BY: VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
Two students from Baguio City have secured top ranks in the Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) for Professional Teachers – Secondary Level held in June 2025.
Elaine Gatillo ranked Top 2, while Karen Faye Oviedo landed at Top 4.
Gatillo, originally from Mindanao, initially pursued Electronics Engineering as a scholar at Mindanao State University.
But her passion for forensic science led her to enroll at the University of Baguio.
“I always wanted to study forensic science, but I didn’t even know it was offered in the Philippines,” she said. “When I felt that engineering wasn’t for me anymore, I asked God for a sign about what to do next.”
While studying, she supported herself through freelance work and by working as a student assistant.
In 2019, she moved to Vietnam to work as a volunteer English teacher.
“That’s when I really embraced teaching,” she shared. “I wanted professional growth, so I took 18 units in education.”
Juggling teaching, work, and SPLE review wasn’t easy.
“It was really hard, but somehow, I made it through,” she said. “When the results came out, I was half-asleep. My friend said, ‘You passed.’ Then she said, ‘You’re Top 2!’ I couldn’t believe it.”
Now, Gatillo plans to continue teaching and pursue a master’s degree.
Karen Faye Oviedo, also based in Baguio but with roots in Ifugao and Ilocos, graduated with a BS Commerce degree from Saint Louis University.
She now teaches English as a Foreign Language in China.
“My family is ordinary, but my parents prioritized our education for a better future,” she said.
Without a background in education, Oviedo admitted it was challenging to transition into teaching.
“I was appointed Director of Studies, but I didn’t have formal teaching training,” she said. “So I decided to take education units to justify my position.”
She committed fully to her board exam review.
“For 10 months, I studied every day. A few months before the exam, I even stopped moonlighting just to focus,” she said. “I told my family I wanted to top the exam—even if I didn’t understand what GenEd or ProfEd were at first. Top 4 is still a blessing.”
She launched an online review group called “Gurography” to help aspiring LET takers.
“I wanted to build a small community where I could support other learners, especially the youth,” Oviedo said.
Now, she continues her work in China and encourages future LET takers to aim high.
Out of 597 examinees in the SPLE for Secondary Level, 399 passed.
The exam was conducted in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Singapore, and Taiwan.
