Marilyn Cahatol

Thousands of aspiring college students flock to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa campus for the first batch of the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET). Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768717591459G-53ygGWwAA3yOH.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Thousands of aspiring college students flock to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa campus for the first batch of the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET). <em>Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Thousands of aspiring college students flocked to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa campus as the first batch of the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET) kicked off on Sunday, January 18, marking day 1 of the 2026 admissions cycle.</p><p>A total of 21,840 examinees took the test for Batch 1, which officially started at 8 a.m. As early as dawn, graduating Grade 12 students from schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were already lining up outside the campus, carrying review notes and admission slips.</p><p>According to PUP, the Sta. Mesa campus divided examinees into four batches to manage the volume of applicants. </p><p>Aside from January 18, remaining exam dates are scheduled on February 8, February 22, and March 8, all falling on Sundays. Each batch accommodates more than 20,000 examinees.</p><p>University data show a change in applicant figures compared to last year. </p><p>In 2025, PUP recorded around 200,000 applicants nationwide, with 66,615 successfully taking the exam at the main campus. For 2026, the number of applicants has reached 135,000 as of January 14, with final figures to be released after all batches are completed.</p><p>Despite stiff competition, many applicants said PUP remains their top choice because of its reputation for quality education and free tuition.</p><p>“For us kasi, high quality talaga yung pag-aaral sa PUP,” said Yza Victoria Cudiamat, a Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HumSS) student from Cavite. “Nakikita po namin na don po kami maggogrow and marami kaming matutunan sa PUP.”</p><p>Another examinee, Samantha Bantillo, a Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) student also from Cavite, admitted that they had limited time to prepare for the exam but remained hopeful.</p><p>“Actually po late na po kami nag-review,” she said, adding that she and her companions offered prayers for a favorable result. “Syempre yung makapasa po kami ng [PUP]… yung makuha po yung gusto talaga naming school.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/10/students-in-10-pup-campuses-walk-out-to-protest-corruption-1822">Students in 10 PUP campuses walk out to protest corruption</a></div><p>Parents also accompanied their children, some traveling before sunrise to avoid heavy traffic around the campus. Corazon Besiata, a parent from Pasig, said faith played a big role in their preparation.</p><p>“Pumupunta kami ng Quiapo. Sinasama namin sa prayer yung exam niya dito,” she said. “Mas gusto niya dito sa PUP. Okay lang kung hindi makapasa. Okay na rin.”</p><p>Her daughter, Roczerie Besiata, shared why she chose PUP.</p><p>“Pinili ko po siya kasi maganda nga daw po na mag-aral dito and syempre po yung opportunity na makukuha ko after [maka-graduate],” she said, adding that she remains confident about her performance.</p><p>“May tiwala naman po sa sarili na kaya ko.”</p><p>Another examinee, Devine Boncalon from Pasig, echoed the same sentiment.</p><p>“Gusto ko talaga yung dream school [ko] na PUP kasi may mga friends po ako na galing PUP and nasasabi po nila na maganda daw yung system when it comes to education,” she said.</p><p>Last year, out of the 66,615 examinees who took the PUPCET, 20,012 passed the exam.</p><p>PUP noted that 70.70 percent of those who qualified came from low-income households, mostly from Metro Manila.</p><p>To ensure smooth exam operations, several roads near the campus, including Teresa and Anonas streets, were closed from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.</p><p>PUP also reminded the public that the PUPCET is free and warned that collecting any payment from examinees is illegal.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/3/house-approves-bill-strengthening-pup-declaring-it-as-national-polytechnic-university-2358">House approves bill strengthening PUP, declaring it as National Polytechnic University</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NQS6a9LGVTg?si=RDhT0spvhPDvnNbi" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Thousands of aspiring college students flocked to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa campus as the first batch of the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET) kicked off on Sunday, January 18, marking day 1 of the 2026 admissions cycle.</p>

Thousands of aspiring college students flocked to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa campus as the first batch of the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET) kicked off on Sunday, January 18, marking day 1 of the 2026 admissions cycle.

Iskolar ng Bayan hopefuls flock to PUP Sta. Mesa for PUPCET

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Iskolar ng Bayan hopefuls flock to PUP Sta. Mesa for PUPCET

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 18, 2026 02:57 PM PHT

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PUP College Entrance Test

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Polytechnic University of the Philippines

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