Moneeze Bernardo
- After trying for 25 times, an Aeta teacher finally passed her Elementary LET
- “Kapag bumagsak, bumangon ulit,” advised Teacher Gennie to fellow board takers who experienced the pain of failing it
- Her inspiring story was turned to a movie under Carl Balita Productions
An Aeta teacher has now become the embodiment of the saying “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again,” when her name finally appeared among the list of passers of the LET March 2016 results after her 25th attempt.
Teacher Gennie Panguelo teaches young Aeta children in Tarukan Elementary School located in Sitio Tarukan, Capas, Tarlac when the government began implementing strict measures to require teachers to become board passers.
Panguelo was able to work in the Department of Education after finishing a degree in Education. Back in 1988, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) was lenient about requiring professional licenses to teach. Aeta teachers like her who didn’t take the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) were allowed to teach.
Two decades later, it was specified that teachers who did not have licenses were going to be terminated. But at that time, Teacher Gennie had already taken the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) for 15 times, and failed in all of them.
Teacher Gennie shared in an interview with Doc Willie Ong, that there were people who insulted her, saying, “Ano ba ‘yan, maputi na ang buhok mo, ‘di ka pa rin nakapasa.”
A friend of Panguelo was able to refer her to the Carl Balita Review Center (CBRC). And luckily, they accepted the struggling teacher as their scholar.
And come her 25th try, Panguelo’s determination and unrelenting efforts have finally bore fruit when she passed the Elementary LET.
And to those aspiring LET examinees who have failed the board too, she has this advice: “Sa mga kabataan na tulad kong naghangad na maging titulado, huwag po kayong manghinayang. Kapag bumagsak, bumangon ulit. Kasi hindi lang nakukuha sa isang pagkakataon, kailangan natin ng tunay sa loob, sinseridad, at pagtitiyaga.”
https://www.facebook.com/DocWillieOngOfficial/videos/334453083857841/
Panguelo received the Carl Balita Review Center’s Agila Award in 2018 and her inspiring story was made into a film entitled “Maestra” under the Carl Balita Productions. The film also features another story of a former high school principal, college dean, and a known inspiration speaker delivering entertaining poems on the spot.
Teacher Gennie has finished her Master’s degree and is now pursuing her PhD in Teaching and Management. And still, she continues to educate young Aetas in her community.
