Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Batch 2025 Civil Engineer graduate Raniel Dann Irag ranked top 10 with a rating of 89.85% among 14,043 examinees in the November 2025 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination (CELE).
Irag expressed pride in officially becoming a licensed civil engineer, hoping to be an instrument of change in the country’s national development.
“It is an honor to become a Civil Engineer finally having an opportunity to have a part for the continuing development for our country and have a chance to be part of the Civil Engineers who will bring change to the construction industry,” he stated in an interview with Atenews.
Reflecting on his academic journey, he remained driven by his desire for greater achievement, turning his failures into motivation rather than discouragement.
“The very fact that I am not a Cum Laude fueled my determination in becoming a topnotcher in the CELE because I want to have [a] major achievement in my academic journey as a Civil Engineering student… Because during college I have never thought of becoming a topnotcher, but my main goal during that time was finishing my degree on time and passing the board exam on my first take.”
During exam preparation, he admitted to experiencing moments of doubt, but was overcome by reflecting on the sacrifices made by his family, especially his mother, which strengthened his resolve.
“Yes, there were times that I doubted myself thinking that I cannot do this and thinking that my efforts are not enough. These doubts were all erased when I think of my goal and my family and loved ones who also have their own struggles and sacrifices in supporting me. Especially to my mother who is an OFW working as a babysitter to support me and my brother.”
He also emphasized the importance of stepping out of his comfort zone by creating new experiences that diverge from his usual activities.
“The biggest challenge that I faced during my preparation was getting out of my comfort zone, like limiting my screen time and limiting myself to do extracurricular activities, including my hobbies, hanging out with friends, and do side hustles for extra income.”
His coping strategy centered on visualizing clear goals, allowing him to easily overcome any challenges he faced.
“I overcome them through having a goal in mind which is becoming a topnotcher and with this everything else followed, the discipline, focus, and determination.”
Beyond academic preparation, Irag said that his CELE journey deepened his understanding of ethical responsibilities in the profession, where safety must always remain the top priority in structural design.
“What was taught to us was how to design a safe structure or infrastructure because the number one priority of designing a structure or infrastructure is the safety of the people who will use or occupy it,” he added.
Amid increasing concerns over transparency and accountability in infrastructure projects, he encouraged young engineers to uphold integrity from the very beginning of their careers, stating that such values lay the foundation for future service to the people.
“We should always stick to the principles that were taught to us and never compromise the integrity of work or project just for our own gains because it is our duty to build safe and sustainable structures in our society.”
Overall, AdDU recorded an 87.80% passing rate in the November 2025 CELE, surpassing the national passing rate of 30.39%.
The November 2025 CELE was conducted on November 22–23 at the Profession Regulation Commission (PRC) testing centers nationwide, with results released five working days after the examinations.