19/05/2026
๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐๐: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐๐-๐ผ๐ฏโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ฌ
๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐บ๐ญ๐ข ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ป๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด
For many aspiring teachers, the release of the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) results is a moment marked by restless anticipation. It is a waiting game filled with silent prayers, anxious scrolling, and the fear of what comes next. For Kristel Clair T. Paltu-ob, that moment arrived while she was trying to distract herself by playing a video game on her phone. She was doing her best to keep her thoughts from spiraling as she waited for the results of the March 2026 LEPT. Then her phone began to light up with consecutive notificationsโmessages from friends, calls from review center staff, and tagged posts on Facebook. On May 12, 2026, when the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) officially released the list of passers, Kristel discovered that she had not only passed but had ranked 8th nationwide, securing her place among the countryโs top-performing examinees.
Her first reaction was pure disbelief. โHuh?โ was the only word she could utter as the news sank in. For a few moments, confusion overshadowed everything else. Then reality settled in, and with it came tears. She immediately shared the news with her boyfriend and her family, overwhelmed with gratitude and relief. Passing the boards had always been her goal, but not passing had also been one of her deepest fears. The thought of falling short had weighed heavily on her throughout the waiting period. To learn that she had not only passed but had earned a national ranking was something she described as an achievement she could never have reached without the support of the people who stood by her.
Kristelโs journey toward this remarkable achievement was shaped by years of preparation and training gained through her Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) studies at Kabankalan Catholic College, Inc. (KCC). Looking back, she attributes much of her success to the strong academic foundation built within the institution. She credits the quality education and the guidance of her professors for helping solidify her knowledge and strengthen her confidence. Through years of rigorous preparation at KCC, she developed not only academic mastery but also the confidence needed to meet the challenge of the board examination head-on.
Yet even with academic excellence behind her, Kristelโs journey was far from easy. One of the most difficult parts of her review period was navigating a painful personal loss. During the height of her preparation, she experienced being abandoned by someone she never expected would leave. The heartbreak made it difficult to focus and left her emotionally drained at a time when concentration was critical. There were days when the emotional weight felt heavier than any review material she had to study. What helped her overcome it was the unwavering support of her family, friends, and especially her boyfriend, whose presence gave her the strength to keep going. Their belief in her became the anchor that steadied her during one of the most challenging periods of her life.
Like many board examinees, Kristel also battled self-doubt. Despite graduating as Magna Cum Laude and hearing constant affirmations from those around her, she often questioned whether she was truly ready. People would tell her she was sure to pass and even predict that she would become a topnotcher. While flattering, those words also brought pressure. She worried about the possibility of disappointing not only herself but everyone who believed in her. Even moments before the results were released, she found herself wondering if her rating might fall just short of the passing mark. In the end, she carried both her fears and the hopes of those who believed in her into the examination room. Looking back, she is grateful for that faith because it pushed her to give everything she had.
Kristelโs approach to studying was rooted in self-awareness. She understood early on that memorization was one of her weaknesses, so she adapted her preparation to match her learning style. She made sure to get enough sleep, knowing that rest improved her retention during drills and reviews. Rather than forcing herself into long, exhausting study sessions, she focused on studying when she felt mentally capable and motivated, often choosing concepts that genuinely interested her to sustain her focus. She believes that success in the boards is not about following someone elseโs routine but about understanding what works best for your own mind. For her, developing analytical skills and metacognition proved especially crucial in mastering Professional Education (ProfEd) subjects.
For Kristel, the board exam and her national ranking are only milestones. What matters more is the kind of educator she aspires to become, a vision shaped by her years as a BEED student and her growing understanding of the true demands of education. She believes that teaching requires balanceโthe ability to be compassionate without becoming too lenient, patient without losing authority, and understanding while still maintaining discipline. To her, what truly defines an educator is the ability to believe in every learner, especially those who struggle to believe in themselves. She firmly believes that one teacherโs faith in a student can become the turning point that helps that learner flourish.
This belief also shapes the advice she offers aspiring elementary educators. For Kristel, future teachers must focus first on building strong foundations for their students. Elementary education is where learners develop the habits, skills, and ways of thinking that will shape their academic journey for years to come. Because of this, she emphasizes the need for competence, patience, and compassion. Every learner is different, and some will require more guidance than others. She believes that impactful teaching is not measured solely by academic results but by the ability to help students grow as individuals.
Kristel hopes to use her achievement as a way to inspire future educators who may be doubting themselves. She wants others to know that uncertainty does not mean incapability and that determination, faith, and perseverance can carry someone farther than they imagine. More than the title of Licensed Professional Teacher or the distinction of being a topnotcher, she hopes to become the kind of educator who leaves a lasting mark on her studentsโ livesโthe teacher who believed in them when they needed it most.
To current KCCians who dream of following in her footsteps, Kristel offers a message forged through both struggle and triumph: ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ถ๐. There will be moments of exhaustion, pressure, and doubt, but these should never be reasons to stop. She encourages students to trust the process, trust the foundation KCC is helping them build, and believe in themselves even when progress feels invisible. Her story stands as proof that greatness is not reserved for those who never doubted themselves, but often for those who kept moving forward despite their doubts. Sometimes, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐น.
