25-yr.-old from Isabela is TOP 3 in June 2025 Architecture Board Exam

Echague, Isabela - Leymar Jake Tamani, from Echague, Isabela, emerged as the top 3 of the June 2025 Licensure Examination for Architects. 

Tamani successfully became a topnotcher of said exam following his 2-year diversified architectural apprenticeship (a postgraduate requirement for earning architectural practices). Tamani is a graduate of the PHINMA University of Pangasinan, who finished schooling on March 30, 2023. 

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, the 25-year-old shared that while he was confident he’d pass, he never expected to land in the top ranks. 

The first-time taker admitted that making it to the top 3 was tough, especially while preparing for the board exam and away from his family.

 “Preparing for the board exam was my greatest challenge. It was the core I needed to overcome because everything else came down to preparation. As one of my instructors in the review center said, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." That line stuck with me and reminded me that success begins long before the exam day," he relayed. 

Tamani honored with Best in Thesis Award 

Apart from being a topnotcher, the young architect was earlier  honored with the Best in Thesis award during the oath-taking ceremony at the PHINMA University of Pangasinan on June 7, 2025. 

His undergraduate thesis, entitled “LA PRESEDENCIA: Redevelopment of the New Dagupan City Hall Complex with Old Residencia’s Restoration and Preservation as Cultural Heritage”, reimagined Dagupan’s city hall, preserving 'La Presidencia' while meeting modern needs—reflecting his belief that it symbolizes the city's identity.

 “The concept behind my thesis was simple. It aimed to redevelop the city hall while preserving the cultural and historical value of the old one. I wanted to offer a design solution that respects the past while meeting the city’s evolving needs. For me, a city hall isn’t just a government building. It represents the identity and face of the city itself. That idea became the heart of my design,” he shared.

 Advice to aspiring architecture students 

When asked about his message to aspiring architecture students, Leymar said that there’s no rush in everything, reminding fellow architect-aspirants to manage time, stay consistent, and trust their pace. 

“To all fellow and aspiring architecture students, remember this: strategy, mindset, and consistency. You don’t have to rush. Trust your pace. In the end, it’s not about being the best. It’s about becoming better, one step at a time; build yourself, layer by layer, until you become the architect you dreamed of being,” he concluded.