LLE: The Best and Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2025 - 3

In the second part of this series, I wrote that the LIS schools whose graduates took the Librarian Licensure Examination (LLE) from 2007 to 2025 were divided arbitrarily (so don't ask me to justify it hehe) into four groups: 

• Division 1, those with 101 or more first-time examinees over the entire period of 18 years
• Division 2, those with 11 to 100
• Division 3, those with 1 to 10
• Division 4, those with no first-timers (because all their examinees were repeaters)

In this post, I will offer some observations about the Top 10 from Division 2, which has 57 schools (out of 280), but with more than 29% of first-time examinees (or 2,363 out of 8,135).

1. ALL of the Top 10 schools in Division 2 are located OUTSIDE Metro Manila: 5 from Luzon, 1 from the Visayas, and 4 from Mindanao. They rarely have more than 5 examinees every year, but their alumni have at least an 80% chance of passing the LLE.
2. The Top 2—Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU) in South Cotabato and Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio—are even better. 44 of 45 NDDU first-timers passed in 14 years, and 68 of 70 SLU first-timers passed in 13 years. Almost 100%! They may have fewer graduates, but they train them well.
3. Special mention goes to University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City & Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao because their LIS programs seem to have started only recently, but the quantity and quality of their first-timers since 2023 have been stellar! I hope their numbers continue to grow.
4. Sadly, 4 of the schools in the Top 10 of Division 2 have only had 2, 1, or even 0 students take the LLE in the last 5 years. It looks like they were adversely affected by the pandemic.
5. Finally, the preponderance of provincial schools in Divisions 1 AND 2 reminds me of something that the #NationalNonLibrarian once said at a budget meeting presided by a congresswoman from the House of Representatives, “Yung mga nasa probinsya po, wala talagang course na nag-ooffer ng librarianship doon.” Don’t me!

My next post will examine Divisions 3 and 4, and why I will not be sharing any list of the worst schools. But allow me to repeat—again—what I wrote in "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009":

Why am I doing this? There is very little information available to students regarding the quality of LIS schools, and it is my hope that this effort of mine can provoke more detailed studies. Plus, if even one prospective LIS student looks at these tables and decides to go to one school, instead of another, then the time I've spent on this would have been worth it. 

Note: The data used for this post are from the PRC press releases about the LLE results from 2007 to 2025. 

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LLE: The Best and Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2025 - 2

DIVISION 1

Schools with 101 or more first-time examinees

The LIS schools whose graduates took the Librarian Licensure Examination (LLE) from 2007 to 2025 were divided arbitrarily (so don't ask me to justify it hehe) into four groups: 

• Division 1, those with 101 or more first-time examinees over the entire period of 18 years
• Division 2, those with 11 to 100
• Division 3, those with 1 to 10
• Division 4, those with no first-timers (because all their examinees were repeaters)

In this post, I will offer some observations about the Top 10 from Division 1, which has 24 schools (out of 280), but with more than 67% of first-time examinees (or 5,476 out of 8,135).

1. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) usually enumerates the top performing schools following the release of a particular year's LLE results. The minimum number of examinees from a school to justify inclusion on the list varies (from 5 to 50!), but the passing percentage is always 80%. If I were to follow PRC's lead, only 3 schools would be in the list above. But since Top 10 looks better to me, we have more schools to discuss =)

2. No one, I hope, was surprised to see University of the Philippines (UP) at the top of the list. It seems that any UP grad who takes the LLE is almost guaranteed to pass in any given year. In 2007, I wrote, "What does UP have that other schools don't? Could it have something to do with the admission process? Or maybe many—most?—of the [LIS] schools don't really have enough faculty, facilities, or funding to adequately cater to the needs of their students?" Or both? No one has yet offered an answer. (Disclosure: My MLIS is from UP.)

3. Eight out of 10 graduates from the Top 2 and 3 schools—Philippine Normal University (PNU) and  University of Santo Tomas (UST)—are likely to pass the LLE. If you're a betting person, those are good odds. These two schools, along with UP, are among the oldest educational institutions in the Philippines, and that's probably why they're in the Top 3 (because they must have good faculty and more than enough resources to survive for so long). All 3 are also in Metro Manila, but could that be part of the reason they produce so many LLE passers?

4. Nope. Seven of the Top 10 schools are located outside Metro Manila: 4 from Luzon, 2 from the Visayas (Cebu, specifically), and 1 from Mindanao (Davao del Sur). Benguet State University (BSU) - La Trinidad is particularly impressive because I didn't know they had that many LIS grads taking the LLE. Almost as many as UP. Who knows, BSU might just move up the list given more time =)

5. Finally, in case you didn't notice, there is a column in the table for "YEARS." I added this column because the reality is that most LIS schools don't have grads who can take the LLE every year. So I was pleasantly surprised to see City College of Calapan (CCC) in the Top 10. While all the others had 16, 17, or 18 years, CCC had 8! And not because there were years when none of their grads took the exam. Their alumni started taking the LLE in 2016, but they've already consistently ranked higher than other schools of similar size or larger, but with more decades of LLE experience. It would be interesting to know how they did it. Other LIS schools might benefit from listening to their story.

My next post will examine Division 2 more closely. But allow me to repeat what I wrote in "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009":

Why am I doing this? There is very little information available to students regarding the quality of LIS schools, and it is my hope that this effort of mine can provoke more detailed studies. Plus, if even one prospective LIS student looks at these tables and decides to go to one school, instead of another, then the time I've spent on this would have been worth it.

Note: The data used for this post are from the PRC press releases about the LLE results from 2007 to 2025.

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LLE: The Best and Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2025 - 1

In 2010, I wrote in "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009" that 

There are many ways of determining the "best" and the "worst." For this unofficial ranking, the best and worst library and information science (LIS) schools in the Philippines may be identified using the aggregate passing rates for each school whose graduates took the Librarians' Licensure Examination [LLE] for the first time in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the only years for which detailed results per school are available. 

Now, 16 years later, this ranking remains unofficial (hehe) and it will continue to rely on the the aggregate passing rates for each school, but this time from 2007 to 2025. There is much more to be said now than before, so this will be spread out over a series of posts. Today we begin with the number of LIS schools whose graduates took the LLE for the first time over almost two decades.

Just by looking at the graph, it's fairly easy to see that the number of schools has been between 80 and 90 for most of the period covered, if we are talking about Total Examinees, and that this number goes down to between 50 and 70 for the same period, if we limit discussion to First Timers. The exceptions are the period before 2010 (when a significant number of examinees tried to beat the deadline for those who did not finish LIS degrees), 2020 (when there were no exams due to COVID), and 2021 (when there was still a lot of apprehension due to COVID).

Why is the number of LIS schools over the period covered important? Because this tells us that they have increased in number slowly from 2010 onward, and this is also the reason for the increase in first-time examinees. There are, of course, some schools with more than 20 alumni who take the LLE for the first time every year, but the great majority do not usually have an examinee every year, not even a repeater. This will become clearer when I share the table of schools with their passing rates for each of the past 18 years.

