...the simple life

Nursing board topnotcher wants to keep her life simple

By ANTHONY GIRON

February 25, 2011

Manila Bulletin

WEANNE MYRRH RAZON ESTRADA

MANILA, Philippines — Weanne Myrrh Razon Estrada may have topped the nursing board examination last December, but she is not the person who is given to boasting her accomplishment.

In fact, the 21-year-old Estrada wants to be known as “Simple Weanne.”

Her life reflects her beliefs. Estrada has lived practically all her life in a university faculty home in Cavite where she was brought up by her academician parents.

The family lives at the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) Faculty Homes in Barangay Puting Kahoy, Silang.

Her father, Pastor Wealthy Estrada, 52, is vice president for academic affairs of Manila Adventist Colleges, and her mother, the former Miriam Razon, 50, is dean of AUP college of health.

Nursing seems to be the profession of choice in the Estrada clan.

Weanne’s sister Dianne Claire is an AUP nursing graduate and her brother Mimo is a freshman nursing student. Her aunt, Irene Isturis-Razon, a graduate of the old AUP (then called Philippine Union College), also topped the nursing board examination in 1992.

Even Estrada’s boyfriend, Mark Varona, is a senior nursing student at AUP.

Weanne herself graduated summa cum laude from the AUP College of Nursing last year.

Suzy A. Jael, dean of AUP College of Nursing, described the Estradas as simple, humble and God-loving people.

“They’re so good. Wala na akong masasabi pa (I cannot say anything more),” said Jael.

“Weanne spent most of her time studying. She has time for leisure, but no movie theaters, disco party, no face make-up. She’s a simple, intellectual person,” Jael added.

Weanne said she owes her life to God, her family and the people around her.

Estrada topped the board examination with a grade of 88.4 percent. The exam was considered as the most difficult in decades; only 29,711 of 84,287 examinees or 35.25 percent passed.

According to Jael, another AUP graduate, Jaime de la Roca Bonifacio Jr., placed 10th in the December board exam.

Interviewed at the dean’s office, Weanne said she could not believe she topped the exam.

“Hindi nga po ako makapaniwala. Bumili pa ako ng dyaryo para makita kung talagang pumasa ako (I cannot believe I passed. I bought a newspaper to confirm),” she said, pulling out a copy of the February 21 issue of the Manila Bulletin from her bag. The Bulletin issue has a list of those who passed the exam.

With her credentials Estrada could easily land a job at a prestigious medical facility abroad. But she has chosen to work at National Kidney Institute as a dialysis nurse, and perhaps teach nursing someday.

“It’s my dream,” she said. “A nurse is a profession. I want to practice the love, care and concern which I learned for my career. I want to serve my countrymen.”