r/ExpertMDph

Sana napanood to nung mga mahilig mag-label sa atin na

"ill-bred" or lazily looking for shortcuts

Today's oathtaking speech by Dr. Parchaso (Top 1) is the ultimate slap in the face to the narrative na pag bumagsak ka, it's because you didn't have "fortitude" or because you didn't follow a "prescribed OC schedule".

Yes. Ultimate slap!

Sabi ni Doktora last time, failure is almost a character flaw.

Pero si Dr. Parchaso? He failed because LIFE HAPPENED!.

Unplanned pregnancy, the weight of being a new father, and the struggle of choosing family over a board exam. He didn't fail because he wasn't "smart enough" or "well-bred" enough. He failed because he's HUMAN. (And same goes to the other retakers who were mocked by the elitists). Redemption isn't a straight line, and it certainly doesn't follow a "Main Pathway."

Dr. Parchaso showed us today na hindi mo kailangan ng “Etiquette Lessons" or "Plushies" para maging magaling na doctor. You need heart, resilience, and the humility to admit na life is messy.

To doktora, success isn't reserved for the "well-bred" who can afford to study 24/7 without responsibilities. It's for the retakers, the parents, the ones who struggled for 10 years, and the ones who were judged by your elitist standards

Congratulationsto Dr. Parchaso and to all the new MDs!

Sana baon natin ton humility na to sa residency, especially sa mga papasok sa toxic hospitals. Character is built in the struggle, not in the "well-bred" rants on Reddit.

Today, I am standing in the answer to the prayers I once whispered.

I am a retaker. And for a long time, that felt like a verdict. Like the universe is quietly telling me this wasn't mine to have.

Failure and I got well acquainted over the years. At some point it stopped feeling like the enemy, it became something closer to an old friend I kept running into. And the real battle wasn't just getting back up after every fall. It was learning not to let failure feel like home.

I reopened books I was already tired of. I smiled through conversations I dreaded, dodged questions I didn't know how to answer, and cried through nights I don't talk about. I burned out, not from laziness, but from pouring everything I had into something and still coming up short.

In those moments, all I had were prayers I wasn't even sure were being heard.

They were heard.

Today I took my oath as a licensed physician, and I stood there thinking: This is it. I was carried here. By grace, by grit, and by every desperate prayer I uttered in the dark.

To anyone still in the middle of it, I don't know what you're waiting for. But I know what it feels like to wait for something so long it starts to feel like it was never meant for you. Keep waiting. Keep praying. It's coming.

Keep going. Your answered prayer is coming. 🩺

Kung naghahahanap ka ng sign na mabuti ang Panginoon, ito na 'yon.

Good morning to the members of professional regulation commission, the Philippine medical association, the Board of Medicine, faculty members, proud parents, and my fellow new physicians.

Hello. Yes, that's my name up there. And no, my name is not "Name Withheld."

I know there was some confusion about that. But I'm here today. Very much real. Very much grateful.

I want to share a bit of my journey, because I believe someone out there needs to hear it.

I am a retaker. Well, supposedly a third taker. But on my second attempt, I didn't even show up. I sat at home, stared at my books, and admitted: "I'm not ready."

Let me take you back to my very first take.

I was deep in sleepless nights. Coffee gone cold. Heart racing. Then came news that stopped me cold: my girlfriend, now my wonderful wife, told me she was pregnant.

It wasn't in our plan. Not at that moment. We weren't ready, or so we thought.

I was rattled. My mind couldn't focus on textbooks when my heart was already somewhere else, thinking about the future, about the little life coming, about how I could possibly be both a father and a doctor.

I failed that first take. Not because I wasn't smart enough. But because life happened. And honestly? I wouldn't trade that failure for anything. It gave me something more valuable than a license, it gave me my family.

By my second take, I had a baby on the way and a wife finding her way through motherhood. The sleepless nights were different now, less studying, more running for my wife’s cravings. I knew walking into that exam hall would have been a disservice to myself and to the dream I still wanted to honor.

So I stayed home. Held my wife. And told her: "Not yet. But soon."

That decision gave me time. To breathe, to heal, to prepare. Not just academically, but mentally and emotionally. When I finally stood at the testing recenter this March, I wasn't perfect. But I was ready.