Note: The data used for this post are from the PRC press releases about the LLE results from 2007 to 2025.

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LLE: First-timers and Repeaters, 2007-2025

The most basic question answered by the annual Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is: Did I—or someone I know—pass or fail? If a person who takes the exam for the first time passes, this question will not be asked again. But if a person fails and decides to take the exam again, then this question may be asked multiple times until the person passes or gives up.

The more important question for me—and for the profession, in my opinion—is: What do the statistics tell us about the education that LIS students are receiving? The annual passing rate can be used to answer this question, but it's actually not the best gauge of the learning that has taken place. (And yes, "learning" and "passing a test" are not exactly the same, but let's leave that discussion for another day.) I believe it's better to look at the passing rates for first-timers and repeaters separately, if we are to gain a better understanding of the state of LIS education.

No. of Examinees & Passers, 2007-2025

The first thing I have to emphasize is that the charts only show results from 2007 to 2025 because passing rates of first-timers and repeaters were only made available in the LLE press releases starting in 2007. Second, the steep declines in number of first-timers in 2014 and 2020 were due, respectively, to the change in exam schedule from November to April (which did not give fresh graduates enough time to submit the required documents) and COVID-19 (i.e., no LLE). Third, just by looking at the charts, it's clear that many more first-timers pass the exam than repeaters, and that the number of repeaters has been declining (due to the limitation, perhaps, that only LIS graduates can take the exam starting in 2010), but looking at percentages of passers vs examinees is also important...

Passing Rates, 2007-2025

If we exclude 2020, passing rates for first-timers and repeaters are clearly trending up. In numerical terms, the average passing rate (APR) for first-timers from 2007 to 2025 is 61 percent, but if we compute only for the past 10 years (2016-2025), the APR for first-timers goes up to 72 percent. The same is true for repeaters, where APR from 2007 to 2025 is 20 percent, but APR for the past 10 years is 26 percent. And in fact, the passing percentage for repeaters in the 2025 LLE is 47 percent, or almost half of all repeaters who took the exam, the highest since 2007 and possibly in LLE history!

What does this mean? I think it means that LIS education, in general, has improved since 2007 because more first-timers and repeaters are passing the LLE.

What's next? I'm going to try and see if I can do some more number-crunching, and update "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009."

Note: The data used for this post are from the PRC press releases about the LLE results from 2007 to 2025.

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Librarians' Licensure Exams: 1992-2025

This blog has been inactive for several years now. I will eventually write about those missing years here, but for now, I hope some of you will be happy that I'm back!

In case you're new to my blog or were just not aware, individuals who wish to be recognized as librarians in the Philippines have to pass the Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), with exam questions formulated by the three-member Board for Librarians (BFL). Those who pass the exam are then considered licensed or registered librarians. 

In 2008, I shared some observations about the results of the Librarians' Licensure Exams: 1992-2007. Since then, so much has happened in the Philippines, our profession, and the exams, so let me update that old post...

Just by looking at the graph of the number of examiness and passers above, it's clear that the number of those taking the licensure exam has gone up from less than 500 examinees from 1992-1998 to an average of about 750 examinees or so since 2003 (with 2020 as an anomaly, but we'll get to this later). Perhaps the most significant exam-related development that occurred since 1992 is that from 2009 onward, only graduates of Library and Information Science (LIS) degrees (plus repeaters from previous years) have been qualified to take the exam. Previously, those with non-LIS degrees (e.g., BS or AB Elementary Education, with a major or specialization in Library Science) were allowed by Republic Act 9246 to take the exam. (For more on this, see Dean Vyva Aguirre on CPE ad Board Exam Issues.)

And then, of course, there was the year that COVID-19 shut everything down, including PRC board exams. No licensure exams were held in the Philippines that year, except for those conducted before the lockdown began on 15 March 2020. The following year, probably due to restrictions still in place and lingering fears among Filipinos, only 237 took the exam—the lowest number since 1995. It was also due to this development that the computer-based licensure examination was developed and began to be implemented in 2024. 

Next, let's look at the passing rates...

The number of passers does not mean much if it is not divided by the number of takers to come up with a passing rate for the exam (unless, of course, the number of takers is the same every year, which is impossible hehe). The graph of LLE passing rates above indicates that the passing rate was approximately 50 percent from 1993 to 2003, 24 to 37 percent from 2004 to 2011, and—with a few exceptions—higher than 47 percent from 2012 onward. 

While these numbers suggest that the exams were harder from 2004 to 2011, and easier after that period, the answer given by a BFL member to my question in 2012 indicates that among the possible reasons for the increase from 28 percent to 47 percent was that the BFL "conducted peer reviews of questions and made sure the questions were structured in such a way that the takers would easily comprehend them." (Does this mean the questions were difficult to understand before then? Perhaps. I took the exam in 2004, and I remember that there were questions to which there were no answers, were phrased awkwardly, or just plain incomprehensible. But I have no basis for comparison. The best persons to ask are probably the repeaters.)

In my 2008 post, I distinguished between first-timers and repeaters, analyzed passing rates per school, and speculated on the reason UP is consistently the school with the most number of passers. I will present and comment on the data—and more—in future posts.

Note: The data used for this post are from the PRC press releases about the LLE results from 2002 to 2025; and those for 1992-2001 are from "The professionalization of librarians in the Philippines" (pdf) by Antonio Santos.

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Why is the National Library headed by a Non-Librarian?

"Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries."

On 19 Jan 2018, I filed a complaint with the Ombudsman that questioned the appointment of a non-librarian as Director of the National Library of the Philippines. On 14 Feb 2018, I filed a supplement to the original complaint that charged the current Director with illegal practice of the profession.

This blog post shares the documents that I submitted to the Ombudsman, provides links to relevant sites (where, for example, you can verify for yourself if the current #NationalNonLibrarian is, in fact, not a licensed librarian), and links to all the articles and shows that have mentioned the complaint.

Just to be clear, I am NOT interested in the position. I filed my complaint because we have to safeguard the integrity and values of ALL professions by making sure that only licensed professionals are allowed to practice.

Here's the PDF of the complaint that I submitted on 19 Jan 2018:

Here's the PDF of the supplement to the Jan 19 complaint, which I submitted on 14 Feb 2018:

Here are the relevant links:

THE LAW
RA 9246 - AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PRACTICE OF LIBRARIANSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6966
"SEC 31. Employment of Librarians. – Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries."

THE JOB ADVERTISEMENT
As posted by the Civil Service Commission:
"Qualification Requirements
• Others : must be a licensed librarian"

WHO IS THE NATIONAL NON-LIBRARIAN?
National Library welcomes new director
This press release does not tell us much. Neither does Google.

IN HIS OWN WORDS
Excerpt from the message read by a subordinate at the national congress of librarians in Bacolod last November 2017. (Yes, he could not even be bothered to deliver it himself.)

"...The President himself had witnessed the destitute situation of majority of the Filipino people. With the numerous impoverished places he visited, he resolved that should he win the presidency, he would prioritize the majority who have been denied even of basic services from the government. His compassion over the poorest of the poor has been marked in his heart.

