As a teacher, one feels delighted to see his students conquer their fears and eventually achieve their goals. For many a fourth year high school student in the Philippines, graduating from school does not go without dreaming to get into the top schools of the country, including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and the De La Salle University.
Yearly, at least 75,000 take the UPCAT, with all hopes of getting a slot in the state university. Unfortunately, there are only a few thousand slots. Yearly, only 5 to 10% of the takers pass the examination, one of the most difficult college entrance tests in the Philippines. I am very proud to note that 11 of my 19 graduating students at Darwin International School made it to the UP system for the coming school year. This is about 60% of the total, fortunately higher than Darwin’s 50% achievement last year. My heartfelt congratulations go to the following:
1. Julie Anne Acierto
2. Dominic Gilbert Emiterio
3. Ma. Cecilia Enriquez
4. Hector Evangelista III
5. Jamee Kaye Fabros
6. Rei Pauline Hermogenes
7. Maria Divina Hernandez
8. Cynthia Marizze Mendoza
9. Mark Mico Montecillo
10. Shiela Inna Sinsuat
11. Timothy Jemuel Talusan
Wait! The good news continues! The Ateneo de Manila University already released, too, the results of the Ateneo Entrance Test (ACET). Yearly, only 25% of Darwin graduating students passed the exam, an indication of how difficult it really is. This year, however, 8 out of 19 made it! That’s 42%, almost double Darwin’s yearly result. Congratulations to the following:
1. Dominic Gilbert Emiterio
2. Jan Voltaire Enriquez
3. Jenelle Faustino
4. Rei Pauline Hermogenes
5. Maria Divina Hernandez
6. Cynthia Marizze Mendoza
7. Shiela Inna Sinsuat
8. Timothy Jemuel Talusan
But the good news does not stop there! De La Salle University has already announced the results of its college entrance exam. And guess what, 100% of Darwin’s graduating students made it! Last year, it was 92% passing rate. Now, this batch finally made true to their goal of achieving a 100% result. Congratulations to the following:
1. Julie Anne Acierto
2. Harold Balandra
3. Jade Ibhar Cuambot
4. Dominic Gilbert Emiterio
5. Jan Voltaire Enriquez
6. Ma. Cecilia Enriquez
7. Hector Evangelista III
8. Jamee Kaye Fabros
9. Jenelle Faustino
10. Rei Pauline Hermogenes
11. Maria Divina Hernandez
12. Cynthia Marizze Mendoza
13. Mark Mico Montecillo
14. Maria Cia Cirelle Panol
15. Avvie Yvone Reyes
16. Marian Suzanne Sagun
17. Shiela Inna Sinsuat
18. Shiela Loure Sinsuat
19. Timothy Jemuel Talusan
This batch of Darwin students, Batch 2011 (BATCH KABAITAN), earned the honor of having the most number of individual passers in UP and Ateneo so far, the batch that has broken the yearly 25% passing rate in Ateneo by almost doubling it to 42%, and the batch that first got a perfect 100% passing mark in the De La Salle University exam.
The above passing rates simply point that all graduating students of 2011 have been placed in the top schools of the country once more, not to mention other top schools like UST, Mapua and Sab Beda where Darwinians normally pass at 100% rating. The standards of Darwin are very high. It is very demanding, expecting a lot from students. They have to maintain a minimum of 85% every grading period. It fascinates me to realize that these students have accepted the challenge to always compete against themselves than compete with others. Realizing one’s weaknesses and strengths are keys to setting a vision for oneself. These students of mine just set their vision to be with some of the top college students of the country and be under the tutelage of the best college teachers of the land. But they could have not done what they have done without the full support of their parents who are always with them in their journey. So, my congratulations go most especially, as well, to their parents. You are some of the most fortunate parents of this country for having children with big dreams; and your children as so fortunate, too, for having loving and responsible parents like you!
Your journey, my dear students, has just begun. You should continuously thank God for all His blessings, and ask Him for endless mercy and guidance in your incredible trek. There are more and higher mountains to scale. Have confidence in yourself that you can successfully chart you life at this dark stage of our society. It is in the young that this country depends on to illuminate somehow our history. And for as long as young people will accept the challenge to participate in changing not only one’s life but also one’s social system, there will always be hope for the Philippines. Your having passed the UPCAT, ACET and the De La Salle Entrance Exam is another beginning. There will be more uncertainties, disappointments and even doubts you need to subjugate. There will be more missions to embrace, dreams to live, bigger beginnings you need to work hard for to start, numerous challenges to surmount and endless successes to enjoy and inspire other with.
Carpe Diem! God bless all of you.
15 January 2011
3:51pm
