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King Nixon Mabanta, who topped the June 2025 Architect Licensure Examination, in his graduation photo

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767689600939Grad Photo 2.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>King Nixon Mabanta, who topped the June 2025 Architect Licensure Examination, in his graduation photo</div>For most, the journey to becoming a licensed architect is already a grueling test of endurance and intellect. But for 28-year-old architect King Nixon Castro Mabanta of Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, who took his undergraduate program at Pangasinan State University – Urdaneta, topping the June 2025 Architect Licensure Examination with an 88.10 percent rating was the culmination of more than just academic dedication. It was a testament to resilience in the face of life-threatening adversity.Mabanta, the first topnotcher from his school in architecture, did not just overcome the rigors of the profession. He also faced a severe vascular condition in 2022 that left him bedridden for nearly nine months. Despite the odds, he topped the Architect Licensure Examination and placed second in the Master Plumber Licensure Examination — an extraordinary feat by any measure.“Topping the board exam, parang isa na lang pong bonus iyon eh. Pero siyempre, noong nalaman natin na parang okay, mapalad pa na pumasok tayo ng top 1, siyempre napaka-surreal pa rin iyong feeling,” Mabanta shared.His journey began in June 2014 when he first entered college. But what should have been a standard five-year architecture course extended to nine years, compounded by mandatory apprenticeship and preparation for the licensure exam. Adding to the delay was the COVID-19 pandemic. And in February 2022, Mabanta fell ill.“Medyo na-delay ng kaunti, dahil nga unexpected, may biglang sakit. Kaya inabot siya ng matagal. Kung baga, from the first day I stepped in college, 11 years after that, doon po ako naging talagang ganap na arkitekto,” he explained.“It took me almost nine years to finish up the entire architecture course, including our mandatory apprenticeship. So, una sa lahat, siyempre po nang pumasa, it&#x27;s a big relief since all of those years na pagsa-sacrifice ay napalitan na ng license,” he added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767689706867ALE 2025 Boysen Night Speech.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="633"/>Mabanta delivering a speech</div>The health challenge he faced was severe and frightening. Though he chose not to disclose the exact diagnosis, Mabanta described the experience vividly. “It’s more of a vascular disease, sa blood vessels. I experienced that time na parang kapag tatayo ako, talagang literal na may dugo na lalabas sa balat ko,” he said.The illness imposed extreme limitations on his daily life. For eight months, he could barely move, needed constant assistance even for basic needs, and sometimes could not bathe due to the fragility of his skin.“Iyon po iyong pinakanahirapan ako kasi, if I will describe myself, parang buto’t balat na namamaga lahat ng parts ng katawan. Like, hindi ka talaga makakilos. Kailangan ko pa pong tawagin iyong aking mother or iyong father ko just to provide the food inside my room,” he said.“And also, doon ko na-try talaga like 8 months na hindi naligo dahil mahapdi po sa balat kapag naligo. Then, ‘pag mag-CR, nagpapa-assist lagi. Then, nakahiga lang po all day,” he added.Mabanta also recalled that at the height of his illness, he once believed he was nearing death, and admitted that the experience taught him that life did not revolve solely around academic achievement.“Dumating iyong time na na-realize ko na hindi pala lahat umiikot lang sa studying or pleasing others. The disease inspired me to face my weakness. During that time, akala ko talaga ay mamamatay na ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, before sana ako kunin, ay magkaroon man lang ako ng lisensya kahit papaano,” Mabanta shared.His recovery began in late 2022, and by February 2023, he had already taken the Master Plumber exam, placing second nationally.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767689683586Boysen Night.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Mabanta (second from left) with his family</div>This milestone reignited his confidence and motivation for the architect board exam, which he ultimately topped in June 2025.“Actually, ang pinakatalagang sa tingin ko nag kickstart sa aking recovery is when I actually passed the Master Plumber exam. Kasi that time, sabi ko parang, iyon na iyong pinakamababang point ng buhay ko. But when I saw the result, alam niyo iyong parang nabigyan ka ng bagong buhay, motivation. And sa tingin ko, iyong mindset na parang, noong time na iyon, mas naging positive ako, nakatulong iyon sa mas mabilis na pag-recover,” he said.Mabanta now works as a freelance architect, primarily focusing on high-end residential projects in Pangasinan.He also maintains a strong bond with his family, continuing to live with them while pursuing his career. Looking ahead, Mabanta plans to focus on research that integrates mathematics with architecture to optimize construction methods and materials.“Naniniwala ako na everything that happened, happens for a reason. So, sa tingin ko iyong sakit na ‘yan, talagang ibinigay ‘yan kasi perhaps hindi ko pa talaga time iyong 2022, baka 2025 pa,” he said.

For most, the journey to becoming a licensed architect is already a grueling test of endurance and intellect.

For most, the journey to becoming a licensed architect is already a grueling test of endurance and intellect.

From bedridden to board topnotcher: Architect shares inspiring journey

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From bedridden to board topnotcher: Architect shares inspiring journey

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 06, 2026 05:05 PM PHT

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King Nixon Mabanta

June 2025 Architect Licensure Examination

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