And so, when he won, he handpicked the people whom he believed could run with this vision. I am among those designated, not because I am the most qualified for the position, but because I have the trust and confidence of the President. To work with him closely in delivering government services to the majority who have been denied for these benefits for decades.

I have worked for Mayor Duterte, now President of this Republic, within fifteen years. My work as among the human resource officers was to hire, to deploy, and if ineffective, to fire. Over and above this, I handled some confidential matters for the mayor. I am appointed in this agency for a mission, ensuring that all citizens, especially the poor and other vulnerable groups, have access to NLP services..."

IS HE A LICENSED LIBRARIAN?
See the answer for yourself at the website of the Professional Regulation Commission:
Verification of Professional Licenses

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S POSITION
The only one available online before I filed my complaint:
PLAI Statement of Concern
The one that was uploaded after I filed my complaint:
Statement of Concern of which copies were sent to the PRC and CSC

THE CODE OF ETHICS
Code of Ethics for Philippine Librarians
Sec. 2.3: "Librarians shall not assist in the unauthorized practice of librarianship."

WHY AM I DOING THIS?
Why I became a librarian.

The following links lead to online articles and TV segments that have tackled this concern.

2 April 2018

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• Demand answers on #NationalNonLibrarian by Oscar Franklin Tan

23 February 2018

Rappler

• The Librarians: A Rappler Profile by Patricia Evangelista

13 February 2018

Philippine Star

• National Library exec may be liable over illegal practice of librarianship by Rosette Adel

5 February 2018

Philippine Star

• Angeles City Library has no librarians, complaint alleges by Rosette Adel

2 February 2018

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• Eminent nonlibrarians by Ambeth R. Ocampo

1 February 2018

Philippine Star

• National Library director to answer allegations in ‘proper venue’ by Rosette Adel

31 January 2018

CNN Philippines

• How can a non-librarian lead the National Library? by Anna Bueno
• Probe on National Library appointment up to Ombudsman – Malacañang by Regine Cabato

28 January 2018

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• Protecting the civil service from politics by Randy David

Rappler

• Probe 'national non-librarian,' Ombudsman urged by Rambo Talabong

26 January 2018

ABS-CBN News

• 2nd Bandila story by Mike Navallo

25 January 2018

ABS-CBN News

• 1st Bandila story by Mike Navallo

Esquire Philippines

• Librarians are the keepers of information, and that's why the gov't needs to look into this complaint by Angelica Gutierrez

Philippine Star

• Palace to 'look into' National Library's non-librarian director by Rosette Adel

24 January 2018

Philippine Daily Inquirer

• Ateneo exec seeks probe on Duterte’s appointment of ‘non-librarian’ to Nat’l Library by Vince F. Nonato

ABS-CBN News

• National Library chief not a librarian, complaint alleges by Adrian Ayalin

GMA News Online

• Ateneo chief librarian wants Ombudsman to probe appointment of NLP head by Joseph Tristan Roxas

Philippine Star

• Check out appointment of 'National Non-Librarian,' Ombudsman asked by Rosette Adel

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2016: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for this year's Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) is 65 percent (738 out of 1,140), which is the highest-recorded passing rate since librarians began taking the LLE in 1993, and certainly higher than the 2015 passing rate of 47 percent.

The most important question is "Why?" Was the exam easier? Or are graduates getting better? It's hard to say for sure, but comparing the passing rates of the 2016 first timers (80 percent, or 622 of 780) and the 2015 first timers (70 percent, or 273 of 388), as well as the passing rates of the 2016 repeaters (32 percent, or 116 of 360) and the 2015 repeaters (22 percent, or 76 of 354), it's clear that the percentage of first timers and repeaters who passed the exam this year is consistently greater than the percentage of those who passed the exam last year.

While the change in exam schedule (i.e., from April last year to September this year) gave last year's graduates more time to study for this year's exam, the increase in passing rate for repeaters from 22 percent last year to 32 percent this year suggests that the 2016 exam was easier. There is a need to examine all previous passing rates for repeaters, but the passing rates for repeaters in 2013 and 2014 (22 percent and 15 percent, respectively) support my thesis that this year's exam was easier.

"Easier" in what sense? From what I've learned from previous and current members of the Board for Librarians, greater efforts have been exerted to ensure that test questions are easier to comprehend (though not necessarily making them easier to answer). From my own experience taking the exam in 2004, LLE questions can be rather difficult to comprehend, and examinees just have to make a guess regarding the answers to many questions. This can be rather disconcerting, especially to repeaters.

Anyway, while the University of the Philippines had a 100 percent passing rate (50 out of 50) and 4 of its examinees made it to the top 11, I think it's remarkable that 4 of the top scorers were from provincial schools, namely Holy Cross of Davao College, Baliuag University, University of Saint Louis-Tuguegarao, and Bicol College; with University of Santo Tomas taking the top spot, and examinees from University of the East and Philippine Normal University rounding out the list of topnotchers.

The list of the top scorers is reproduced below. The list of successful examinees may be downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission.

Top 11
KARL EMMANUEL VILLANUEVA RUIZ 89.90
APRIL MAE BADILLA DELOLA 89.25
ELAINE BARBARA MAGLAQUE CRUZ 89.20
PAUL JASON VISAYA PEREZ 89.15
JONATHAN DE GUZMAN ISIP 88.85
ROANA MARIE LUCENA FLORES 88.85
GRACE RUTH TANTEO DAULAT 88.55
DANOLEENE MARIE PASICOLAN TUGADE 88.40
RAYMOND BALASAN AZUL 88.20
DENISE MARIE OCAMPO MACROHON 88.15
SHAUNTEL PEREZ ORTEGO 88.00

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2015: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for this year's Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) is 47 percent (349 out of 742), which is higher than the 2014 passing rate of 28 percent, but is consistent with the passing rates of 47 percent in 2012 and 46 percent in 2013.

It appears that the decline in the passing rate last year was, in fact, due to the change in exam schedule (i.e., from November to April), which meant that most of the 2014 examinees were repeaters, not fresh graduates. This conclusion is borne out by this year's passing rate for first timers (70 percent, or 273 of 388), which is more than triple that for repeaters (22 percent, or 76 of 354).

What I found most interesting about this year's LLE, however, is that while most of the examinees on the list of top scorers (9 of 12) were from the University of the Philippines (UP), the three non-UP examinees—from Central Philippine University (Iloilo), University of San Carlos (Cebu), and Cor Jesu College (Davao del Sur)—dominated the top 4.

The list of the top scorers is reproduced below. The list of successful examinees may be downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission.