After my third take, the waiting began. When the results came out, I didn't see my name. I was crying outside our house. I saw that the topnotcher was "Name Withheld" and under investigation. Sabi ko, "Siya siguro ang rason bakit hindi ako pumasa. Hindi ako pasok sa curve dahil sa kanya. Buti nga sa kanya! Under investigation siya!"

Speculations started. People talked. Some assumed the worst.

Then came the plot twist I never expected.

That "Name Withheld" I was blaming? It was me.

I was crying over my own name. Wishing ill on myself without knowing it.

When I found out I was the topnotcher, I laughed and cried at the same time. But mostly, I learned something: sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't the exam, or the PRC, or the curve. It's ourselves.

Once I got past that, I was finally free.

And that brings me to you.

I want to speak directly to those of you who have taken this exam more than once. Those who have felt the sting of a failing score. Those who have watched batchmates move on while you stayed behind.

I see you. I was you.

Ten years. That's how long it took me to become a licensed doctor. Medicine alone not including pre-med. Ten years of carrying a dream that felt heavier every time I fell short.

There were nights I cried in the dark so my wife wouldn't hear. Nights I held my child and wondered if I was failing him too. Nights I stared at my books until the words blurred and asked God, "Why can't I get this right?"

My second take, I didn't even show up. I sat at home while others walked into the exam center. I told myself I wasn't ready. But the truth? I was afraid. Afraid of failing again. Afraid of disappointing everyone who believed in me. Afraid that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't meant to be a doctor at all.

That fear almost broke me.

But here's what I learned in those ten years: you don't have to be unbreakable to be strong. You just have to keep showing up. Even when it hurts. Even when you're embarrassed. Even when you want to disappear.

I know what it's like to smile at family gatherings and pretend everything is fine. To carry the weight of "not yet" while everyone around you seems to have already arrived.

But listen carefully: you are not behind. You are not a failure. You are not your past scores.

Those years were not wasted. They were preparing you, for patience, for humility, for the kind of compassion you can only learn through your own suffering.

When you finally stand where I'm standing, and you will. You’ll understand the title "doctor" means more when you've walked through fire to earn it.

So please, don't give up. Not because it's easy, but because you're still here. And being here, still trying, still hoping, still believing is already proof that you have what it takes.

I took ten long, painful, beautiful years. And I would walk every single one of them again if it meant standing here today and telling you:

We can do it. You can do it. And when you do, it will be worth every tear.

And so .

To my parents Lodania Ang Parchaso Lito Retuya Parchasoand my siblings Karen Angcual Parchaso Niver Sumer Parchaso Joshua Angcual Parchaso Jamaica Loise, thank you for not asking too many questions when I stayed home on my second take. Thank you for the silent prayers. For the money for meals when I forget to eat. You never made me feel like a failure. You just made me feel loved. Thank you for the never ending support.

Now I need to speak to the woman who changed everything. Jael Kei

When you told me you were pregnant during my first take, during my chaos, I was rattled. I thought, "How can I be a doctor when I don't even know how to be a dad?"

But you never doubted me. Not once.

You held me when I failed. You fed me when I forgot to eat. You took care of our child while I buried myself in books. And on the nights I wanted to quit, you looked at me and said: "pano na ung pangrap kong maging housewife."

You are the reason I'm standing here. Not just because you supported me, but because you believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself.

I love you. Thank you for the best kind of chaos.

To my child, Zackary, one day you'll hear this story. And I want you to know: everything I did, every sleepless night, every retake, every tear, I did for you.

You are my "why." I hope I make you proud. But more than that, I hope you learn that falling doesn't mean you're out. It just means you're human.

I love you, Zack.

To my university, my alma mater Lyceum-Northwestern University, thank you for shaping me long before this moment. You didn't just teach me medicine. You built my foundation. You gave me the tools, the values, and the discipline that carried me through every sleepless night and every failed attempt. I would not be standing here without the years you invested in me.

To the hospital, BGHMC Baguio, where I trained as an intern, thank you for the real-world lessons no textbook could teach. For the long hours, the difficult cases, the mentors who corrected me gently and pushed me to be better. You sharpened not just my mind, but my hands and my heart.

