The leakage issue is very frustrating. And the PRC is wrong in publishing the results of the exam with pending investigation. They really did it on purpose, it is their tactic to divide the nursing community to cover-up the leakage issue and to silence the crowd. Of course, if you know that you passed, you won't complain regarding the issue. And I can say that they are very succesful in it.

Now that our fight against the Nursing Leakage is going on, I can't help but to feel sad with our situation especially with our fellow Thomasians whom we thought will go with us in this fight. I must say that I am some what dissapointed with some people who doesn't really care about the situation only because they passed. There are some who even namemersonal just because our stand is for retake.

I understand the concern of other students who are not joining our cause, that is because of their work and other personal reasons. Some because of time constraint and distance as well as financial reasons that's why they prefered not to retake. So sad that there are those who are not alarmed on this issue even though they aren't facing these situations: fiancial, personal problems etc. What's even worst e inaaway ka pa. And they will think of you as an idealist etc. Well, what's the purpose of ideals if it won't be put into use. Respeto na lang sa bawat isa.

1. This issue concerns my profession, my license. And these two are the fruits of my labor after 4 years of studying, hardwork, time and effort. I don't want that all of the things I have done to achieve my goal will be put into waste just because of leakage issues, so I'm fighting for it.

2. Its about values and to stick with those I've learned. My parents reared me up to be independent and outspoken. They thought me to fight for what is right. Same goes with my Alma Mater, UST. It thought me to stick with the truth - Veritate et Caritate. And I know that what I'm doing today is the application of what my parents and mentors have thought me.

3. This is a good time to stand up and make a difference. As an ordinary citizen, this situation rarely happens and a good opportunity to fight for what I believe in and to make a difference in this world. At least when I grow old, I won't regret that time but instead will be proud that I DID make a DIFFERENCE in this world.

4. I want to be treated fairly. It hurts me when passers are discriminated because of the leakage even though I knew that I am honest with the boards. I want that when my time will come in applying for a job, the leakage issue won't affect my employment status. I want my license to be clean of doubt. And doubt ragarding my competence won't be an issue to those people who will hire me and that those whom will I care for. Trust is essential in caring for a patient.

5.Technically, if we would follow the provision in the law: RA 9173 or the Nursing Act of 2002,

Section 15. Ratings. - In order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher but gets a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any subject must take the examination again but only in the subject or subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in the subject or subjects repeated.

Nullifying Tests 3 and Tests 5 would violate this section because each subject is essential part of the whole exam. That's why we have 5 sets of exams with 100 items each. Therefore 380 items is not as good as the 500 items exam. Because the competence of the nurses in that nullified area would not be measured. And the action of "toning down" the grades to "tone down the leakage" is not a good reason to come up with a grade in test 5. If a certain part of the test is nullfied, it is a good as having a grade of 0%. And putting a grade derived from the other tests doesn't really reflect what it is suppose to reflect. So how can you say that you pass when in reality, a part is missing. Its like that we are SRNs - Statistically Registered Nurses. We only passed because the modified formula used to tone down the leakage favors us to pass. How about the others?

6. How sure we are we that all the 17,000+ who passed really deserve to pass? That they are really honest, meaning there's no leakage? What if these UNWORTHY PASSERS did something and the victims of their malpractice would be my family? And that they caused death or life long injury to them? I cannot afford that to happen.

These are some reasons why I wanted a retake.