Five topnotchers in March LET 2026 are from Cagayan HEIs — CSU, UCV, SJC

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan — Five graduates from three tertiary schools in Cagayan brought pride to the province after securing spots on the national list of topnotchers in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), highlighting the growing excellence of Cagayano educators on the national stage.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), 63,377 out of 94,357 examinees passed the March 2026 LET, resulting in a national passing rate of 67.17 percent — the highest recorded passing rate in the history of the examination.

Of the total number of passers, 18,376 were from the elementary level, while 45,001 passed in the secondary level category.

Among the top-performing examinees from Cagayan was Hazel P. Jose, who earned a rating of 94.20 percent, placing Top 5 nationwide. Kane Q. Buncad and Angelo B. Dela Cuesta placed Top 8 and Top 9 with ratings of 93.60 percent and 93.40 percent, respectively. All three are graduates of Cagayan State University-Andrews Campus under the Bachelor of Secondary Education program.

Meanwhile, Christian Jerome Palafox Flores of St. Joseph’s College of Baggao placed Top 7 with a rating of 93.80 percent.

Xmy G. Cudal from the University of Cagayan Valley also secured a Top 5 spot with a rating of 93.80 percent.

In a post on May 15, Hazel Jose reflected on her journey leading up to the examination, highlighting the pressure she felt in choosing whether to take the September or March LET.

“When I was deciding when to take the LET, I had two options. First, take the September LET while everything from college and our course audit review was still fresh… Second, take the March LET to give myself a longer preparation time so that, whatever the result may be, I would have no regrets because I knew I gave my best and prepared well. But jokes on me, ang hirap palang mag-review nang matagal,” Hazel shared.

Hazel also recalled the challenges she faced during her review days, saying there were moments when exhaustion and burnout hit her hard.

“There were days when exhaustion and burnout hit me hard… puyat became my everyday enemy, and the hardest part was when I started questioning myself,” she added.

The triumph of these topnotchers shows that their gain in sacrifice and that hardwork pays off.