from my desire to help the poor patients. In years time, I also want to give back to my Alma Mater by sharing the knowledge in the medical field through teaching. Yes, I do want to teach in MHAM.
MHAM Recognition Ceremony: (L-R): Dr. Allan Librando, Dr. Dale Yu Pasco, Dr. Annette Salillas, Dr. Arlene Diaz, Mrs. Elma Aznar-Sierra, Dr. Venil Lovely Bolambao, Dr. Ma. Socorro Manaloto, Dr. Luditha Lumapat-Pe
and Dr. Ma. Yvonne Lanuza
As this MHAM product recalled, it was an honor to join the other top ten awardees at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last March, 2015 as she received the most signifying lifetime award being the first placer. She was joined by the college dean Dr. Arlene M. Diaz together with her beloved parents who were beaming once again with pride.
Here comes the prize: Dr. Venil and her suzuki celerio
Overwhelming interviews from local media and opportunities followed and to complete her delight, a recognition ceremony from her Alma Mater was held inside the campus where she was rewarded with a brand new suzuki celerio car. For her, it was more than a wheel of fortune.
With the 1st placer: Oath Taking of New Physicians at the PICC
Q: Any advice to all MHAM students who are still in their quest, aspiring to become full-pledge physicians?
Dr. Bolambao: A well-read Medicine student is one thing I can highly recommend. Students who understood the importance of reading will get the wealth of knowledge. Medicine students should value the importance of reading not just the handouts given to them before a major exam but reading books and other materials in advance is the best medicine to beat any licensure examination. This has been my personal experience as I have been a voracious reader ever since I learned to read. On the other hand, MHAM students should build up their confidence and be competitive in the field because I know that they too, can make it.
MHAM College Registrar and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Luditha Lumapat-Pe in an interview…
In a separate interview with MHAM College Registrar, Dr. Luditha Lumapat-Pe, who is also the Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, she had known Dr. Bolambao and her family because two of her aunts are also physicians. “Dr. Venil Lovely Bolambao is one of a kind. She is a genius, an exemplary student in every way. I have known some of her aunts, uncles, and cousins who are also prominent and successful therefore, I was expecting her to become one of them too. As a student, she was extraordinary and never did she failed, nor ranked second or third. She was always number one no matter how short or long the examinations would be”, said Dr. Pe.
With Dr. Luditha Lumapat-Pe…
Aside from being responsible in her studies, Dr. Pe described her former student as compassionate, cheerful, generous and well liked among her peers. “True to her name Lovely, she really is lovely- whose silence in a friendly manner served her well with her academic studies. She has many close friends and her polite and caring nature endeared her to all. Indeed, Dr. Bolambao is incredibly driven to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. Her interest in the studies, her approach to work, her dedication to duty and her relationship to family and friends would be an inspiration to all”, she added.
Sophomore resident- Dr. Bolambao (center-back row) at Chong Hua Hospital…
In a world where people often recalls the expression, “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread”, an interview with the top 1 makes one utter that “Read and read before you go to bed, and you’ll keep the lifetime achievement as what Dr. Lovely had said”. Moreover, success does not require physical labor only but one needs to do the mental work. For this MHAM meritorious achiever, it takes full determination and hard work in achieving her goal, not just to be one of the best but to bring out the best in her. (Ana Liza L. Abao)