The College of Teacher Education and Technology (CTET) of the University of Southeastern Philippines Tagum-Mabini Campus celebrated the success of its newly Licensed Professional Teachers in a meaningful and inspiring recognition ceremony held on December 5, 2025, at the Physical Education and Cultural Center, USeP TMC, Tagum Unit. The day began with a thanksgiving mass, where passers received blessings, symbolizing gratitude, renewal, and the start of their journey as fully licensed educators.

Following the mass, the event proper gathered esteemed guests and the academic community. Present were USeP TMC Chancellor Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva, CTET Dean Dr. Eleonor T. Guden, representatives from partner schools, CTET program heads, faculty, staff, fourth-year students, and proud LET passers from the March 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers.

In her warm welcome message, Dr. Villanueva paid tribute to the support systems behind every passer’s journey. She reminded the audience that success is never achieved alone—honoring parents, families, and loved ones who became “first teachers, strongest motivators, and unwavering pillars of strength.” She expanded this gratitude to faculty and the entire University community whose dedication shaped the graduates’ academic and personal growth. She further encouraged the new teachers to carry the values of collaboration, accountability, resilience, excellence, and service virtues that define a true USePian. Recognizing the profound responsibility of the profession, she emphasized that teachers “light the path for others, even when the road gets dark,” and play a pivotal role in transforming lives and nurturing hope.

Certificates were then awarded to all LET passers, with a special recognition for Ms. Maria Catrina Q. Germo, who secured Top 6 in the Licensure Examination, an exceptional feat that brought pride to the college and the entire USeP community.

Delivering his inspirational message, USeP President Dr. Bonifacio G. Gabales Jr. reminded the newly Licensed Professional Teachers that earning the title is “not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a lifelong mission.” He shared a reflection from a teacher who said, “I may not remember all my students’ names years after they leave my class, but I hope they remember how they felt when they were with me—seen, valued, and believed in.” This message underscored the heart of the teaching profession: the ability to leave lasting impact through compassion and belief in learners.

The audience was then moved by the heartfelt testimonial of Topnotcher Ms. Germo, who spoke about the challenges, failures, victories, and unwavering determination that shaped the passers’ path to licensure. She emphasized how USeP remained steadfast, providing quality education despite distance, limitations, and the challenges brought by the pandemic. “USeP shaped us not only into competent professionals, but also compassionate educators,” she expressed, highlighting that the University taught them not just how to teach, but how to serve and lead with excellence.

In closing the ceremony, Dr. Guden expressed her sincere gratitude to the Campus Administration for its support, to the CTET faculty and staff for their dedication, and most importantly to the LET passers whose success brought honor to the college.

As the celebration came to an end, the message was both clear and powerful: these newly licensed teachers carry the esteemed achievement of passing the board exam along with the profound responsibility of shaping the futures of their students. Their stories of perseverance are now interwoven with the legacy of USeP, demonstrating once again that education rooted in compassion and excellence creates waves of transformation that extend far beyond the classroom walls. With their hearts dedicated and their purpose defined, they are now prepared to step forward as educators, ready to inspire, uplift, and lead the next generation.