NAGA CITY, Philippines?Rayan Abogado Oliva, the topnotcher in the nursing board examinations last July, had prayed everyday that he would top all examinees and posted in his room the number 1 sign which greeted him every morning he woke up.

Oliva, who graduated magna cum laude at the Ateneo de Naga University, said he was very specific with his request to God that he be the one on top.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Oliva got an 86.80-percent passing rate, a grade above the 37,679 of 91,008 nursing graduates who passed the board. ( See complete list)

Oliva said he had read somewhere that if one had a dream, he had to write it down, place it on the wall and be motivated by it.

Still, he said he was ?shocked? when he heard news about his feat. ?I am very happy!? he said.

Oliva said all five sets of the nursing exam were difficult and was jittery after the exam because he was not sure that he shaded his answers correctly.

The result was plainly well-deserved.

Oliva was a consistent honor student. He graduated valedictorian in elementary school in 2002 and was also valedictorian at the Ateneo de Naga University High School in 2006.

He is also the reigning ?Mr. Nursing? of the university.

Oliva?s grade of 86.80 was followed closely by that of Aileen Ancanan Austria of the De Los Santos-STI College Inc., who finished with 86.40.

Allyce Joana Toledo de Leon and Anna Vanessa Ang Gan, both from the University of Santo Tomas, took the third spot with a grade of 86.

In solo fourth place was Alyssa Leonila de la Silva Guiam of Centro Escolar University in Manila with 85.8.

The fifth spot was a multiple tie among Charmaine Camacho Gauiran of the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical School (RTRMS), Vida Theresa Sibayan Gumangan of Saint Louis University, Abigal Diaz Icasiano of Arellano University-Manila, John Joseph Mayo Montalbo of Far Eastern University-Manila, Jan Michael Gabionza Ong of Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela (OLFUV), and Joan Dioquino Tejada of RTRMS.

Meanwhile, the fates of five examinees were withheld ?pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination.?