To my review center Wise.owl by LM Academy, thank you for sharpening my knowledge when I needed it most. For breaking down the impossible into something I could actually understand. For not giving up on me even when I took longer than most.

To Doctor Marco Francisco S. Duque, Dra. Agnes G. Dimaano, and everyone at my school who reached out when I was lost, you gave me clarity. You treated me with dignity when I felt my name had become "Withheld."

Thank you for seeing me. Not as a number. Not as a case. But as one of your own.

I hope I've made all of you proud.

To my fellow new physicians, we made it.

Whether this was your first take or your tenth. Whether you passed with flying colors or by a single point. Whether your name was withheld or published immediately. We are here. And no one can take that away from us.

I dedicate this Top 1 to all of us who made it through the hardships and to those who will still be taking the exam. Your time is coming.

The road was hard. Some of us lost sleep. Some lost hope for a while. Some had to learn that being a doctor starts long before you have a license. It starts with courage, humility, and refusing to give up on the people who need us.

So as we take our oath today, with tears or with smiles. Let us remember, we are not just passing an exam. We are answering a calling.

Go. Heal. Serve. And never forget where you came from.

Congratulations, my fellow doctors.

And finally, let me introduce myself properly.

I'm Erwin Ken Angcual Parchaso. Not withheld. Not hidden. Just here.

God bless us all.

Today's speech from the topnotcher was a very important narrative for everyone. Okay lang magpahinga, okay lang aminin kung hindi pa handa, okay lang humingi ng tulong.

Correct me if I'm wrong, pero bihira sa larangan natin ang magkaroon ng ganitong kalaking opportunity at platform para mailunsad ang ganung narrative. Kasi sa medisina, sobrang cut-throat, ubusan lagi. Napaluha rin ako kaunti; 'di man retaker, I took a pause from taking the October Boards, and similar yung experience na kakaibang lungkot din kapag nakikita mong suma-success na ang mga kaibigan or ka-batch mo.

Kudos kay Dr. Parchaso!

Yung isang tumatak sakin while listening to his speech is yung memories ko of the EMD lecturers like Doc Hena and Doc Toff, always, ALWAYS taking the time to share stories of the retakers enrolled under expert -- mapa 6th or 11th take na, and how much they always pray for their success (also testament to this is the post about Dr. Fujie!).

Kitang kita talaga how invested they are, and how much PRIDE they have kapag ang retakers, sa Expert nakakapasa. This is not to say naman na hindi celebrated ang top notchers from EMD. It's just so refreshing to see a review center na diverse walks of life, diverse experiences, naalagaan and alam mong rooting for you talaga.

I’m planning to take the October PLE 🙏, and I’m looking for a study buddy. Please DM me if you’re interested. I’m not from Davao, so I’m not familiar with navigating the city, but I’m planning to stay in co-working spaces or the public library sana. Let’s lock in!

I'm a girl pala and you be can be whatever!

Para sa mga gusto makacatch up sa 🍵

Post that started everything:

https://www.reddit.com/r/medschoolph/s/bVb5OfxHRL

Resbak ni Doc 🪨:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TNPLE/s/Mj1lRVr0Pz

Rebat ng madlang ppol 📢:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ExpertMDph/s/pzrNHtYUzB

Mala palengkera response ni Doc 🪨:

https://www.reddit.com/r/medschoolph/s/zQslDCyX5j

🧾Deleted post 👀:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ExpertMDph/s/rCaJlbbKBL

Really a bit overdue, but I just want to thank and endorse EMD—Doc Toff, Doc Hena, and the whole team.

For context, I actually enrolled in two review centers, so na-experience ko both styles firsthand. Hindi ito opinion lang—I've seen both sides. In the end, I passed with EMD.

I'll say this upfront—I also commend and respect the other RC. Totoo naman, parang buffet yung approach nila. Lahat nakalatag for you—comprehensive, detailed, and something you can even bring with you into residency. That kind of training has its place.

But what worked for me was different.

What I appreciated about EMD is how they pointed out what was really needed to pass. May structure and direction, but the environment didn't feel overly rigid or “army-type.” May balance—you're guided, but you can still adjust your pacing and approach in a way that makes sense for you.

That mattered.

