MANILA, Philippines – Ma. Gliceria “Grace” Mapanao of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan couldn't have imagined that at the age of 48, she would pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) at the Secondary Level, not only passing it but also securing the third position with a remarkable score of 92.20%.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Grace Mapanao |
In a report by PEP, Grace stated that she completed her B.S. Biology at the University of Santo Tomas in March 1994, and she had planned to continue to medical school, but their family couldn't afford the tuition.
Grace said she just worked until she got married and totally buried her desire to become a doctor in oblivion. In 2011, she worked as a substitute teacher for her sibling who became disabled. The school administration appreciated her teaching style, and she became a preschool teacher. Additionally, she worked as a private tutor for 10 years.
Having experienced teaching, she applied for a position as a college instructor and was immediately accepted, on the condition that she obtain a teaching license within a grace period of five years, and if not, she would be terminated from service.
Therefore, in June 2019, she enrolled at La Concepcion College, CSJDM, Bulacan to obtain a Certificate in Teaching Profession.
After completing her Certificate in Teaching Profession (CTP), she secretly started reviewing for the March 2022 LET. She mentioned that only her husband and child knew about her review because she didn't want to inform others that she was taking the board exam. She didn't want to experience embarrassment if she failed.
This was also during the time when their father was facing health issues and was hospitalized. Unfortunately, their father passed away before he could learn about the results of her board exam.
While their father was lying in state, Grace continued her review. She felt embarrassed when one of her siblings exposed her to those who attended their father's wake, saying she was reviewing for the LET and would be a topnotcher.
Grace admitted that she struggled during the exam, and for almost two weeks, she couldn't talk properly because there were some questions she wasn't sure if she answered correctly. So when the results came out, her hands went cold as she read her name on the list of topnotchers. She ranked third!
“Ituloy ninyo ang pangangarap. Gawin ang nararapat upang magtagumpay.”
“Try to be a better person than you were yesterday. Anumang setbacks ang kaharapin, the show must go on. Huwag mag-give-up.”
"At kapag naabot na iyon, panatilihing ang mga paa ay nakatapak sa lupa,” she advised to others.
Grace became a national lecturer at a review center where she had reviewed for the LET. She also plans to become a "doctor," not in medicine, but in philosophy.
Congrats, Teacher Grace!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
