By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MAKATI CITY — Nursing graduates and nursing students, who are aspiring for “greener pastures” here or abroad, this is a good news for you.
The United States (US) Nursing Review Center (USNRC) with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol from the United States of America is now here in the Philippines.
The newly-opened expert professional nursing review hub USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol Office is specifically located in No. 93 EDSA corner Urdaneta St., Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City.
The USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol plans to put up eight other outlets in the Philippines.
In a press conference on Saturday (Jan. 6), Dr. Mary Jane “MJ” Evangelista, educator and academician, President, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the nursing review center, said that “the USNRC not only offers comprehensive NCLEX RN/LPN review programs, but also provides Employment Search services.”
With more than 18 years of experience in assisting nursing students in obtaining their respective licenses, Dr. Evangelista said that “We are dedicated in empowering individuals in their pursuit of becoming certified nursing professionals in the United States.”
A nurse, doctor and educator by professional training, Dr. MJ started her journey in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, with only one-way tourist visa and it was the NCLEX who provided her the assistance to make it and survive in the land of apple and honey.
A US citizen for 18 years now, Dr. Evangelista, 44, considered it as “a mission to share to others what she has gained in her journey through positive mind, perseverance, and dedication.”
Dr. Evangelista boasted that “our review center has attained a passing rate of 99 percent in the United States.”
Her credentials include a certified psychiatric nurse, Doctor of Nursing, Master of Arts in Nursing in the Philippine College of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the De Ocampo Memorial Medical College, Doctor of Philosophy, among others.
In 2015, she moved to the United States and earned her first certificate as a licensed nurse in just three months.
Before she moved to the United States, Dr. MJ was contracted by Viva Films and Pinoy Big Brother, however, she was dissuaded by her mother to forego them and instead pursue her chosen profession.
In 2016, Dr. MJ was an Awardee in Excellence of Education and a Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame.
The nursing school in the United States was about to close down, when Dr. MJ made it to become the USNRC.
Dr. Evangelista has the privilege of teaching nursing students in almost all major colleges and universities in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
An expert in the field of nursing, Dr. Evangelista said that “Trust us for a flexible, supportive approach to success in your examination and a rewarding career in the US nursing sector.”
Dr. MJ added that “the project is a mission and education is the key to break the chain of poverty.”
Initially, Dr. MJ stressed that “we will accommodate 20 nursing students at 2 p.m. today, however, if 100 students would be willing to go online, they will also be accommodated by the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol.”
Dr. MJ noted that “it’s for free which is worth PHP15,000 each for each of the 20 students.”
Bryan Evangelista, chief executive officer of Legion Protocol Organization, husband of Dr. Evangelista, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for those who attended the blessing and opening of the USNRC in the Philippines in just a short notice.
Evangelista, who is 15 years happily married with Dr. MJ, noted that the USNRC today opened in the Philippines with the Legion Protocol.
He stressed that “the USNRC is now in the Philippines aimed to change the Filipino tapestry and provide free education to the Filipino nursing students and Filipino youth.”
Evangelista pointed out that “we will teach CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) or emergency life-saving first aid, among others and for free.”
He livestreamed direct from Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Evangelista said that promotional discounted rates will be provided to Filipino nursing students.
“Graduates of the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol need not work abroad but they can be an online nurse with a salary in the range of from Php50,000 to Php100,000,” Dr. MJ said.
Dr. MJ emphasized that graduates of USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol and passers of NCLEX are not only qualified to work in the United States but also “internationally”, or elsewhere in the world.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States, Canada, and Australia since 1982, 2015, and 2020, respectively.
There are two types: the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN.
Being different from other Review enters, the USNRC with Dr. MJ offers a unique 3-in-1 NCLEX RN/LPN Application Assistance Program.
It also offers a flexible learning experience with Asynchronous (online), Synchronous (live classes), and Hybrid options (combination of both asynchronous and synchronous classes).
The USNRC with Dr. MJ offers a program which includes an NCLEX RN/PN Complete All-in-one Review, NCLEX RN/LPN Hybrid Comprehensive Review Plus Last Minute Review, and Philippines Local Board Hybrid Comprehensive Review Plus Last Minute Review.
Almost eight outlets are set to be opened in the country.
Those who graced the occasion were Dr. Leticia Atienza, one of the mentors of Dr. MJ; Fr. Boy; Jigs Magpantay, National President of Citizens Crime Watch; media blogger, influencer and now artist Jiji Plays, or Jhewelry Hershey Dela Cerna; GMA artist and movie actress Bea Binene; Ms. Teen Culture World International 2023 Marianne Bermundo; Maj. Aaron Elago, one of the members of the Board of Directors of Legion Protocol; Air Force Col. Isidro; Dr. Acibido; Mariveles Bataan Councilor Harry Golocan; and the Golocan family, the Evangelista family, and Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) Commissioner Ronald Adamat.
Dr. Atienza noted that “in my 54 years in the nursing education sector, it’s the first time that a nursing review center is established in the Philippines and it’s for free.”
Dr. Atienza expressed her gratitude to Dr. MJ for the mission and advocacy of providing free education to Filipino nursing students.
Magpantay said that after the economic turmoil due to Covid-19 pandemic, the advocacy of the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol of providing free education to Filipino nursing graduates has begun.
Magpantay cited the advocacy of the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol.
Elago noted that the PNP has the same advocacy with the USNRC and Legion Protocol.
Dr. Adamat, a peace advocate and first Filipino recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Global Peace Award, saluted Dr. MJ for the noble and wonderful program.
“With this program, offering free education, is considered as an extension of the Tertiary education,” Dr. Adamat said.
Dr. Adamat stressed that “today’s event is History in the making such that it’s the first time that a USNRC with Dr. MJ is now in the Philippines and for free.”
Dr. Adamat expressed the hope that the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol would help increase the passing rate in the Nursing Board Examination in the Philippines and other countries.
Although review centers are not under the jurisdiction of ChEd, Dr. Adamat said that “it’s really a very welcome development for the education sector, especially it’s a free education from the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol.”
Dr. Adamat is also the Chairman of the Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP).
Dela Cerna said that “it’s a good feeling to be able to share blessings to others who needed the most.”
Jiji has four million followers in Facebook, TikTok and in her blogging endeavors.
Binene said that “during the Covid-19 pandemic, I had a radio TV program at GMA DZBB with the DOLE.”
She added that “the program featured the OFWs and has shown how they were able to make it and survive from being away from their respective families in the Philippines.”
Binene congratulated Dr. MJ for the opening of the branch of the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol in the Philippines and expressed the hope that “many Filipinos will be helped by the review center for free education to Filipinos.”
Col. Isidro expressed the hope that “no one will be left behind in the pursuit of attaining the mission and advocacy of the USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol.”
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Nursing and the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) expressed their respective profound gratitude and support to Dr. MJ for putting up the first ever USNRC with Dr. MJ and Legion Protocol branch in the Philippines.
Dr. MJ also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the members of the media for their continuous support and endless friendship.
Atty. Antonio Banares, a friend of Dr. MJ and her better half, has been living in the United States for 20 years now, felt honored and expressed his gratitude to Dr. MJ for the honor accorded to him.
“We have many plans, what’s lacking is execution or implementation,” Dr. MJ said.
“What’s the essence of being successful, if you are not sharing with others,” Dr. MJ added.