Even with Doc Hena always emphasizing sacrificing sleep (na hindi ko naman ginawa)—the actual schedule was still realistic and workable. It pushed you, but hindi ka naman binibigyan ng setup na impossible i-sustain. For me, that balance made it easier to stay consistent. Instead of just trying to keep up with everything, I was able to focus on high-yield topics, i-adjust yung pacing ko when needed, and make sure na naiintindihan ko talaga—not just matapos lang. It wasn't about doing the most—it was about doing what actually works.

And I passed.

To be honest, I think mas pumasa pa nga ako nung hindi ako gigil—when I was more chill, focused, steady, and clear with what I needed to do. I even had time to play games and watch movies during my down times, and it didn't take away from the result—it actually helped me stay consistent and avoid burnout.

And yes, there were times na hindi ako masyadong nakikinig kapag hindi ko trip yung lecture—but I made sure I compensated. I went back and wrote high-yield notes, reviewed on my own terms, and focused on understanding what really mattered.

For me, that kind of flexibility made the difference.

Having experienced both setups, masasabi ko talaga—different styles work for different people. May mga nagta-thrive sa very rigid, highly controlled systems, and that's fine. But hindi rin fair i-imply na yun lang ang "tamang" paraan, or na kapag hindi nag-work sa'yo, ikaw agad ang problema.

Sometimes, it's just not the right fit.

What I appreciated about EMD is hindi niya ine-equate yung pagiging effective sa pagiging pagod, or discipline sa pagiging rigid. Hindi kailangan maubos ka para masabing ginagawa mo nang tama. You can work hard without constantly feeling na behind ka or may mali ka kapag nag-aadjust ka.

And honestly, malaking bagay din na feedback is treated as feedback—not something na kailangan i-dismiss or lagyan agad ng label. That kind of environment makes you focus on improving, not just proving yourself.

At this level, we're not all the same kind of learners anymore. Iba-iba na tayo ng pacing, strengths, and ways of retaining information. A system that recognizes that doesn't make students weaker—it actually brings out better results.

At the end of the day, results speak.
People pass in different ways, under different systems.

Some just happen to get there in a way that's more sustainable, more efficient, and mas aligned sa actual learning—not just endurance.

To future PLE takers—choose what works best for you.

Grateful I enrolled here. Would choose EMD again without hesitation.

(padamay naman sa packages niyo dyan kahit old passer na hahahaha)

So, the "Crochet Queen" has moved from her private tribe to r/medschoolph to "educate" us on etiquette. It’s fascinating how a critique of a business model is being treated as a personal "etiquette test."

Since we’re talking about "cleaning houses," let’s air out the toxic fumes in yours.

If you’re so focused on keeping your "house" clean, then why are you standing in the middle of r/medschoolph like a palengkera, screaming at students about their "upbringing"?

Bringing parents into this? Really? "I’m sure your parents wanted that for you" is the peak of condescension.

It’s classic elitism: when you can’t defend your outdated, 12-hour lecture system, you attack the "upbringing" of the students who criticize it.

Guess what? Being "well-bred" doesn’t mean staying silent while a business sells you burnout and calls it "fortitude."

PATHETIC AT ITS FINEST. Imagine being so out of touch that you attack a student’s upbringing because they critiqued your business. Bringing up our parents and saying "keep trying" to be well-bred is the height of condescension. We are doctors, not your household staff. Our parents raised us to have integrity, which includes calling out a toxic system when we see one.

Denying you had a monopoly is like a giant pretending it’s a dwarf. For years, your cult energy was the only narrative allowed. Now that students are finding efficiency and success elsewhere (looking at you, EMD), the "peaceful co-existence" is suddenly "broken." It wasn't a "code of ethics" that kept things quiet. It was a monopoly that didn't like being questioned.

"Stolen" Notes Hypocrisy FEELINGERA!

Complaining about students sharing notes "without permission" is hilarious when those same notes are largely summarized, re-formatted versions of Harrison’s, Nelson’s, and Robbins. Unless you have written permission from Elsevier and McGraw-Hill, maybe sit out the "intellectual property" argument.

You claim to "help students save themselves," but the moment they choose a different "lifeboat" (like EMD or self-study), you label them "ill-bred." You aren't a savior; you're a business owner who can't handle a bad Yelp review.

