Carla Mae Sumalinog
For six months, she volunteered as a tutor to teach reading, English and Math to indigents being helped by the government’s social welfare agency in Cebu City.
When teaching is a passion, the work isn’t a burden.
For 24-year-old Carla Mae Limpag Sumalinog, there will be more opportunities to teach in a real classroom.
She landed in the top ten examinees who passed the 2014 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given last January 26.
Sumalinog, the daughter of a barbecue vendor and a graduate of the University of San Carlos, ranked 10th place with an average of 86.20, the only Cebuano in the topnotchers of the national exam’s secondary level.
Five other graduates from Cebu schools placed in the top ten of the exam for the elementary education level. (See table of topnotchers on this page). Results were released yesterday by the Professional Regulation Commission in Manila and the Board for Professional Teachers.
A total of 11, 120 elementary teachers out of 38,377 examinees (28.98 percent) and 12,033 secondary teachers out of 42,358 examinees (28.41 percent) successfully passed the exam given in 15 testing centers all over the country.
Sumalinog, who grew up in the mountain barangay of Guba, Cebu City, said she has no plans to go abroad for now and intends to apply for a job in the Philippines.
“I will help my family,” she said, especially to ensure that her younger siblings finish school.
“We always support each other.”
Sumalinog is the third of seven children and finished her college degree in Applied Physics through a scholardship from the Department of Science and Technology.
Standing four feet six inches, she said her petite stature made her doubt whether she would be suited for the role of classroom teacher.
The exam results gave her a boost of confidence and also served as an advance birthday gift for her this March 19.
Sumalinog graduated from USC in 2010 and obtained her Diploma for Professional Education (DPE) at Cebu Normal University in 2012.
Aside from doing her review at CNU, she spent five hours a day for self review.
“I was thinking that I should top the LET because it would be a stepping stone for me. But the licensure exam was very difficult, and I lost hope,” she told Cebu Daily News.
“I also didn’t expect to ace the exam because I did not graduate with flying colors in college,” she said.
“I am very thankful to my parents, friends and also to the family of my boyfriend who is very supportive.”
Sumalinog finished with a first honorable mention from Guba Elementary School and went on to Abellana National High School.
She wanted to pursue a degree in literature, but due to poverty she accepted a five-year DOST government scholarship for BS in Applied Physics.
She worked as a call center agent in JP Morgan for three years after she graduated from college, then stopped to review for the licensure exam.
Because of her passion in teaching, she volunteered for six months as a tutor in Paglaum Training International in the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) to service all vulnerable clients.
“Mutudlo ko sa mga dili kamaong mobasa , dili kahibalo sa Math, English, bisag unsa depende sa ilang needs,” she said.
Five others from Cebu schools placed in the top ten for the elementary level of the LET.
Pauly Mariz Tampon Recio of Cebu Normal University (CNU) and Rica Alessandra de los Reyes Young of Cebu Technological University-Main (CSCST) both landed in 5th place with a rating of 87.
Mary Kenth Ababao Aceret of University of Cebu (UC) and Jasson Simborio Singculan of University of Cebu (UC-LM) both landed in 8th place with a rating of 86.40.
Kristine Myrene Rose Lado Sayre of University of the Visayas (UV) landed in 9th place with a rating of 86.20.
Recio, 20, who hails from San Fernando town in south Cebu, was able to excel in the exam without enrolling in a review center. She relied on self-reveiw.
She said she was busy working in Notre Dame Academy in San Fernando, and was only able to read a photocopy of some review materials days before the exam.
“It’s been my dream since elementary school to become a teacher. I asked God after taking the entrance exam at CNU that if ever I would pass, my career would be in teaching.”
The eldest of four children, Recio was a scholar in college. Her mother is a public school teacher and her father is an electrician.
Recio said she plans to apply for a teaching post in a public school in San Fernando.