28/09/2026
inFocus l Normalistars Student Edition
From “Waray Bilib ha Sarili” to 4th: The Lea Tugonon’s Journey to the SWLE
For Lea Therese I. Tugonon, becoming a topnotcher was once a quiet dream carried by someone who describes herself as “ang tao na bagan waray bilib sa sarili.” When that dream became reality, she found that the greater meaning was not the rank itself, but the opportunity to serve and touch lives.
When the results of the September 2026 Social Workers Licensure Examination were released, Lea was asleep. She had traveled from Tacloban to Ormoc to be with her mother, who was alone at home, so they could find out the results together. Her mother and a cousin woke her to tell her she had placed fourth nationwide with a 92.60% rating.
Her first reaction was simply, “Oh,” with her eyes still closed. Then the realization sank in.
“I cried a little, but my happiness was so overwhelming that I could hardly let the tears fall,” Lea recalled. She hugged and kissed her mother and two cousins before they went straight to prayer, thanking God for what she called her greatest blessing and an advance birthday gift.
The achievement came as LNU posted a 100% passing rate, with all 43 examinees passing the examination. Yet for Lea, reaching the top was never something she considered certain. She had quietly wondered if she could become a topnotcher, but her first prayer was simply to pass with her batchmates—to make sure “waray mabilin ha amon”—and, if it was God’s will, to even place in the examination.
Her journey to that moment, however, was far from easy.
Just one week before the board examination, Lea was hospitalized after days of persistent fever, severe headaches, and exhaustion. Despite medication, her condition did not improve. On September 1, she realized something was seriously wrong.
It was her first hospitalization, and with the examination only days away, she worried whether she would still be able to take it. Her laboratory results had not yet returned to normal when she was discharged, and her doctor had initially been hesitant to let her go. But Lea thought of her parents’ sacrifices and the four-year dream she had worked for. She chose to recover, return to her preparation, and make the remaining days count.
Even before the illness, the review season had already tested her. She had just completed her community internship and had only a week to rest before reviewing. Four months away from home and surrounded by countless references, she often questioned whether everything she had learned in college would be enough.
She held on to Ma’am Lisa Silvano’s reminder about “delayed gratification” and to the people who made the difficult season lighter—her review housemates and friends Ate Cindy, Angelina, Charesse, Ate Kryne, Niña, and Marianne. Shared meals, laughter, and ordinary moments became part of what helped her endure the pressure.
Through it all, Lea returned to what she considered her greatest source of strength: faith.
She began each study day with an hour of personal devotion, prayer, and reading the Word of God, often waking at 3:00 a.m. before studying for the rest of the day. She used handwritten notes and flashcards, and focused on understanding what she could rather than trying to finish everything.
Her guiding scripture was Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
For Lea, preparation was not about feeling completely ready. “No one is ever truly prepared enough to take the board exam,” she reflected. “There will always be that feeling of uncertainty.”
Her four years at LNU helped her face that uncertainty. Classroom theories gave her a foundation, while field instruction taught her how to apply what she learned. More importantly, the experience helped her discover something about herself—that she was capable.
She credits her family, friends, Batch Brokers, and the Social Work faculty—Ma’am Fallorina, Ma’am Lisa, Sir Arvin, Ma’am Sheela, and Ma’am Roselyn—for helping shape her and her classmates into future social workers.
“You equipped us not only with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the profession but also with the discipline and compassion that we will carry into our future practice,” she said.
As she looks beyond the board examination, Lea is less concerned with the title of topnotcher than with what she can do with what she has learned. She hopes to become an effective social worker who can help people recognize their strengths, overcome challenges, and realize their potential, while contributing to a more inclusive and just society.
Her advice to fellow Normalistas is equally grounded: trust the process, believe in yourself, take care of your health, and put your faith in God. And with a laugh, she added, “Dire tuod it mga pamahiin kay na-violate ko ngatanan!”
For someone who once described herself as “ang tao na bagan waray bilib sa sarili,” placing fourth nationwide is a remarkable answer to a quiet dream. But for Lea, it is not the destination. The rank may be part of her story, but what comes next matters more: turning what she learned into meaningful service and using her profession to make a difference in the lives of others.
“May this achievement remind every Normalista that our dreams are worth pursuing, our struggles are not in vain, and the greatest success is not only in how far we go, but in how many lives we touch along the way.”