Top 12
ALLANA SANGLAP DELGADO 89.60
SEACHEL SAGMON OYAO 87.85
MARIA CARINA GONGORA RAYMUNDO 86.95
MARJORIE TOLENTINO JORILLO 86.75
FAYE FRANCISCO LABIANO 86.60
ARCHIMEDES PORNILLOS OIDA 86.60
JOANNE AGUILAR VALEBIA 86.55
THEO RAFAEL SANTOS AMAN 86.40
DENISSE HOPE ORDINARIO DIZON 86.35
JOR-EL ESGUERRA PARAGUA 86.35
REDENTOR BIEN CHUA LUZ JR 86.20
FLORABEL MENDOZA FUMAR 86.10

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2015

Yes, librarians in the Philippines are licensed by the Professional Regulation Commission. This year's Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) will be held on April 22 & 23 in Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao & Legaspi.

Ten years ago, I shared some tips on applying for and taking the LLE. While there have been a few changes between now and then, most of the advice I gave then—from applying early to not "fighting" exam questions—should still be applicable today.

If you or someone you know is taking the LLE (or any board exam, actually) this year, you may wish to read the following posts:

Librarians' Licensure Examination 2005
LLE 2005: Applying in Person
LLE 2005: Studying for the Exam
LLE 2005: Preparing for D-Day
LLE 2005: Taking the Exam

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2014: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination is 28 percent (149 out of 533), which is much lower than the passing rates of 47 percent in 2012 and 46 percent in 2013, but is consistent with passing rates from 2011 and earlier.

While the reason for the decline may be attributed to the fact that all the members of the Board for Librarians are new, it is more likely in my opinion that the change in exam schedule (i.e., from November to April) is the primary reason the passing rate dropped. As I wrote last year,

the great majority of potential examinees will probably not have graduated yet and, hence, they will not be eligible to take the exam. This means that the 2014 examinees will mostly be repeaters (the Top 10 list will be very interesting)...

True enough, 71 percent (380 of 533) of the examinees were repeaters, only 15 percent (56 of 380) of whom passed the exam. In contrast, 61 percent (93 of 153) of the first timers passed the exam. Also, only 3 examinees from UP (out of 8) made it to the Top 10, compared to previous years, when at least 5 of the Top 10 examinees were from UP.

The wisdom of moving the exam from November to April will become clearer in 2015, when most of this year's fresh grads will be eligible to take the exam. Perhaps giving fresh graduates more time to study for the board exam will result in higher passing rates. Then again, I suspect that limiting the number of times repeaters can take the exam will achieve the same result.

The list of the top scorers are reproduced below. The list of successful examinees may be downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission.

Top 10
MARIA VICTORIA DEMATERA ANONAT 86.05
GIDEON ENRIQUEZ CASCOLAN JR 85.15
MARY GRACE HERGA OLIVEROS 84.75
JESELIZA AQUINO GEROCA 83.65
EUNICE MARIA ANGELICA ANDRES HERRERA 82.95
ALLEN JAY PACTO ISLA 82.70
MARIA MONICA TID-ANG WADWADAN 82.60
MARIA CRISELDA CORTES ROQUE 82.50
JOHN LYNDON TATOY AMAZA 82.40
ROSEL HERNANDEZ MAPOY 82.25

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2013: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination is 46 percent (382 out of 834), which is practically the same as the passing rate of 47 percent in 2012.

The list of the top scorers are reproduced below. The list of successful examinees may be downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission.

The biggest LLE-related news this year, however, is that the next exam will be in April 2014, when the great majority of potential examinees will probably not have graduated yet and, hence, they will not be eligible to take the exam. This means that the 2014 examinees will mostly be repeaters (the Top 10 list will be very interesting), and that future examinees will have to wait a year before taking the exam.


Top 12
BILYSON DOMINGO ALEJO 88.05
KRIEZEL JOY RICACHONDA DARIA 87.40
ROSELLE SAGUIBO MAESTRO 87.05
EMMANUEL RIVERA VINAGRERA 87.00
ALMA SEPULCHRE MASON 86.80
JOHN RONALD RIVERA ALMONIÑA 86.35
CHAD AREN EVANGELISTA DIAZ 86.30
JOHN CHRISTOPHERSON LA TORRE FREDELUCES 86.30
KRISTINE MARIE ABELLO DETOYATO 86.20
MARJORIE BOLO HERMOSORA 85.85
MA VICTORIA CRUZ ACUÑA 85.80
JUAN PAOLO LACANILAO BALAO 85.80

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1992 Librarians' Licensure Exam... 20 Years Later

From Philippine Star, 30 October 1993, p. 38. 

Please click on photo to read the text.

Twenty years ago, the first Filipinos to take the Librarians' Licensure Examination (LLE) administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) went home after two days of putting pen to paper. But unlike most examinees during the last two decades, those from that first batch had to contend with various types of tests (not just multiple choice), and results were released not after a few days, but after ten MONTHS. The passing rate was 36 percent. Elvie Lapuz, the first ever LLE topnotcher, graciously agreed to recall her experience to mark the twentieth anniversary of the most visible manifestation of the effort to professionalize librarianship in the Philippines:

The very first Licensure Examination for Librarians (LEL) was held 3-4 December 1992 and I belonged to the first batch of hopefuls. The popular Filipino saying suntok sa buwan very much described what every one of us examinees must have been feeling when we trouped to the University of the East, as per instruction of the PRC. Since that was the very first time that the LEL was being held, we examinees had no idea whatsoever on what was going to happen, what types of exam we were going to take, or even how the questions were formulated. It was very much like a surprise long, long test and even though we knew that it was something that we just have to hurdle, we did not have the slightest inkling on how we were supposed to tackle it.

From August to November of that same year, I sat through twelve Sundays of review classes. I remember trying to recall the more important concepts for the seven core library science subjects to be covered in the examination, namely: 1) selection and acquisition of library materials; (2) cataloguing and classification; (3) indexing and abstracting; (4) reference, bibliography and information services; (5) organization and management of libraries and information centers; (6) information technology; and (7) laws on librarianship and ethics. Before the scheduled dates of the LEL, I had to deal with securing various documents including college credentials and certifications. I also had to make sure that all the details about my existence as a person, i.e., birth and baptismal certificates, were consistent with the details stated in my other records. I never realized until then that there are just so many papers I need to work on and it was a good thing that I did not procrastinate in making sure that I have all of them in my file before going to the PRC to apply for a permit to take the LEL.

What greeted me on the first day of the examination was something I would rather not think or even write about. Suffice it to say that it was something totally unexpected! Sure, I had dealt with all types of exams back in college, but I was a bit shocked when I saw how the test questions were presented and how we examinees were supposed to answer them. It was a smorgasboard of an exam, essay questions included, and very much unlike the Multiple Choice type that examinees after us and until the present have had to take. While trying to come up with what I hoped then were the most acceptable answers to essay questions, there was that nagging fear of not making it after all. At some point I was even tempted not to complete the exam because of that fear. I even heard about the other examinees opting not to come back for Day 2 of the exam. We also had to wait ten (10!) months for the results! Why ten months? I believe it was because there was no way that the BFL could have checked answers to essay questions of more than 600 examinees within two days. So, finally on 26 October 1993 the names of the first batch of LEL passers came out. The very first oath taking was held at Ilustrado in Intramuros with the then BFL Chair Dr. Irene Amores and members Ms. Suzima Gonzales and Ms. Belen Angeles present.

