LET topnotcher wants to teach in the barrio

proud roots. Relatives of Gee Rianne Pitogo of the Cebu Normal Univerity who placed 5th in the recent LET for elementary honor her with a tarpaulin banner.
(Grabbed from Facebook account of Gee Rianne Pitogo)

The 5th placer in the recent teacher’s board wanted to become a public school teacher.

Gee Rianne Pitogo, 21, of Sabang, Danao City, said that becoming a public school teacher is a childhood dream.

Pitogo said she won’t mind if the salary is small and it’s okay for her to be assigned in mountain areas. What’s important is that she can help the children.

“Sauna pa gyod na nako nga damgo nga mahimong maestra kay ganahan kong makakita sa mga bata nga makakat-on ug magamit ang ilang kamahoan sa ilang kinabuhi’,(To become a teacher has always been in my dream. I would love to see children learning and using the knowledge they have learned in their lives),”  Pitogo said.

Pitogo, who graduated cum laude last March at the Cebu Normal University (CNU), landed in 5th place in the recent Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET) for elementary with a rating of 88.40 percent.

Her father Gaudioso is a farmer and his mother Rodita works in Mitsumi.

Currently, she teaches in a language school in Cebu City.

Pitogo said she was not even sure of passing the board examination because it was very difficult.

So she was very happy on learning that she ranked 5th in the teacher’s board. According to her, CNU will refund the payment of their review as a form of incentive to the topnotchers.

Meanwhile, Aimae Reuyan Balbuena who landed fourth in the LET for elementary with a score of 88.6 got P60,000 from the administration of the University of Cebu in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Lawyer  Augusto Go, owner of the school said, he is proud of Balbuena’s accomplishment.

Go said it is the school’s practice to reward their graduates who land on top of their licensure examinations.

Based on the school policy, a graduate who landed second to 4th place, can get P60,000 cash reward. Go said he is also thankful that most of the examinees from UC passed the examinations.

In fact he said UC got a higher passing percentage compared to the national passing rate.

Jacquiline Borong Pono of the University of San Carlos (USC) was the highest ranking passer from Cebu schools with a score of 88.8 that landed her third nationwide.

In the LET for elementary. Joanne Barcelona of USC was number 8 in the same exam.  The University of San Carlos (USC) will give laptop computers to two topnotchers from the school, according to USC College of Education dean Dr. Antonio Batomalaque.

Batomalaque said the two topnotchers can also recommend any closest relative to be given scholarship in any four-year programs of the school.

Maria Rina Lazo also of CNU placed ninth. Completing the list of six graduates of Cebu schools in the top 10 is Mariel Ybanez of CNU who placed 10th in the LET for secondary.

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