Let's Adventure to Mindoro!

Another eleven (11) Mangyan Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Elementary Education graduates passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) in September 2008.

Some of these board passers are already teaching in Mangyan community schools as professional and volunteer teachers.

1. Erol Antaw, full-time teacher, Mangyan Education Center (MEC, a private secondary school) in Bait, Mansalay

2. Atoy Tugas, full-time teacher, Akliang Primary School, Bongabong

3. Noel Taywan, municipal-funded teacher, Paitan Elementary School

4. Nelsa Banay, municipal-funded teacher, San Roque Elementary School

Taywan and Banay teach a class composed of Mangyans and Tagalogs (lowlanders).

5. Mayette Espiritu, Tauga Diit Primary School in Bongabong

6. Laarni Reyes, Iblagon Primary School in Roxas

7. Uyan Rag-op, Abintang Primary School in Bulalacao

Espiritu, Reyes and Rag-op are currently on their community service as volunteer teachers as part of their college scholarship grant received from Mangyan Mission (MM).

8. Rolyn Banay

9. Alicia Baruyot

10. Jessica Gawid

11. Darwin Ondoy

The last four are fresh graduates who opted to pass the LET first before taking on the responsibility of teaching. Some took their oath as professional teachers last December 6 at the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) in Lucena City.

Some of these Mangyan LET passers were MM scholars and Provincial Planning Development Office (PPDO) scholars. MM scholars are expected to complete one year of community service in different Mangyan communities after they finish their degrees. They receive Php 2,000.00 as their monthly allowance as teachers.

Two other Mangyans passed the LET given last April.

Today, Oriental Mindoro has 172 Mangyan teachers educating children and youths in far-flung Mangyan villages. Out of these 172, forty (40) are LET passers.

Mangyans find it difficult to pass the LET because their English comprehension is not that good and they find it difficult to express themselves in a language rarely heard and used in their communities.