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2012: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination is 47 percent (379 out of 812), which is almost double the passing rate of 28 percent in 2011.

As usual, the list of the top scorers and the list of successful examinees are reproduced below (both downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission), but since these lists have already been shared by others elsewhere, I’d just like to call your attention to the astonishingly high passing rate, which reminds me of the late 1990s and early 2000s when it seemed as if half of all examinees could be expected to pass the board exam every year.

"There must be a logical explanation," I thought to myself, "for the significantly higher number of successful examinees this year compared to the number of board passers every year since 2004." So I sent a Facebook message to Mrs. Mila Ramos, a member of the Board for Librarians, which administered the exam:

Ma'am, I'm planning to post about the board exam results. I noticed that the passing rate jumped from 28 percent to 47 percent. Would you like to comment on the reason for the increase? Was the exam easier? Were the examinees better? Was the passing rate lowered? Something I can share with my blog's readers...

Mrs. Ramos's reply is reprinted in full below with her permission:

It is the aim of the BFL to increase the passing rate by 5% this year, 5% in 2013, until we reach the 50% mark in 2015. But it looks like we don't have to wait till 2015 to get the 50%. The passing rate was not lowered, we stuck to standards. We don't want sub-standard Librarians to be called professionals. We conducted peer reviews of questions and made sure the questions were structured in such a way that the takers would easily comprehend them. Perhaps the 2012 examinees belong to a higher tier of graduates. Also, the BFL Chair, together with CHED reps, have been visiting library schools and checking on their facilities and resources. Perhaps these 3 factors contributed to the higher passing %. But to lower the standards is not on our agenda.

I think Mrs. Ramos's reply is comprehensive and informative, and further comment from me is unnecessary, but do watch out for updates related to my previous studies on passing rate trends (see "Librarians' Licensure Exams: 1992-2007" and "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009").


Top 11
BRIAN LLOYD BAELLO DAYRIT 87.55
MARK ANTHONY ANDRESIO SANTOS 87.45
FRANCES ELAINE LIRIO LOWE 86.90
JOHN LOUIE TOBIO ZABALA 86.30
GENEVIEVE LOSEGRO VIVERO 86.15
LOUISE KAYE GUDMALIN MENDOZA 85.95
AARON PAUL LAURENTE MADRIÑAN 85.75
JERIK-JAMES ESQUIVIAS DIONELA 85.70
KARIS DAWN MANALO SALINAS 85.50
NOEL SALVADOR BERNARDO CASIMIRO 85.45
MA VICTORIA MONILLA LAGO 85.45

