BISCAST graduate lands 5th in 2021 Architecture exam
By Zyra Ponce
Alyanna Marya Tricia Marquez de Villa, 26, a graduate of the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST), landed 5th in the Top 10 of the 2021 Architecture Licensure Examination (ALE) with a rating of 81.90 percent.
She is the only Bicolana who made it to the Top 10 of the ALE out of the 560 passers. Some 849 examinees took the Architecture board examination.
De Villa is a resident of Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City. She initially enrolled in accountancy at Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), but eventually, she decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Architecture at BISCAST.
In an interview, De Villa said that the online review classes brought a lot of challenges to her. She added that her primary difficulty was the unstable internet connection and repeated power interruptions, which made it hard for her to maintain her focus.
“Since the review po was via online classes, I spent po months of review at home which was difficult po because I don’t have a classmate/roommate po wala po ako matanungan not like the usual po na group of students rents an apartment and review/study together kaya if I have questions or if I don’t understand the lessons mahirap po,” she narrated.
“When I started reviewing naman po for the boards, I was really praying and working hard po to become one of the topnotchers for the Licensure Examination for Architecture,” De Villa admitted.
De Vila expressed her gratitude to her parents and family who served as her inspiration.
She said she apprenticed for two years with JDM Architects, which exposed her in the field of construction and real-life experience in the field of Architecture.
De Villa thanked her mentor, Architect john Darel Marco and the others in the firm.
De Villa also thanked her teachers, instructors, and professors in Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) and BISCAST including her reviewers in JPT Review Center.
“Do thing -- simple little things every day that will contribute to your long term goal. Also po pray hard and work harder. Prayer works and hard work will never fail you. Lastly, always remember that any journey is always hard and tough but you are not alone,” she said.
The Naga City government recognized and commended De Villa through Resolution No. 2021-410 after the flag raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds on Sept 13.