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Dr. Ricca Mae Villareal Roco
Extending Excellence By ANGELO M. VERGEL DE DIOS 6
UE Today January-June 2010
ising to the challenge of becoming number one in the Dentist Licensure Examination is tough, more so if one comes from a family where dentistry is a continuing tradition of excellence. Yet Dr. Ricca Mae Villareal Roco, an April 2010, Magna Cum Laude graduate of the UE College of Dentistry, took on the challenge and has come out on top: In the May-June 2010 Dentist Board Exam, she emerged number one with a percentage rating of 85.02%. Coming from a clan of dental professionals, Dr. Roco or “Ricca” is determined to continue the family’s passion for dental excellence. In the process, Ricca perpetuates another “family tradition”: the College of Dentistry’s enduring distinction of producing topnotchers, thereby establishing itself as the best dental school in the country today. The eldest of two siblings, Ricca was born on May 9, 1986 to Dr. Ricardo Roco, and the former Dr. Ursula Villareal, who are themselves dentists and UE graduates (both UE DMD 1985). Her uncle, Dr. Hermogenes P. Villareal, is one of UE’s 60 Most Outstanding Alumni. Ricca is quick to defend, however, that her decision to follow in her parents’ footsteps was not due to domestic pressure but simply in appreciation and admiration of what her parents do for a living. As a child, she would often tag along to her parents’ clinic and observe as they went about their work. She felt awed by their job and that her parents were helping other people. This early exposure formed an imprint on her that, as early as kindergarten at the Poveda Learning Centre, she already resolved to become a dentist herself. Throughout her early education at Poveda, Ricca claims, she was an average student. The turning point, however, came in 3rd-year high school, when she developed a liking for studying. During a community service program, she found her calling in helping the less fortunate. It gave her such a natural high that she resolved to view college as her chance to give it her all and take her studies seriously. As the years wore on, her desire to follow her parents’ footsteps became stronger. In picking the right dental school for herself, her parents did not pressure her in any way. She did look at how her family became great dentists through the UE College of Dentistry (aside from her parents and uncle, she has five cousins who are UE CDent graduates) and decided to follow family tradition and enroll in UE’s reputable dental college as well. As a UE student, Ricca stayed true to her promise that she would get down to the business of learning. She studied and reviewed her notes diligently to make sure she understood the lessons. She was also unafraid to consult her professors on lessons and other matters. Among the sound advice the CDent professors gave her was to always practice and work hard for what she wanted to achieve, an advice she took to heart. Not once did Ricca ever think of giving up; she took up Dentistry as a challenge and decided to stick to it. Despite the rigorous demands of pursuing a dentistry degree, Ricca still found the time for extracurricular activities. She was a member of the College’s Clinicians Club and Achievers’ Council for Excellence. Ricca also joined other organizations off-campus, such as the Catholic group Regnum Christi and Tulong sa Kapwa-Kapatid. And, of course, there were the occasional “gimmicks” with friends. Indeed, she believes in striking a balance between academics and relaxation and in rewarding oneself for hard work. Even before graduation, Ricca already started her review for the board exam. As early as November 2009, she would bring her notes wherever she went that so she could read them whenever she had idle time, be it in the mall, at family gatherings, even on vacations. At first it was more of a leisurely read, but three months prior to the exams, she began her serious review by enrolling in the UE Center for Review and Special Studies.