Successful Examinees
ABARQUEZ, CRISTINE CALAGO
ABAYA, JEANYLEEN VILLANUEVA
ABDULMANAN, SUADA PANONDI
ABELLAR, MA THERESA REGALADO
ABIAN, GIANINA ALEXEA INGLES
ABRENICA, IDA MAE BORDAS
ABRIGO, ELIZABETH DISCAYA
ACASIO, JONAH JOY BUISING
ADAG, ANNABETH EDAL
AGBON, MARIVEL SAQUILABON
AGRAVANTE, JOVY CHICA
AGUIDAN, RUBILYN VERZANO
AHALUL, ERLINA USBAN
ALBOROTO, JEHONEY VILLANUEVA
ALCOLEA, GERLITA MERCADERA
ALFARO, JELITO JR AVILA
ALIBANGBANG, MAE FATE MANZANO
ALINGCO, ANALEE BACALSO
ALLORDE, APRILYN PERALTA
ALMEDA, MA LAISSA KATE
ALMENARIO, KRIZIA SHAE BALANO
ALMIROL, MELISSA MELEGRITO
AMION, MARIA TERESA DUNGOG
ANINO, JUNEL MONOY
ANOG, GRACE GERSON
ANTIPORTA, MARICEL ABARQUEZ
ANTIPUESTO, ROSELYN SOLDANO
ANTONE, MADELYN TORRES
ANTONIO, MARY GRACE RAYMUNDO
APUADA, LEONISA TAPAYA
AQUINO, NOIMIE VALMOCINA
ARCIAGA, ROBELYN BENITO
ARGUELLES, JANETH MANLAPAO
ASUNCION, JANICE ORBASAYAN
ATENCIO, MARLON ACHIN
AUSTRIA, EVANGELINE PATACSIL
AVILA, ANNABELLE RUPIDO
AYO, NASBIAH GURO
BA-AS, NOEMI TUMBAGA
BABA, RIO LANE TAPANGAN
BABA, RIO LYNNE TAPANGAN
BACUG, NORJINA SAMPORNA
BAGAYAO, FELIXANDER AGUSTIN
BAGAYO, EVAN JHON ADVINCULA
BAHUG, JOVIE SUCDAD
BAJAO, ALMA PANIO
BALAG-AY, JULIE BANDAO
BALAWAS, NOVELYN ALGEN
BALBAS, YUGOSTO ALEJO
BALBIN, ROSEMARY BUSICO
BALLESTEROS, AIZA RAMOS
BALUYOT, REEZ BERYL QUIAMBAO
BAMBA, GENESIS TAIZE
BANAYO, AARON ABEL DUMAPLIN
BANGAYAN, ROBERTO ANGELO NAVARRO
BAQUIRAN, MARJORIE ANN TURINGAN
BARBIRAN, JAYSON BENEDICT BEGORNIA
BARUT, SHERYLL DELA CRUZ
BAT-OG, JOVY JANE IBAÑEZ
BAUTISTA, KRISTINE ANNE DE LEON
BAUTISTA, RUBY CANDELARIA
BAYO, ANGELA MARIE DONAYRE
BELISON, CAMILLE SULIT
BERINA, JIJI PARREÑO
BERNABE, MA LEONISA AZUCENA MIRANO
BERNARDO, MELANIE MACEDA
BEROÑA, IMELDA DE VERA
BIANG, SCHURLYNS MAGCIANO
BILLANO, MIGNON LOIS POLO
BIN-ONG, MYRNA PINDOG
BOLO, KATHERINE IVY DUPALCO
BONCAYAO, MARY GRACE ARMADA
BORDAJE, CLIFFORD NACORDA
BORERO, SARAH NINA POLIDARIO
BORLASA, FAMELA SIEGA
BUD-OY, DANICA ROSE FELICIANO
BUSWILAN, RENE ANDREW MERCADO
BUTUNGAN, NAIMAH SALIC
BUÑAG, RAIZZA MARIE REYES
CABALAR, MA VIRGINIA FUNGO
CABASAC, JAMELA JUARE
CABAÑERO, ROWENA LABIANO
CALDERON, MICHELLE CAYABYAB
CALIPAYAN, MARICEL FERRANDO
CALZADO, MARIA LOPEL NACOR
CAMARA, KRISTINE BERNADETTE CORTEZANO
CANILLAS, JOHN LLOYD JOSE
CANTORNA, AGNES DOLORES CAMPO
CAO, RENZ CORPUZ
CAOLBOY, SARAH PATRICE FRANCISCO
CAPULOT, ROSELYN CASCABEL
CARILLO, LIEZETTE CRUZ
CARLOS, MA TERESA CONSUELO FRANCISCA EUSEBIO
CARPIO, JENIVIE ROMAN
CASANGUAN, SORAYYAH MINDALANO
CASIMIRO, NOEL SALVADOR BERNARDO
CASTILLA, JONNA VIGEN
CASTRO, CATHERINE REVILLOSA
CATAMEO, KRISTINA INNOCENCIA TABINGO
CATOLOS, NADINE MADDELA
CATUBIG, FRANCISCA MANANQUIL
CAYANAN, ROWENA ROMAN
CAYAT, ABEGAIL BELMONTE
CHENG, ROXANNE RUCHELLE CORDERO
CLOSA, MARIE PAZ BERANIA
CODAMON, RONALYN BALOG
COH, VANESSA ALYSON VARILLA
COLLADO, NETH NILZEN SANDUCAL
CONTAOI, CYNTHIA ULLERO
CORLA, LEOVILYN MANZANO
CREAG, LARIZA PERCIL
CRUZ, FRAYMON JOY PIO
CRUZ, HAYLIE GRACE CRUZ
CRUZ, MICHELLE APRIL MORDIDO
CRUZADO, JOSEPH ANGELO ESTRADA
CUBAROL, RVGLEN MARAÑAN
CUER, CARMELA CESA
DALA, CHARRIE LYN CABITE
DARADAR, ELLA MARIE SUMILHIG
DAULAT, PAULO DOMINIK PERALTA
DAVID, PRINCESS MABASA
DAYRIT, BRIAN LLOYD BAELLO
DE GUIA, RAYMOND DIAZ
DE GUZMAN, GERALD IGNACIO
DE GUZMAN, ROSA MARIA DEL MUNDO
DE LA CERNA, LADY CHRIS DALING
DE LA CRUZ, JAIME JOSE SOMOZA
DE LEON, JUAN GABRIEL ANGULO
DE LEON, JULIE ANN DOMINIQUE PERALTA
DE POLONIA, IMEE CABRERA
DE VERA, MARY JANE CRUZ
DEL CASTILLO, SHIELA JOY SALAZAR
DEL ROSARIO, LEILANI GUEVARRA
DELA CRUZ, MARGIE DANGCALAN
DELA CRUZ, MARICAR RAÑA
DELEN, ARVIN QUITA
DELIMA, ANNACEL BAJURA
DIAMNUAN, RAYMOND ANONGOS
DICCION, VIRGICHELLE TORRANO
DICTAAN, MARK FAJARDO
DIONELA, JERIK-JAMES ESQUIVIAS
DIONISIO, ROSE ANNE CAMILLE CRUZ
DOLOTINA, ANNAMOR AMBA
DUHAYLUNGSOD, REX BINONDO
ECHALUCE, SHEILA JUAREZ
ENRICO, AILEEN TARUBAL
ENRIQUEZ, RECHELDA EDREA
ERIO, MARIANNE SECUGAL
ERO, HAZELLE TOQUERO
ESBER, ALLAN MENDOZA
ESPACIO, CHERRY MAE ESCARPE
ESPINA, ANNA FRIZELLE QUILANTANG
ESPINOSA, ZYRA JUSTALERO
ESPIRITU, MARCELA LEAN MONTES
ESPIRITU, MARIA ANA CORAZON ALCALA
ESTAL, MARVELOUS BETERO
ESTILLORE, REGINE CECILIA PAREDES
FAMORCAN, LEONA LYNN FALLARCUNA
FELICIANO, MARY JO RAMOS
FERNANDEZ, EARLE NESTOR PANG-ETAN
FERNANDEZ, JERWYN GUTIERREZ
FERNANDEZ, NELLIA MABALE
FERNANDEZ, VERONICA ZOSA
FESALBON, SHERLY JANE VILLANUEVA
FLORA, LYJHEY VIDAL
FLORES, KARLA MAE CASTILLO
FLORES, SHEILA EURHANE LUCZON
FORONDA, KENNETH LUCZON
FRANCISCO, MILA NELLE BLONES
FRIAS, JASMIN MENDOZA
GA, MARY ROSE GUINOO
GACIAS, ALMA TELAN
GALANO, ARSELEE LLANES
GALINDO, MA JESSICA CARINO
GALLEGO, BUDELIA RUTH SEDIGO
GALORIO, JARIEN GALVEZ
GAMLANGA, JOHN VINCENT ARDONIA
GAN, IVY CAMILLE MANGABAT
GANADEN, MARGARET GALAGAR
GARCIA, EDGAR LUBI
GASAPO, JULIE GALVE
GATLABAYAN, HARVEY FRANZ MAGDAONG
GAVIOLA, ZUCELLE BAYLOSIS
GERONIMO, ELEIN HEMBRA
GERSABALINO, ANALYN JARANILLA
GERVACIO, JOY AQUINO
