LEPT TOPNOTCHER DEDICATES FEAT TO HIS ‘FIRST TEACHER’, HIS LATE MOTHER
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (ED)Though often associated with bad
luck, for Kharlos Miguel T. Bautista, Friday the 13th last December 2024 was
his lucky day. It was the day the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
announced he ranked 8th among 48,875 passers in the secondary level of the
Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT).
‘‘It feels surreal that I am
finally one with my dreams’’ Bautista said during his speech at EduKahusayan
event on December 22, 2024, recalling how he celebrated the news with his
father and siblings — crying and jumping together.
With a 93.00% rating, the
Catanduanes State University (CatSU) cum laude graduate dedicated his success
to his “first teacher,” his late mother, who taught him to read and write.
“She’s always been there for my
wins and losses,” he said, admitting to himself that he was not a ‘hundred
percent happy’ despite his achievement knowing that his mother is not
physically present to celebrate with him.
However, he believed that his
mother was proudly looking down on him at that moment—not just for passing but
for topping the board exam—and for fulfilling their long-held dream of him
becoming a teacher, a goal he had cherished since childhood.
A valedictorian at Gogon
Elementary School and a Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) program
graduate of Catanduanes National High School, Bautista earned his degree in
secondary education major in Science at CatSU as a DOST scholar.
Despite challenges posed by the
COVID-19 pandemic, he excelled in both distance and face-to-face learning for
four years as a consistent dean’s list.
At the start, Bautista did not
aim to top the board exam. However, after losing in a national quiz competition
organized by Carl Balita Review Center, he vowed to redeem himself.
“Babawi ako sa board exam,
magkikita-kita kami ulit, doon ang tunay na laban,” he expressed.
Secretly setting his sights on
the top to avoid external pressure, he intensified his preparation, including daily
drills, flashcards, and studying late at night.
A pre-board exam ranking of 3rd
in the Bicol region and inspiration from a friend who ranked 10th in the
nursing board exam further fueled his aspiration to top the board exam.
Sharing tips during review, the
topnotcher said that ‘distractions’ had no place, describing his focused
routine of reviewing complex concepts in physics and professional education.
“No distractions during review,
nakatago ang cellphone sa drawer, nakaharap sa reviewer and laptop. Minsan
inaabot ng 2AM sa pag-review especially sa majorship, mahihirap na concepts,
and problem solving sa physics,” Bautista explained, allocating more time in
Professional Education and Majorship, since both equally contributed 80% in the
overall rating.
His disciplined approach paid
off, but he emphasized that success isn’t just about recognition.
For Bautista, being a topnotcher
is not just about recognition, rewards, and incentives: this is God’s way to
inspire and help more people, to serve our countrymen, to teach the students,
to shape young minds, and to inspire them to dream and help them to reach their
utmost potential.
For those aspiring to become
topnotcher, his message was ‘dreaming big is the first step, but dedication,
perseverance, and faith will take you further that you can’t imagine’
“The journey won’t be easy,
sleepless nights, breakdowns, and doubts. Believe in your capabilities. You
want to pass the board exam? Exert efforts, and be consistent. You want to top
the board exam? Double your efforts, and be consistent,” he shared.
Bautista expressed gratitude to
CatSU for fostering a supportive learning environment and thanked his family,
comparing their influence to a beautiful melody in his life.
In fact, CatSU produced 274
passers in the September 2024 LEPT, including 64 in elementary education and
210 in secondary education, continuing its tradition of surpassing the national
average.
“Keep your eyes on the stars and
your feet on the ground,” he advised, urging aspiring educators to balance
effort with rest and trust in God’s timing.
