Ateneo de Davao University nursing alumnus Julius P. Junatas ranked third in the Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) for Professional Nurses with a score of 85.20% held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In an interview with Atenews, Junatas shared that he was already working as a dental technologist in the UAE for 15 years, not until he was reassigned to caring for COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, and found his calling as a nurse.

“That time, especially sa dental field, shaky kasi diba bawal ang oral check-up dahil baka mahawaan, so ang daming companies na nag close. So sabi ko sa wife ko na, what if umuwi muna ako sa Pinas kasi ang nursing ay super in demand, try ko mag nursing,” Junata said.

After exploring options for remote learning, Junatas enrolled in AdDU’s online nursing program from 2020-2022, while residing abroad. In his 3rd year as a nursing student, he was required to participate in face-to-face classes.

“Blessedly, napunta ako sa Ateneo… the way the clinical instructors teach us… marami na akong alam dahil sa previous degree ko, the way they taught me, yung parang hindi ko pa alam—sa kanila ko lang talaga natutunan,” Junatas said.

Reflecting back on his experience as a nursing student, Junatas said he made special arrangements to fulfill clinical duties remotely despite time zone differences and logistical challenges.

Junatas was among the 2024 batch of nursing graduates and was originally set to take the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) last year, but was unable to return to the Philippines in time due to work-related travel restrictions.

When the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced an SPLE in UAE for Filipino nurses, Junatas seized the opportunity despite having limited time to prepare.

“That time po kasi, hindi talaga ako prepared kaya akala ko mafafail ako, nakakahiya po sa SON dahil ako lang po ang nag take eh, so pag bagsak ako, yung ratings ng Ateneo magiging 0%,” Junatas said.

Junatas also took the chance to express his gratitude and appreciation to his previous clinical instructors and nursing faculty.

“Yung mga binigay sa akin na concept nila Sir Bongits, Sir Michael, Ma’am Tricia… naremember ko lahat na tinuro nila so ‘dun ako kumuha ng sagot,” Junatas said.

Junatas marked nursing as his second bachelor’s degree achievement following his earlier qualification as a registered dental technologist 15 years ago.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 390 out of 1,029 examinees passed the Philippine Nurses Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) held on June 6–7, 2025.

The exam was administered in international testing centers including Abu Dhabi and Dubai (UAE), Al-Khobar, Jeddah, and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), Manama (Bahrain), Salmiya (Kuwait), Singapore, and Taipei (Taiwan).