GO, MYRA MACEDA
GONOWON, AYRA AMOROSO
GOTANGGOGAN, RUEL SEVILLA
GRAZA, FRETZY MAE ELIOT
GREGORIO, JANA CAMILLE BOLISAY
GREGORIO, MARIPIL TARROZA
GUELAS, PRESCIOUS GERNALE
GUINDO, ROMAIDA ANTALO
GUIOD, JULIE ANN ALODOS
GUIOD, MARICEL ATONEN
HADJI UNOS, NAFISAH BARA
HERNANDEZ, REBECCA MARASIGAN
HINGCO, JUSTIN HAROLD ARAGON
HUSMILLO, THERESA CANDY LIM
IMPERIAL, JEZYL VILLASEÑOR
ISIDORO, LIZIEL TANIONGON
IYOG, LEA FE RAMA
JABAL, RELINA OPLENARIA
JACA, ATHENA JABONGA
JACELA, JAYMEE GRACE LONDRES
JACOB, CLARITA MAGNO
JASMIN, CHARMAIN FAJARDO
JOSE, MIGUEL CORREA
JUANSON, VIVIAN SARAH CARIAGA
KANGLEON, EBONY REYES
LACSON, KEITH ANNE DOMINGO
LAGARDE, AGNES MAGSANO
LAGARE, JOAN BUSTILLO
LAGMAN, KATHLEEN SINGIAN
LAGO, MA VICTORIA MONILLA
LAGORAS, CLARISSA DIMAPILIS
LAMBON, IRENE FAMPULME
LAPUERTA, FRANCIS BATE
LARA, JAMIE LYNNE SILAN
LAROYA, BENNETH ESTEBAN
LASALITA, ANGELYN ENRIQUEZ
LATIGAY, EMMALYN ASARES
LATUMBO, JENNYLEN NOVA JAIN
LAÑO, VANESSA GAMPIC
LEGASPI, CHARLOTTE COLEEN DE LEON
LIBAO, SONIA BALSICAS
LIBREDO, MARIBEL BICOY
LIM, SHARISSE RAE TUPAZ
LIQUIGAN, NELLY CABUSI
LOCION, HELEN BACULI
LOPEZ, KING LAWRENCE BERMUDEZ
LOQUINARIO, RHOGA LINGGANAY
LORENZO, MARDELIZA SUBILLAGA
LORETO, DENNIS BACUS
LOWE, FRANCES ELAINE LIRIO
LUAÑA, AILYN CRUZ
LUTERIA, RAMIL ESTRELLA
MACALALAG, MARGIELYN SAPEDA
MADJOS, TERESITA ALMORADO
MADRANGCA, MARY JEAN LIBATOG
MADRID, FLORIEZEL BARBASA
MADRIÑAN, AARON PAUL LAURENTE
MAGAYANO, LOVELY JOY RIBUCAN
MAGCALAS, MELODY SANTOS
MAGHANOY, JENNIFER GENESOLANGO
MAGPANTAY, MARIFE QUIATCHON
MAGRO, CATLYN MORTEL
MAMBURAM, REGINE ESTRADA
MANAOG, ROWENA RASONABLE
MANATA, NIKKI YVANNI SUMILANG
MANLUSOC, KAYE PARANAS
MARFE, ROSIE MILLAN
MARITAN, ROWENA BARRIOS
MARRERO, FAUSTINA GARCIA
MARTINEZ, ANALIZA CALLEJO
MASANGCAY, MELODY MURILLO
MAYAM-O, MARY JANE BATAN
MELGAZO, PAOLA HERBOLINGO
MENDOZA, LOUISE KAYE GUDMALIN
MERCADO, FERAYROS PAGUIA
MERLAS, MA GERALDINE MORALA
MIAQUE, MICHELLE JOY LOPEZ
MICABANI, MITCHELIN LOQUIAS
MIGRIÑO, RAUL JR VILLANUEVA
MILARPES, MARGIE REDONCILLO
MIMAY, TETCHIE MURILLO
MIRAMAR, CRESCENCIANA TRAPA
MIRANDA, HAZEL LOCITANIO
MIRASOL, JANICE SEMILLA
MISLANG, ERICSON TIANGSON
MONEDA, SARAH PIOLINO
MORALES, MYRA ALPORES
MORATILLO, CHERYL LOMIBAO
MOYO, ANA LIZA TRACY YAP
MUGA, KAREN CUNANAN
NACIONALES, RUBY ANA GUTIERREZ
NACPIL, NESLIE REYES
NARAG, MERLIE MACABABBAD
NAVARRETE, CHIARA MAYE METRA
NAVARRO, KATHERINE MANDAP
NISPEROS, DECY MAE NUÑEZ
NOBLEZA, JESSIELYN ENVERGA
OGUERA, JENNY LOREN
OLIVARES, CONCHITA TERESA MARQUEZ
OMBOY, MARIVIC MONTECILLO
ONGNGOG, RACHAEL CHADYA-AS
OPINALDO, ELSIE INOSANTO
ORTIZ, KRISHA AMICAN
PADILLA, JANINE SANTOS
PADUA, ROSE ANN DIAGO
PAGARIGAN, PYLE MALAYA DOMINGO
PALABRICA, FYE CASILES
PALER, NELYN CALISO
PASCUA, REYIE BUERON
PATTA, CHRISTY BARICUA
PAYA, MARICEL CAPARROS
PERALTA, KRYSTALLE ROME MAÑAGO
PERALTA, NORIBELL VIERNES
PILAR, JUANITA PILIEN
PLANDANO, MAY THERESE TINGA
POLINTAN, ROMNICK PAULINO
POLOG, ASHMIRAH BORANSING
QUITO, ERVIN AGBUYA
RAMOS, JOY DEE ACOSTA
REPIL, MARY JOY NARISMA
RESURRECCION, JESSICA EUNICE VILLENA
REY, KRISTEL IRISH MAE CAÑANES
REYES, EDUARDO JR ADOVE
RIVADULLA, CZARINA KRYSTAL TAN
RIVAS, MEICHELLE ANN JENINE SOSA
RODRIGUEZ, JEROME LABONGRAY
ROSANI, MARYLOU TANEO
SAB-IT, CHRISTOPHER EGME
SABAWAY, DANNY FACHERAN
SABIO, MARIA FELINDA LANSADERAS
SABLAWON, JAY MIRA
SALCEDO, ZAIRA JOIE AUSTRIA
SALINAS, KARIS DAWN MANALO
SAMPEROY, MA CONCEPCION PILLADO
SAN AGUSTIN, KAYE LIANE VENTURA
SANOPAO, CHARESSA MAE SOLIMAN
SANORIA, MARICEL SENO
SANTIAGO, RENZ LAUREN GATDULA
SANTOS, AJEZA MACARANAS
SANTOS, ENGRACIA SEÑGA
SANTOS, MARK ANTHONY ANDRESIO
SANTOS, REBECCA SULIT
SARMIENTO, FAYE LEGASPI
SATO, THERESA MABANO
SEDENTARIO, RAQUEL CABARAL
SELLOTE, MAY ANNE RECEBAS
SETERA, AILLANIE BUENAVISTA
SIMBULAN, CATALINA ROQUE
SIMON, IRISH MAY RAFIL
SISON, EUNICE ABADINES
SOLIJON, MILDRED ANINO
SOLMIRANO, EMMANUEL URIEL GATON
SON, JOSEPH BAUTISTA
SUMAYLO, DAISY RASONADO
SUMAYLO, JOSALYN TEREZ
SUSADA, IRMALYN LIRASAN
TABOGOC, KRISTINE JOY LABONITE
TALAMOR, VIRGIE ANN TIMBAS
TALLEDO, APPLE GENE JOSON
TAMBOONG, JADINE SANTILLAN
TARUC, CHERRY MENDOZA
TEMPLANZA, MARIEL RICOHERMOSO
TIBIG, LUCILLE BACULIO
TICZON, FLORDELIZA NATIVIDAD
TIPAN, SHARON ROSE PECOLADOS
TORINO, DIANNE BURLAOS
TORIO, ANGELICA GOMEZ
TORRES, MONALYN SANTOS
TUAZON, EMELINA CANDIDO
TUBIGAN, INOCENCIA MATE
UMLI, ANN GRACE DELA PEÑA
UNABIA, GENE PAUL SANTOS
VALENTE, MHIENOVY GRACE DAET
VARGAS, MARITE PIOSCA
VARGAS, RAYMUND MANTAC
VARQUEZ, KIMBERLY KAYE ARENILLA
VENANCIO, SHELA FAJA
VENTURINA, DAISY TUA
VERGARA, LYKA MARIE ELEDA
VILLACORTA, PAMELA DE SILVA
VILLANUEVA, JENNIFER MACABUHAY
VILLANUEVA, LOREVEL ALIM
VILLANUEVA, LYKA MARIÑAS
VILLANUEVA, MARILOU CENA
VILLANUEVA, WHELMA CASTILLO
VILLAR, ILETH CANONO
VILLAR, ROCHEL ALO
VILLARANTE, LORAN CAMILLE SANTOS
VIVERO, GENEVIEVE LOSEGRO
WAHING, GEMMA LHEN LABAO
YABES, MILDRED SUMATRA
YOCTE, EMELITA BERTUMEN
ZABALA, JOHN LOUIE TOBIO

