UC president and chairman Augusto Go personally turned over the brand-new car to Duavis at the UC Medical Center in Mandaue City on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.
Duavis was accompanied by his mother when he received the vehicle from Go.
Duavis, who hails from Buenavista in Bohol, is a graduate of UC’s School of Medicine. He ranked 10th in the recently concluded PLE with an overall rating of 87.08 percent.
He was one of two Cebuanos who topped the PLE. Sonny Cabahug Redulla, a graduate of the Cebu Institute of Medicine, ranked sixth in the PLE.
Go told reporters that he was very happy with what Duavis and his batchmates had accomplished for UC, especially since its School of Medicine was newly established.
He added that despite being only seven years old, the UC School of Medicine was declared the top performing medical school in the country based on their performance during the last PLE.
“I invested 100 percent for the school and of course, we have very competent faculty members,” Go added.
Dr. Melfer Montoya, dean of UC’s School of Medicine, said she was not surprised that Duavis made it to the PLE’s top 10 since he had been a consistent achiever as a student.
Duavis finished Medicine cum laude, she added.
Duavis is also a scholar of the Department of Health, particularly its Doctor to the Barrios program.
Now that he is a doctor, Duavis plans to serve out the terms of his scholarship by serving in his hometown for three years.
He plans to take Internal Medicine once he completes his three-year service.
Duavis also urged those who are aspiring to be doctors to balance study and rest.
“You really need to study. But at the same time, give time to rest, eat and sleep then back to studying. If you want it, you have to work hard for it,” Duavis said in Cebuano.
As to his brand-new car, Duavis admitted that he has yet to learn how to drive a vehicle.
He plans to ask his family to teach him how to drive. (JKV)