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- A Dream Passed Down: How a UM Graduate Rose to the Top 2 in the February 2026 PNLE
A Dream Passed Down: How a UM Graduate Rose to the Top 2 in the February 2026 PNLE
Clifford James L. Danduan
April 01, 2026
Moises Alan Juntado Mahinay, Top 2 in the February 2026 Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination
Whenever I feel so overwhelmed, lost and tired, I find myself at the mercy of God.
Most students waver before choosing their paths in college. But a conversation with his father in a hospital room years ago propelled the 22-year-old University of Mindanao topnotcher to triumph.
Moises Alan Juntado Mahinay, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, now lives what his father, Allan Mahinay, once dreamed of after securing the second highest rank in the February 2026 Philippine Nursing Licensure Examination with an impressive average rate of 91.20 percent.
In an interview, he admitted that after graduating from senior high school, he remained undecided on which program to pursue. Although nursing was among his options, it was never his top choice. Not until his father, while pointing to a nurse at the hospital where he was admitted, told him that becoming a nurse would be ‘a good and noble profession.'
It was the heartwarming conversation he had with his father before his passing that ignited a calling he never knew he had. He also shared that through this profession, he gets to serve others— something he wished he could have done more back when his father was still alive.
"By choosing that profession, I get to help people by caring for them holistically, something I wish I had done to my father before he passed away due to health issues. So on a personal and emotional level, I started to commit to this calling deeply because I never want to experience being helpless again when it comes to health concerns," he bravely shared.
However, this triumphant milestone for Moises wasn’t just for his late father, but also for his mother, Jennifer J. Juntado, who provided unwavering support despite the challenges they faced after his father’s passing, inspiring him with her fighting spirit and selfless love.
"I see every day just how much sacrifice she's making to make ends meet especially when my father passed away. She never complained once nor did she give up. Her fighting spirit and selflessness gave me enough reason to be inspired and motivated to also be like her, " he added.
Furthermore, the UMian topnotcher then affirmed that his mother's selfless love became his guiding light, pushing himself to be more and do more in order to give back, believing that a comfortable life is what his family, especially his mother, deserves best.
"...it made me push myself to be more disciplined, consistent and resilient in trying to survive and thrive in nursing school so that I can give back to her...even though she never required us to. Because to me, she deserves a life where she can live comfortably and in peace, without minding the financial constraints which has been our primaryburden ever since," Moises avowed.
With a strong support system by his side, he bravely conquered nursing school, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He then proceeded to review as he only had a couple months to prepare for the licensure exam. When asked about his review journey, he summarized it with his three P's: preseverance, passion, and prayers. Of the three, it was prayer that carried Moises the most during the toughest days of his PNLE journey.
"Out of my 3 Ps: Perseverance, Passion, and Prayers, the one that carried me the most during the toughest days of review season is my prayers. Whenever I feel so overwhelmed, lost and tired, I find myself at the mercy of God. I say everything that bothers me and I do not necessarily pray for it to go away, but I just pray for guidance, clarity and strength, " he said.
Furthermore, his journey to the top was definitely not an easy climb, but through a healthy and supportive environment brought by his friends, what once felt like an uphill battle became a stride he took with ease.
“I could not emphasize enough how important it is to have a healthy, inspiring, and supportive environment during review season. It's just inspiring and motivating to see that the people surrounding you are as driven, competitive and passionate as you are. It awakens an inner drive in you that encourages you to be better while allowing a space for authenticity and comfort, “ the UMian topnotcher proudly recognized.
Now that he reached the summit of his and his father’s dream, Moises plans to use his success story as an inspiration to others that through consistency, discipline, determination, and passion, every dream is within reach. While his future remains uncharted despite this victory, Moises chooses to be optimistic in order to reach every peak he aspires to climb throughout his journey.
“The next step truly is daunting as it is uncharted territory for me and everything just feels so fast and overwhelming. However, I still remain ecstatic and hopeful of the future, especially towards transforming myself into the kind of nurse that I always wanted to be,” he shared.
And just like how his father described nursing as a noble profession, the UMian pride dreams to embody the core qualities of a Filipino nurse— compassionate, competent, and inspiring.
“In the future, I aim to be a compassionate, competent, and inspiring nurse. I want to be able to care for my patients to the best of my abilities to promote their well-being and health. I want to be a nurse that does not simply work for the money but to truly make a difference,” he added.
From a dream passed down to a victory of his own, Moises’ journey to the top reminds us that sometimes, the paths we inherit will lead us to the heights we were always meant to reach.