While students are stressing over the most important exam of their lives and questioning the efficiency of their review, you’re busy making plushies and "well-bred" rants. If you’d rather be a "crafter" than a medical educator who can handle feedback, then please stay in the crochet circle.

If your program is as "excellent" as you claim, you wouldn't need to spend three paragraphs insulting our parents' upbringing to prove it.

The tea is served, the monopoly is dead, and the "well-bred" mask has officially slipped. 😉

https://www.reddit.com/r/medschoolph/s/zQslDCyX5j

Grabe talaga tong Panic Pathway nato. Bilis ng shifting ng gears! Parang kelan lang, kung anu-anong "well-bred" rants and etiquette lessons ang pinapakain sa atin pati pagpapalaki ng magulang ng mga med studenra na bumagsak nadamay, tapos ngayon biglang dear driends na uli?

Nakakatawa lang na 48 hours ago, anybody who wanted a relaxed schedule was "being sold a lie”. Ano yun, biglang naging valid yung mental health natin nung natunugan nilang wala nang kakagat sa "no relax" policy nila for October 2026? Lol

It's giving total corporate whiplash.

The Panic Pathway is just a desperate attempt to copy the high yield centers they spent all week mocking. Nilangaw kasi yung crosspost sa sariling sub kaya biglang bawi and "The Choice is Yours" na ang branding.

Kahit i-delete pa yung "well-bred" manifesto, the internet is forever and the receipts are even longer.

Nakakalow class yung kailangan mo pang mang-insulto ng parents at upbringing ng students. Ngayon, biglang benign and flexible na kasi kailangan ng enrollies? Wag kaming gasul, doc.

To the next batch, don't be fooled by the sudden "Wellness" rebrand and expansion. This isn't innovation, it's damage control. Stick to what works for you, whether it's self study or other RCs. The fact na inoverhaul nila yung buong curriculum structure nila in two days after being called out proves na takot silang mawalan ng monopoly.

Stay "ill-bred”, stay high-yield, and never forget who called you lazy for wanting to pass the boards without burning out.

This is a response to a repost in this subreddit from another subreddit.

This is where well-bred kicks in.  Let me educate you. Your comment section says, “I know you lurk here”.  Oh my, dear, I do not make a habit of taking peeks at other people’s houses.  I only try to keep my house clean.

But let me ask you this: I posted my “rant” (as the flair called it) on my tribe's subreddit, yet it somehow found its way to you.  Between the two of us, who is the lurker?  Had it not been posted in this subreddit, I would not have even known you took the time out of your busy schedule to respond to my post.  Thank you for taking the time.  I was going to post about the activities we are having, and this lovely piece of prose came my way.  Since you took it out of your house and let everyone see it, I'd like to respond to you.

For the record, we were never a monopoly.  There were always other  RCs who gave medical reviews.  Apart from that, universities conducted in-house reviews.  A very prestigious pontifical school had an excellent review program that, unfortunately, was only open to its graduates.  Nevertheless, their notes were very sought after.  Sort of like how our notes are used by students enrolled in different institutions, even without our permission. Tsk Tsk.   It is the height of hubris for you to believe that the RC you are affiliated with is the only one to ever offer a program alongside ours.  It also comes across as dismissive toward the other RCs, suggesting that you and I are the only ones in this game.  Did you really think you were the game changer?  You can’t break a monopoly when there is no monopoly.  No Boardwalk and Park Place for you.

It is not “ill-bred” to compare RCs.  It is “ill-bred” to prop one up by pushing another down.  In all the years that the other RC and TN have been around, we have never bad-mouthed each other.  There is a code of ethics among colleagues that we do not put one another down.  We have co-existed peacefully because of that.   We discuss how we have improved our program, introduced new innovations, and met students' needs.  We have never said that RC was sub-par compared to us, and this is the big difference; we have never encouraged any of our students to talk that way.  

That is the etiquette test that you did not pass.  

Don’t be afraid of the term “well-bred”.  It’s an attainable goal.  I’m sure your parents wanted that for you. Keep trying. 

