Before ranking first in the August 2017 Mining Engineering Licensure Exam, a Cebu Institute of Technology-University graduate first failed Accountancy, his first college course.

Pompeii Nicolai Subingsubing, a native of Leyte, spent three years studying Accountancy. However, he failed his Accountancy qualifying exams and shifted to Mining Engineering.

For Subingsubing, taking up accountancy made him stronger.

"Every time I feel like quitting I always remember that feeling of being rejected. I said to myself, I don't want to feel that again and so I persevered," he said.

Subingsubing topped the licensure exam with a rating of 90.90 percent.

"I prayed every day and I asked God that if it is his will, then I am very happy to accept it," he said.

Aside from fulfilling his father's dream for him, Subingsubing said he also wants to leave a legacy in his chosen industry.

"I know that this is not just a privilege to be the top one but also a responsibility. I want to prove to other people that the mining industry isn't all bad, there is also the good side of mining and that there are also responsible miners and responsible mining companies," he said.

Of the 317 who took the mining licensure exam this month, 281 passed.

CIT-U produced 45 passers.