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| Examinees wait at the holding area of the Bayanihan Center in Kennedy Town for the opening of the exam rooms. |
By Marites Palma
A total of 695 overseas Filipino workers took the licensure examination for teachers on Sept. 25 at the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town Centre.
The examinees, whose ages ranged between 24 to 45 years old, were all women, except one who came all the way from Macau, along with five other hopefuls.
Most managed to heed the call to be at the examination venue by 6am, although the examination was not due to start until 8am. However, a few managed to make it only at around 10am as they could not leave their employers' houses early, or had to travel all the way from the New Territories.
Judging from the time it took them to finish the exam, some seemed to have found it a breeze, while the others either struggled, or were careful not to rush their answers. Some finished at 2:30pm, while others took it all the way to the finish, emerging only at 6:30pm.
Among the eager-beavers was first-time examinee Myrna Vio, who arrived at Bayanihan at 5 am to ensure that she wouldn't be late for the examination for which reviewed for more than. two months. Vio said she found the exam difficult, but she was hopeful she'd make the grade. She also told The SUN that she spent all her Sundays from July 4 to Sept 18 attending review classes at Bayanihan. She also took every chance she could get to review on her own, despite being very tired from doing household chores. She brushed up on her studies every night before going to sleep, and again upon waking up the next morning.
Another early bird was Bhessie R. Atrero, 36 yrs old, who arrived at Bayanihan at 5:30am. Atrero had taken the examination in the Philippines once in 2008, and she remembered that experience as more difficult, especially the mathematics part. She said she was more confident with the way she performed in her second try in Hong Kong.
Jitters almost got the better of Brenda R. Macabolot when she arrived at Bayanihan, but her incessant prayers for divine wisdom gave her the confidence she needed to tough it out. She said she had attended the review classes but was always late because she wanted to go to church first, believing that God would make her dream turn to reality.
Those who administered the test were 70 proctors and room watchers, of whom six came from the Professional Regulation Commission,and the rest from the National Organization of Professional Teachers -Hong Kong.and other teachers' groups.
Josephine V. Liamson, a direcfor at the Department of Education, told the volunteers that Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte plans to create an office for OFWs which will coordinate government efforts in helpjng the needy, and encourage OFWs to go home and be with their family members.
Liamson said there's more reason to return home now, with the teachers' salary having risen significantly.
