Filipinos love the teaching profession.
In the March, 2023 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) a total of 91,468 elementary school teachers took the exam (49,783 passed), and 139,534 secondary school examinees, (71,080) passed). A total of 120,863 passed the exam.
It is therefore a source of pride for Arellano University that two outstanding students of the AU College of Education passed the exam, belonging to the top 20 passers: Michael C. Cariaga, Batch 2022 Valedictorian and Magna Cum Laude, Top 11; and Maria Nadine Roman, Batch 22, Salutatorian and Magna Cum Laude, Top 17.
Michael Cariaga was born in Bulacan, and this is where he obtained his elementary and high school education. His childhood and teenage years were filled with happy memories of play, friends and adventures with nature.
Somehow, these experiences softened the travails of his home life. Abandoned by his father he never met, the family of three siblings was raised single-handedly by his mother, the only income earner of the family. Life was not easy but his resolve to be a teacher – one of his earliest dreams – and driven by his desire to honor his mother’s sacrifices, pushed him on. Getting a college education was the only escape from poverty that he could imagine.
He considers his choice of Arellano University (AU) one of the best decisions of his life. For one, his personal experiences as a student showed him AU’s adherence to its mission statement to provide equitable access to quality education to its students in ways that he finds are responsive, accepting, respectful and supportive.
In addition, he also recognized that in its academic programs, AU emphasizes the importance of developing an international outlook in education in response to globalization. On a personal note, he knows Arellano University developed him as a resilient, responsive and empowered individual.
Given the waning interest of many young Filipino students for the Filipino language, it is interesting to note that Michael Cariaga chose Filipino Language and Literature as his area of specialization in college, and in his pursuit for his Master’s degree, where he is currently enrolled as a 2nd year student. He wants to pass on to his students his deep love for our National Language; he also sees it as a way of serving his country.
Right now, Michael Cariaga is a member of the faculty in the Senior High School Department of the Juan Sumulong High School.
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