What started as a simple admiration for a person during his senior high school years turned into a significant milestone in the life of John Labrador, a resident of Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City. He topped the April 2026 Registered Electrical Engineer Licensure Examination (REELE) with a rating of 94.25 percent.
"I jokingly expressed that it would be nice to be like him if I were to pursue Electrical Engineering," Labrador said in an interview with SunStar Cebu, referring to an alumnus who had previously topped the exam. A few years later, Labrador himself clinched the top spot, turning a simple thought into reality.
Labrador admitted that during his review, he had self-doubt and questioned his ability and determination to succeed. He did not expect much, but eventually, he embraced his desire and developed the belief that he could achieve it.
"Initially, I would not say that I really aimed to be a topnotcher, but it was definitely something I looked forward to, driven by mere desire rather than confidence," Labrador said. "I fully embraced the goal, claiming and manifesting that I really wanted it. Emerging as Top 1 was ultimately a blessing, more than I had asked for."
He attributed his success to a strong dedication to continuous learning, along with the unwavering encouragement and trust of his family, his partner, and mentors, who helped him build confidence to face challenges and succeed despite the pressure.
At 24, Labrador completed his degree at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman as a Summa Cum Laude and received the Jose C. Torres Award for Excellence in Electrical Engineering. He was also a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Merit Scholar and an active member of various student organizations during his time at UP Diliman.
In senior high school, he graduated as batch valedictorian with high honors from the Science and Technology Education Center (STEC) in Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu.
Other examinees from Cebu who made it to the Top 10 include Jude Noel Jarina of Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U), who placed 4th with a rating of 93.30 percent, and Mark Jhon Gera of Cebu Technological University (CTU) Tuburan Campus, who placed 5th with a rating of 93.20 percent.
