Written by Alliah Grace Novesteras & Dave Angelo Tomilas
“The amount of your effort should fit your goal”
These are the words of Mr. Theodore N. Domoguen, who proudly secured the 6th spot in the February Criminologist Licensure Examination, and achieved an outstanding 91.65% rating, placing him among the top achievers out of 36,768 examinees nationwide.
Mr. Domoguen is a proud alumnus of the University of Baguio-School of Criminal Justice and Public Safety (UB-SCJPS). In the Academic Year 2022-2023, he served as a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and was an Advance ROTC Corps Commander. He was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant after his ROTC graduation. He was also the Battalion Commander of Class BAHID-ALAB 2023-01.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Domoguen shared the challenges he faced and the study techniques he used. One of the greatest challenges he encountered during his review period was balancing his studies while caring for his late grandmother, who passed away last September 2024. He said that due to his grandmother’s age, he had to tend to her need’s day and night. Despite these challenges, he remained committed to preparing for the board exam.
To prepare for the examination, Mr. Domoguen developed dedicated study habits. He made sure to read at least 20 pages daily and familiarize himself with key concepts during his spare time. On scheduled review days, he adopted a “hyper-focused” approach, ensuring that he absorbed lectures and materials effectively. Mr. Domoguen also emphasized that the Criminologist Licensure Examination has shifted toward a concept-based approach. He advised future examinees to practice answering sample questions, whether from online resources or through the SCJPS faculty room.
Mr. Domoguen highlighted the importance of balancing preparation with rest. He encouraged board exam takers to take breaks to avoid burnout and information overload.
When asked about his reaction to achieving nationwide recognition as a topnotcher, he humbly and jokingly shared, “When I woke up earlier, I was relieved to realize that it wasn’t a dream. What happened yesterday truly felt like one.”
For those aspiring to excel in the board exams, Mr. Domoguen advised: “Always challenge yourself. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. Push your limits and expand your abilities.”
Mr. Domoguen also credited his success to the UB SCJPS enhancement review program during his internship, which he described as highly effective in helping students grasp key concepts and prepare efficiently. This program contributed significantly to UB SCJPS’s impressive achievement in the February 2025 Criminologists Licensure Examination, where the school achieved an outstanding 84.67% overall passing rate.
The University of Baguio demonstrated exceptional performance, with 113 out of 131 first-time takers successfully passing, achieving an impressive passing rate of 86.26. Meanwhile, 3 out of 6 retakers passed, resulting in a respectable 50.00% passing rate. Out of 137 examinees, 116 successfully passed the board examination.
Notably, Mr. Domoguen was the only topnotcher who came from a school in the Cordillera to enter the Top 10 across the country, further highlighting the University of Baguio’s dedication to academic excellence.
With this achievement, the University of Baguio proudly holds the Rank 10 spot among the Top Performing Schools in the 101-199 examinees bracket, further solidifying its reputation for excellence in criminology education.
