Nicole Pineda, News, PUP Campus Journalists
Kimberly Rose D. Capiral of Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Sto. Tomas Campus (PUP-STC), topped the recently concluded April 2025 Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examinations (REELE), earning an impressive 93% rating and placing first among 4,137 passers.
The PUP System including PUP Sto. Tomas, PUP Sta. Mesa, PUP Lopez and PUP Maragondon campuses collectively posted a 72.94% passing rate, significantly higher than the national average of 61.37%, solidifying the university’s reputation for academic excellence in engineering.
PUP-STC also recorded a strong performance in the licensure exam, achieving an 86.79% passing rate (46 passers out of 53 examinees) and ranking 5th among top performing schools with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage.
Capiral’s achievement marks a milestone for the University, displaying once again its strong academic excellence. For her, it reflects years of academic hurdles, self-doubt, and disciplined preparation.
Behind the Success: Challenges and turning points Capiral, who was initially uncertain about her performance, was shocked upon learning her top rank nationwide. She admitted feeling discouraged, especially when seeing the difficult questions during the exam.
She recalled, her years at PUP Sto. Tomas was marked by academic challenges and difficult classes. She remembered receiving a 2.75 grade in Calculus—an experience that almost caused her to transfer.
“The first two years were tough—I was just enduring the course at that point,” she said.
Eventually, a turning point came when she chose to persevere and developed a stronger interest and appreciation for Electrical Engineering, which motivated her to commit to finishing what she started.
To prepare for her exam, she focused on active recall and flashcards, reviewing up to 300 cards daily to ensure she solved problems consistently. She also utilized AI tools to better understand complex concepts.
The topnotcher shared that her rigorous preparation was partly driven by the disappointment of not graduating with Latin honors and seeing the board exam as a second opportunity to prove her efforts were worthwhile. She also attributes her success to the support and guidance of her family, friends, and the PUP Sto. Tomas faculty. In recognition of her achievement, the University awarded Capiral a ?200,000 incentive during the May flag-raising ceremony, in accordance with Executive Order No. 28, Series of 2024, which grants cash rewards to topnotchers in bar or licensure examinations. She is the first to receive such a distinction. “I received so many warm congratulations from the PUP community that day, which was a bit overwhelming but definitely something I’m grateful for. They also mentioned that I was the first to receive such a large incentive, so I feel very privileged and thankful as a recipient,” she expressed.
An engineer’s resolve Capiral encourages aspiring engineers, particularly women in male-dominated fields, to persist in pursuing their goals.
She emphasized that while engineering may not be for everyone, those who are passionate about it should keep going. She then highlighted the importance of rest in overcoming burnout.
Looking ahead, Capiral plans to work in her desired company and contribute to the Electrical Engineering field.
“I hope to make a mark in the [Electrical Engineering] industry,” she concluded.
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