CEBU CITY, Philippines — From playing teacher as a child to becoming the topnotcher of the March 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), Jeanlyn Colipano’s story is one of determination, sacrifice, and unwavering faith.
 |
| Colipano happily shared her inspiring journey on Facebook. Photo credit: Jeanlyn Colipano |
Colipano is a proud beneficiary of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). As she excelled in her studies, she later passed and became a recipient of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholarship in college.
She would later amaze everyone as she topped the LET with a 93.80% rating.
This inspiring young lady shared with Cebu Daily News that she had always dreamed of becoming a teacher. Even in her childhood years, she would always role play as a teacher.
She explained that growing up, she drew inspiration from her teachers who had always been supportive and were very outstanding. Seeing that they were so wonderful at teaching young minds, she also believed that being a teacher is a great thing.
Born and raised in Carmen, Cebu, Jeanlyn is the second of three siblings. Her early life was filled with challenges. Her mother worked as a factory worker and her father, who later passed away due to cardiac arrest, was a security guard. After his passing, Jeanlyn’s family moved to Catmon, Cebu, to live with her grandparents.
Because they lived in a house that was too small, she didn’t really have a private space. So, she also had challenges when studying. Yet despite all that, she managed to earn her degree with flying colors.
Jeanlyn graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in General Science from Cebu Technological University (CTU) – Danao Campus in June 2024.
Unlike what many graduates would normally do, instead of rushing to take the LET right after graduation, she took time to prepare. She joined a review center, although she declined their in-house scholarship so she wouldn’t be away from her mother.
Outside the review center, she didn’t really force herself to study because she also wanted her brain to take a rest. She didn’t want to pressure herself to study. Instead, she would just watch videos.
“My LET journey was not easy, but it was not that tasking, too. I studied on my own pace, watching anime and reading novels in the sidelines. I think it was harder on my mother, who was working night and day to support me financially for my review classes,” she explained in a Facebook post.
She also admitted to doing some rituals before the exam, such as lighting a candle and wearing red undergarments for luck.
When the results were released, Jeanlyn was staying in their mountain home, far from cellular signal. It was her aunt who first told her the good news. She later confirmed it using a piso wifi machine and found out she ranked No. 1 with a 93.80% rating.
She admits to feeling shocked that she ranked No. 1 in the board exam. It took a while for the news to sink in.
Jeanlyn is now carefully choosing from several job offers. On June 27, she was honored by her alma mater during a ceremony in Mandaue City. She received a certificate, a presidential medallion, and a P200,000 cash incentive from the university. Nine other CTU topnotchers were also recognized, each receiving P80,000, along with medals and certificates.
Looking back on her journey, Jeanlyn has this advice for students:
“Always do well in your studies, always listen to your teachers because that’s really the key to your success. And not just that—you should also accompany it with prayers.”
Her inspiring journey is a reminder that dreams are always within reach, with hard work, faith, and perseverance.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express