Espinosa of Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City topped the licensure examinations for teachers (LET) for secondary level given last March, and he credits his parents for his feat.
“I am proud of my parents. Despite our socioeconomic status, they sent me to school. They did not neglect me. They understood my goals and plans, and they were very supportive,” he told SunStar Cebu on Saturday, May 20.
Espinosa, son of a jeepney driver and a housewife, ranked fourth in the top 10 passers list with a rating of 92.20 percent.
He admitted feeling under pressure after being the lone graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors in his batch in Cebu Normal University (CNU) in June 2022, but his parents motivated him while he prepared for the exam.
“I want to make them proud. I want to be the first licensed teacher in the family, and I am the first topnotcher in our clan. I am very grateful to my parents for their sacrifices for me,” Espinosa said.
He intends to pursue his master’s degree, but for now, he will continue working in a review center to help produce more topnotchers like him.
Aside from Espinosa, two other Cebu-based graduates landed in the top 10 of the March 2023 LET secondary level exam.
Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges graduate Reglyn Mae Yburan Ylanan ranked eighth with a rating of 91.40 percent, while Kent Vincent Cuizon Alburan of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) ranked 10th with a rating of 91 percent.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced on Friday, May 20, that only 46.9 percent or 48,005 out of 102,272 takers passed the exam given last March 19, 2023.
There were also six graduates from two state-run universities in Cebu who made it to the top 10 of the recently concluded LET for elementary level.
Fritzie Mae Sarona Unabia, a graduate of the Cebu Technological University (CTU) Argao campus, ranked first in the licensing examinations after scoring 92.20 percent.
CTU Carmen graduate Vaniza Dayon Entero and CTU Moalboal graduates Chabelita Gallarde and Ariadne Anne Aniñon Vilvestre shared the eighth place with a rating of 90.80 percent.
Jastine Abellanosa Locaylocay of CTU main campus and Erika Cardine Navarra Mendoza of CNU both ranked 10th with a 90.40 percent rating.
According to the PRC, only 24,819 or 40.7 percent of the 60,896 examinees passed the LET for elementary level.
The PRC has yet to announce the details of the oathtaking ceremony for the new teachers.