She wanted to be a teacher and she stopped at nothing to reach her dream. In 2026, that dreamed gets fulfilled.
With a rating of 92.80 percent, Christel Surita is among those who ranked 10th in the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the elementary level.
“Sabi nila, “Tel ang iyong rating 92.80... Sabi ko, we??? Hindi ako naniwala. Sila ang nag-manifest na makapasok ako sa Top 10. Ngunit nang medyo nag-sink in na at tumawag na sa akin ang aming dean at umiyak siya, doon na ako umiyak,” Christel tells GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas.
The result of the exam is but a culmination of years of hard work and, in Christel’s case, hard work made even harder by her visual impaired.
Christel was born with a congenital cataract. She was diagnosed when she was already eight years old. Yet she sees life with positive lens.
Every day, despite and in spite of her limitations, she would hit the road bravely to school from her family home at a rice plantation in Barangay Patlad in Dumangas town.
She earned her degree from the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology in Dumangas.
“Sa aking review, wala akong naisulat kahit isa. Nakadepende lang ako sa videos online dahil diyan ako nagbabasa ng ilang beses,” she said.
DELIVERING DESPITE THE ODDS
Christel’s success in the licensure examination was not a total surprise to her school, especially her mentors.
Her professor at ISUFST, Ernie Pedregosa, said Christel proved she has the qualities that make an effective teacher.
“Magaling siyang mag-demo, as to the content, as to the strategy, techniques, approach and methods, nade-deliver talaga. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, Teltel lisensya na lang talaga. No question sa ability, sa skills. She has the elements to be a very good teacher,” Pedregosa said.
Christel hopes to be an example and inspire other people with disabilities not to give up on their dreams.
“Trials, it’s part of life. Actually, trials is life, kasi hindi mo naman matatawag na buhay kung walang hirap at panay ligaya na lang,” she said.
OTHER ACHIEVERS
Also in the Top 10 in the elementary level are the following:
- Friences Cortez, 5th Place, University of Iloilo
- Justine Fontanillas, 8th Place, Iloilo Science and Technology University - Miag-ao
- Jerald Loyola, 10th Place, Northern Iloilo State University Concepcion Campus
In the secondary level, four graduates of West Visayas State University made it to the Top 10:
- Nicole Macainan, 5th Place
- Vincent Christopher King, 7th Place
- Keith Jabaybay, 8th Place
- Zhyra Joy Lorenzo, 10th Place
WVSU got a 100 passing rate in the exams.