We do not deal in fear.  We proactively alleviate fears by preparing our students mentally and emotionally.  We have gone above and beyond expectations by providing you with mental health support and emotional companionship while you study.  We have made adjustments to our program and how we run it based on the feedback of both successful students and those whose success has been delayed.  We do not sell you fear.  We help you address it with your eyes open. Here’s the thing: medical academics do not end with your license.  You require further study, further training, and endless hours of study and work hand in hand.  Those who trusted and followed our program say that the fortitude they developed during the hours of study prepared them for residency.  We want to contribute to growth.  We want to contribute to excellence.  We do not sell fear.  We just try to make our students see what excellent doctors they can become.  

Our programs have a clear, structured schedule with mental health breaks between activities throughout the day and the week. I have no idea where 12 hours of straight lecture come from.  I can only assume some people do not attend our synchronous lectures and have not listened to our instructions on how to optimize the program.   That’s up to you.  But you don’t get to say my program is too hard, inefficient, or ineffective.  You didn’t do it, how do you know it doesn’t work?

I’m not anyone’s savior.  We help students to save themselves.  They’re the ones taking the exam.  They’re the ones who will be excellent doctors, or the kind of doctors who need to push colleagues down to feel better about themselves. 

But when one keeps quiet and the only ones that talk sell one story, that is the story that gets believed. You say you believe with your own eyes and your results.  Then look. Really look.  Tell me that in the time you were preparing for the boards, you never read any of my notes or watched any of my videos.  Look around you. Look at the people who studied with you.  

Lastly, I leave you with something I crafted recently. I don't know why the need to make several of these compelled me to make plushies and now I know why.

Minions are creatures that have tunnel vision that mimics good or bad behavior.

Turns out, I can crochet and still run a kick-ass program. I guess my training is solid, too.

Hi, docs. Check niyo spam message. Nag email na bonmel sa 'kin. See you docs, tomorrow!!

Hello! Looking for study buddy 📚

Will start to review this month

(as someone who really needs long prep)

ps currently in Baguio, if u want cafe hopping din 🤪

Ive been seeing a lot of tea lately regarding the review centers, and honestly, the desperation is starting to show.

We’ve gone from "if you don't watch our videos, you'll fail" to "if you criticize us, you're not well-bred." WOW

It’s funny how the narrative shifts when the MONOPOLY STARTS TO CRUMBLE 😇

"Well-Bred" Insult

Apparently, if you criticize a review center for being toxic or inefficient, you’re just "ill-bred." Sorry if we don't have time to be "refined" while we’re drowning in 12-hour video lectures of someone reading a handout. We’re here to become doctors, not to pass your etiquette test.

"I'd rather crochet"

Then please, go back to crocheting. If hearing the "what ifs" and "could be betters" of your own students annoys you that much, maybe you’ve lost touch with the actual struggle. Students are paying thousands for a service, not a favor. Calling student feedback "bashing without reason" is a huge red flag that you’re ALLERGIC TO ACCOUNTABILITY

"Horse to Water" Blame Game

They love saying, "we lead the horse to the lake, but we can't make it drink." But what if the horse realized there’s a CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT STREAM (high-yield/active learning) nearby? Why force yourself to drink from a stagnant lake of 12-hour lectures just because someone told you it’s the "only" way? 🤡

Fear-Based Monopoly 🤡

"ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU THAT YOU CAN STILL RELAX IS LYING."

LMAO this is the core of their business model haha Instilling fear. They want you to believe that if you aren't miserable and sleep-deprived, you aren't studying right. Many of us passed with high ratings because we prioritized efficiency over sitting in front of a screen for 10 hours

"I'm the only one talking" Savior Complex?

She says she came back because "if only one person speaks, you might believe them."

Guess what? We believe our own eyes and our own results. We don't need a "well-bred" spokesperson to tell us how to feel about our own board experience.

If your "intentions are so good” you should BE ABLE TO HANDLE CRITISISMS without calling everyone "ill-bred."

The era of "follow us or fail" is over girl!

Students are waking up to the fact that they are the ones doing the work. Not the people holding the crochet needles 🙄

Stay vigilant, docs. Don't let the "well-bred" gatekeepers make you doubt your own study style.

Hi EMD docs! sa mga last minute nagticket buying, i'd like to ask how did you pay po sa gform for the oath taking? now palang kasi ako magbbuy kasi need ko pa ipaayos clerical errors sa name ko, pag-open ko ng gform for payment, closed na pala huhu. thanks agad mga doc!!

Question for those who paid online did you receive any confirmation email? Thank you.