TRIPLE Topnotcher: Daughter of Ifugao tops physician board exam, records third board exam feat

Balancing excellence, leadership, and service is working really well for a daughter from Ifugao, Dr. Hannah Grace Da-ang Pugong, as she joined the list of the 2025 Physician board exam outstanding examinees, marking her third time topping a licensure exam.

Hannah was named by the Professional Regulation Commission as Top 9 of the March – April 2025 Physician Licensure Examination(PLE), one of the hardest board exams administered in the country.

This is not the first time for Hannah’s name to be recognized in a state-administered test, not even the second, but her third. She was Top 1 in the 2014 Midwifery Licensure Examination, Top 3 in the 2017 Nursing Licensure Examination, and then Top 9 in the 2025 PLE.

Hannah, who is from Lagawe town and a medicine graduate at the University of the Philippines Manila, also holds an exemplary academic record, graduating as the Valedictorian of Lagawe Central School batch 2008 and Ifugao Provincial Science High School batch 2012.

As cited by UP Manila, Hannah admitted she felt unprepared to take the PLE, but she showed up at the testing center carrying her faith.

“After almost half a year of preparing for the exams, I still felt unprepared. Taking the boards was an act of faith,” she was quoted saying, adding that she just trusted the Creator ‘who authored her dream of becoming a physician’.

Now that she has her license to attend to people and address their medical concerns, Hannah prepares to join the Doctors to the Barrios program.

“The healthcare system of our country is far from perfect, but let the inadequacies not break your heart for people. Rather, may those fuel even more diligence to work with communities and local key players/leaders towards better health outcomes for Filipino families,” she expressed.