USM Participates in Soil Health Framework and Roadmap Development by House of Representatives
June 29, 2026
The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) awarded ₱50,000 in cash incentives to each of its three graduates who placed in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET). Additionally, the university granted ₱20,000 to the Bachelor of Secondary Education department in recognition of its outstanding contribution and consistent excellence in producing top-performing examinees. The incentives were presented during the university’s Monday convocation program held at the Administration Building in USM, Kabacan, Cotabato, on June 29, 2026.
The recipients of the individual awards were Kathleen Rose Florida Baylon, who ranked seventh nationwide with a rating of 93.80%, and Jonna May Balicog Paler and Bong Jay-ar Baghari Rocha, who both placed ninth after earning identical ratings of 93.40%. All three are graduates of the Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in Science.
In an interview, the topnotchers said their families became their greatest motivation while preparing for the licensure examination. They shared that they wanted to repay the sacrifices of their parents and make them proud through their achievement.
“I wanted to make their sacrifices worthwhile and I want to make them proud,” Baylon said.
Paler, on the other hand, said she hoped that becoming a topnotcher would help her secure employment sooner after graduation.
“Since I am the youngest and gusto kong magkaroon ng trabaho agad. Ang naisip ko is if mag-top ako, mas mabilis lang yung trabaho na lalapit sa akin,” she shared.
Meanwhile, Rocha said earning a spot among the country’s top examinees had been his dream since college. He added that he worked hard, remained focused on his goal, and drew strength from his family’s sacrifices.
“Yung pagiging topnotcher ko is actually my dream way back nung college. Ito po talaga ang dream ko. Pinagtrabahoan ko, nag-focus po ako, nag-set po ako ng goal beyond passing the board exam, and of course my family, as someone na pinanganak sa isang pamilya na mahirap lang,” he said.
University officials personally handed the cash incentives to the three awardees and the department’s representative during the ceremony, which was attended by administrators, faculty members, students, and the families of the topnotchers.
Text and Photos by: Jehan Fausha Saban, Jillian Untua, Justin Roice Potente, Reymond Benedicto, Al Farabie Lumambas | USM DevCom Interns
