MANGALDAN, Pangasinan - The number one examinee of the 2006 Nursing board examination that was marred by an alleged leakage branded as unfair the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that he and the rest of the passers will retake the examination.

“This is most unfair to all of us who worked so hard to pass the examination,” said 20-year old Gringo Sandiego who did his alma mater, University of Pangasinan, proud by topping the examinations.

Sandiego, son of an accountant who turned taxi driver/operator in Manila, was sad with the decision because that will invalidate the result of the examination and put to naught his accomplishment as topnotcher for which he worked hard. 

He graduated cum laude in Nursing and at high school, he earned academic medals, said Gringo’s father Rodolfo, also bitter at the decision.

But Gringo said if it cannot be prevented any more, he will retake the examination as he really wants to be a licensed nurse so he can work and help his parents, especially now that his father has stopped driving his taxi.

“I will prepare but since we have no money to be spent for another review, I will just self-review,” said Sandiego, second in a brood of five siblings of the Sandiego couple from barangay Amansabina, Mangaldan.

Believing that they were given a raw deal in that decision of the President, Sandiego said this is also the sentiment of other passers who already got in touch with him.

“We were all surprised as we did not expect the President to decide that way. This was a virtual turn-around from her previous pronouncement giving the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) the hand to decide on the matter,” the younger Sandiego said.

He said the PRC earlier declared that there will be no retaking of the examination, so all of those who passed the test were happy.

With a pain in his heart, Sandiego said the decision of the President came at a time when the Temporary Restraining Order issued by the Court of Appeals on the issue is almost expiring.

“Pina-asa kami. Pinaghintay lang kami sa wala. (We were made to hope. We were made to wait for nothing),”  Sandiego told newsmen who sought him in their home.

He said many of the passers are now exasperated because of the constant changes of decisions of offiicals on the issue that is affecting them.

The number one nursing examinee said that some of his classmates and former review mates are now adamant in retaking the examinations as they are already volunteers in some hospitals and others undergoing training somewhere else.

They feel that they will abandon what they are doing if they will retake the board examinations, he added.

Sandiego said that becasue of the decision of President Arroyo, some of the nursing passers who are in Manila are set to hold an indignation rally in front of the PRC office on Paredes street to question the decision that they will retake the examination.

Sandiego said his classmates wanted him to join the rally but he begged off because he cannot even afford to pay for his bus fare to Manila at this time.

“I will self-review and be prepared for the new test,” he said, admitting that he took his preparations at Review University of Nursing in Sta. Mesa, Manila which he said, was not involved on the leakage issue.

“That was why, we who were in that review feel that it is unfair for us to retake the examination because we never received any leakage materials.” he said. (PNA)