Another UV grad aims to top teacher's board

CEBU, Philippines — An alumna of the University of the Visayas, who was named as one of this year's 10 outstanding students of the Philippines in Region 7, aspires to follow the steps of schoolmate and teacher's board topnotcher Jade Tagab.

Vince Blessel Jane Baron, 20, is up for the challenge to top the board examinations for teachers this September.

"Yes, I am also aiming to top (the board examinations). But I feel so pressured since she (Tagab) ranked third. That is actually the highest rank now that a UV graduate has achieved. And it took some years before a UV graduate topped the exam," she said.

Baron said it would be a great feat if UV products could reach the top 10 highest spots in two successive examinations this year.

Baron took the same course program of Tagab; she completed the four-year Bachelor of Elementary Education and graduated last April 3, 2018.

Last May 26, she was proclaimed as one of the 10 outstanding students of the Philippines in Central Visayas.

Baron, who is born and raised in Cebu City, is a daughter of a public school teacher.

She is currently preparing for the examinations and is yet on self-study since the four-month review class is yet to start this June. She also plans to proceed for master's degree program.

Baron and Tagab are both aspiring teachers.

The two ladies recently rubbed elbows with UV executives and even received cash incentives for bringing prestige to the institution.

Last Wednesday, they met UV President Eduardo Gullas and his brother, UV Executive Vice-President Jose Gullas.

Tagab received a refund for her tuition fee. A gift check with P150,000 in amount was already handed over to her. Baron, on the other hand, will receive a refund for all her miscellaneous fee.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Tagab got an offer from UV to teach under the College of Education, which she accepted.

Not known to many, Tagab, a San Fernando native, would have wanted to enter a formation to become a nun prior the offer was made.

Many had admired the real life story of Tagab, who beat all odds from finishing her college studies to topping the examinations last March despite suffering from an illness.

She was diagnosed of "myasthenia gravis" 10 years ago when she was 18 years old. This ailment is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles.

She is now undergoing lifetime medication.

When Tagab entered college, she completed only one year of her nursing studies at the Cebu Technological University but was forced to stop as her body weakened because of the illness.

She returned to schooling but transferred to UV and randomly chose Bachelor of Elementary Education.

She also skipped one semester before advancing to fourth year after the disease attacked her body again.

Nevertheless, she was determined to finish college and even juggled her fourth year studies with working outside and her internship.

She admitted she never dreamt of becoming a teacher but she has come to love this program of study; she is even willing to teach poor children or out of school youth individuals, if given a chance.

Baron and Tagab may have struggled in different aspects but had the same aspiration, which is to excel in their chosen craft. — GAN (FREEMAN)