MANILA, Philippines – It seems that the career of Clarie Morales Bontol, the 2009 nursing board exam topnotcher, will temporarily take a back seat while she busies herself with politics.

No, Bontol is not running for any public position in May elections. In fact, she even admitted that she is not a “political person.”

She, however, will actively campaign for presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas. In her radio dzMM interview Sunday, Bontol declared that she is “an ardent supporter” of the independent candidate.

“As of the moment, I’m still weighing my options. But I want to campaign for the presidency of Nicanor Perlas until May.... Hindi po talaga ako political person pero ibang klase talaga si Mr. Nicanor Perlas,” she said.

When asked if she intends to become a full-time nurse once the presidential election is over, Bontol answered in the affirmative.

While campaigning for Perlas, Bontol, however, is willing to take volunteer work.

“Mahirap maghanap ng trabaho ang bagong graduate. Usually, hanggang volunteer lang sa dami namin dito. Plano kong maging volunteer. Iniisip ko pa,” she said.

She said if she is lucky enough to get a job as a staff nurse she, of course, will take it. Another option for her is to teach in nursing schools, she said.

Working in Manila though is not part of the plan of the 28-year-old nursing exam topnotcher from Iligan. She explained that competition for employment in Metro Manila is so stiff because many nurses here are fighting for the limited slots.

Going abroad is also not part of her immediate plans as she cited recession and visa retrogression.

“Mahirap mag-abroad na walang experience. As of the moment hindi ko talaga iniisip ang abroad…. mahirap rin maghanap ng trabaho doon,” she said.

Bontol of Iligan Medical Center College Inc. topped the board exam with 87.80%, followed by Bryan Noel Cueto Asis of Lyceum of Batangas (87.60%) and Dickson Araza Laude of St. Scholastica's College of Health Sciences-Tacloban (87%).

The examination was given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Sulu, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last November 2009.

Bontol said up until now she is still shocked that she topped the board exam.

“Nasa study lang talaga ‘tsaka importance ‘yong intindihin ang binasa,” she said.

For all the nursing students, meanwhile, she has this advice: “First and foremost, to be a nurse one has to be service-oriented. That’s the most important. I want to be. That's my goal.”