Filipinos Working in HK Pass Licensure Exam for Teachers

Consul General in Hong Kong Antonio A. Morales is shown by Labor Attaché Leonida V. Romulo a copy of the Professional Regulation Commission license in an issuing ceremony held successful candidates of the Special Professional Licensure Board Examination for Teachers at the Chancery’s Sentro Rizal on 07 October 2018. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

HONG KONG 05 November 2018 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong handed out processional licenses to successful candidates of the Special Professional Licensure Board Examination (SPLBE) for Teachers in a simple but meaningful ceremony held at the Chancery’s Sentro Rizal in Admiralty on 07 October 2018.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales and Labor Attaché Leonida V. Romulo congratulated the board exam passers, and expressed their wishes for them to fulfill their dream of returning to the Philippines to become professional teachers after being given recognition by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The new teachers who successfully passed the SPLBE are Efraim Miguel Reyes, Mariel Apattad Pasicolan, Emilia Garzon Mula, Felicidad Solomon Mateo, Babylyn Perez Medrano, Mary Ann Veto Marcelino, Kristine Custodio Legaspi, Terry Ann Acupido Jimenez, Glena San Juan Esteban, Rose Batang Attaban, Mellie Solomon Echevere, Mary Jane Arciaga Arellano, Rina Cadiz Banaag, Jay Well Apayao Lao-ing, and Marisa Deray Milo.

All the new teachers, who currently work in Hong Kong as household service workers (HSWs), completed bachelor degrees in education in the Philippines. Some have had teaching experience before becoming an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) and trying their luck in Hong Kong.

Assistant Labor Attaché Ma. Nena German said any licensed teacher who wishes to return home may ask the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) for assistance to be placed in a public school in the Philippines under “Sa ‘Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma’am at Sir” (SPIMS) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).  

SPIMS is a migrant worker reintegration project of the DOLE with the PRC, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to provide opportunities for qualified teachers working overseas to practice their profession as teachers in their hometowns.

POLO Assistant Gloria S. Varquez said many if not all trained teachers working as HSWs in Hong Kong join the Hong Kong chapter of the National Organization of Professional Teachers in order to participate in course reviews for the SPLBE, administered every year in Hong Kong by the PRC in collaboration with POLO Hong Kong.

This year, 614 Filipinos took the SPLBE for teachers at a secondary school in Kowloon on 30 September 2018. The results will be released on 04 December 2018. END

For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/

Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, led by Consul General Antonio A. Morales and Labor Attaché Leonida V. Romulo (seated, 3^rd and 2^nd from left), take a photo with successful candidates of the Special Professional Licensure Board Examination for Teachers showing off licenses issued by the Professional Regulation Commission at a ceremony held at the Chancery’s Sentro Rizal on 07 October 2018. Also in the photo are Assistant Labor Attachés Ma. Nena German and Angelica Sunga, Philippine Overseas Labor Office Assistant Gloria Varquez (seated, 1^st, 4^th and 5^th from left) and leaders of the Hong Kong Chapter of the National Organization of Professional Teachers. (Hong Kong PCG photo)