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2011: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination is 28 percent (211 out of 764), up slightly from 27 percent in 2010.

Below are the list of the Top 11 and the list of all successful examinees. Both were taken from documents downloaded from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission, which is now much more user-friendly, features all documents released to newspapers since 2009, and makes Verification of Professional Licenses possible. My only suggestion for improvement for the last one is that instead of just stating that a person is "listed in the LIBRARIAN Registry Books of PRC," the year of expiration of the person's license should also be indicated.

"Library science" (take note: not LIS) was recently identified in "PRC lists in demand college courses" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 November 2011) as a degree that can get students "hired immediately upon graduation." It would be interesting to know the basis for PRC's assertion, but perhaps the best way of testing the inclusion of "library science" on the list is to verify how many of those who took the exam for the first time (and were not working in libraries before they graduated) were hired as librarians (and not contractuals or call center agents) upon graduation. I will be happy if my skepticism is proven unfounded, but if LIS graduates are not in fact "in demand," I think a correction needs to be made.

I have heard it said that there is a librarian shortage in the Philippines because many public schools, for instance, do not have a librarian, but how many of these schools actually have a library or are even looking to hire a librarian? Every now and then, legislators issue press releases on their efforts to amend Republic Act No. 7743, which provides for the establishment of "public libraries in every congressional district, city and municipality, and reading centers in every barangay throughout the Philippines," but aside from not having any specific provisions on where the funding will come from, there is also no mention in these draft bills for the hiring of librarians. I don't want to sound so pessimistic, but it would be good to see some hard data to back up optimistic projections.

Top 11
LORRAINE CLAIRE KEE SALVE 87.20
MARTIN JULIUS VILLANGCA PEREZ 86.95
JOSE MARI LONTOK FLORES 86.70
CATALINA BACOCO OLOAN 86.50
MARIA JUDITH FAYE TONGSON GOROSPE 86.30
MELYSSA LAUREN MARIANO MANUEL 86.25
ROSHEN MEJOS LOMOCSO 85.75
JENA VALEZA TALAN 85.60
LYCA DIALINO ORAYA 84.50
YHNA THERESE PALAYA SANTOS 84.50
LAARNI VIVAS MARCIANO 84.45

Successful Examinees
ABAO, MIRIAM YAMIT
ABELLANOSA, GEMMA MAGSINO
ABIQUE, JEMMA LYN TRAYFALGAR
AGCAOILI, KAREN ANGELICA SISANTE
AGUSILA, MA GINA VALENCIANO
ALBALOS, JOAN CUISON
ALDUEZA, ANNE KRIZELLE DE LUNA
ALMERIZ, GERLYN DAYRIT
ALUYEN, ESTER PALAGPAG
AMANO, MARIE ANN MABANAN
AMONCIO, CRISTY AVILA
ANGCAO, RONALICE CLARE GARCIA
ANOS, ANNE SHERINA DE JESUS
ARCE, MARIA RICA BAÑARES
ARGENTE, MADEL LABIANO
ASUG, CYNDY ORBITA
BAGTANGAN, JANICE CAWAING
BAJOYO, LILIBETH ARGUELLES
BALANGCOD, ROXANNE KANTALA
BALBALIN, LENNY PACALSO
BANDONG, JENNYLYN SALUT
BARRIENTOS, ALLAN QUISOR
BATO, FATHA RAMOS
BATOON, CHILOU PILARTA
BAUTISTA, JAMEILA ANGELI SOLOMON
BAUTISTA, KARMELA DAWN JORVINA
BAÑARES, MA NOIDA VIDAL
BELICARIO, MARK ANTHONY CO
BERNABE, JOYCE ANNE SILVERIO
BUYOCAN, KATHERINE MALITAH
BUYUCCAN, LAILANIE PUGUON
CABADING, PROMENTHUS KEHM GERRI MANABAT
CABANGAL, JACKIELYN SABIDALAS
CAGAS, ALFREDO CADENAS
CAGUITE, DENNIS KELVIN MANALO
CANTIGA, CATHY REMEDIO
CAPIL, SHANE BL CERVANCIA
CARABALLA, JEROME MIGUEL
CARIAGA, ESTHER CATANGAY
CASTILLO, RAMON JR GUIBEJAR
CASTRO, JOVILYN REYES
CAY-AN, ERICSON SAB-IT
CENA, BERNALYNN FERNANDEZ
CONCEPCION, RODELYN MANLANGIT
CONCORDO, MARIA THERESA BAROL
CONSTANTINO, JOANNE CHUA
CORPUZ, PETER JOHN REYNOSO
COSSID, MARIA RINA MARANG
CRUZ, RICARDO III DE GUZMAN
CUALES, RACHELLE ANN MONDEJAR
DAMORKIS, EDITHA NICOLAS
DANGLE, JOSHUA JONES PE
DANGO, TERESITA MANDIN
DARDO, JEANYBETH BACULNA
DEL ROSARIO, ALLIENE THAMIE ABELLANA
DELA CRUZ, ESTRELLITA GARCIA
DELA CRUZ, RACHEL PARAISO
DELGADO, DONNA JOY QUITOR
DIAZ, RICA REGINA BADUA
DIWATA, MARI TONI LESACA
DIZON, JELLYN RUFINO
DONGGA-AS, JOVEN DANGLA
DUCAS, RALEEN JOY GABINO
DUMADARA, LEA GUILLEN
DY, GAUDENCIO JR CRUZ
DY, IZZA MAE DALALO
EBALLE, ROSE MARIE AÑORA
ELLOSO, CRIS KEVIN GLORIOSO
ENERO, KARRISA ESTILLES
ERAZO, ANNA LISA MALAPITAN
ESGUERRA, KRISTINE QUIQUE
ESPINO, JEYLIN FAUSTINO
ESPINOSA, ROSE ANN BRAVO
ESTIGOY, RIZALINA HALAMAN
ESTRELLA, JUVESSA VENTURA
FERNANDEZ, JHO-ANN RASOS
FERNANDEZ, RONNIE SALUSOD
FLORES, JOSE MARI LONTOK
FRANE, ANALIZA ACUZAR
FUERTE, CHRISTINE RUGERIA
FUTALAN, JONATHAN PAGAWISAN
GABITANO, RAMIL GOMONAN
GADIT, JUANITA BANTIYAN
GAITAN, MARY JOESETTE GONZAGA
GALINDO, GLENN ORQUILLAS
GAOIRAN, ROWENA ANUNG
GASPAR, AUREEJEL VALDEZ
GASPAR, HELEN MORANTE
GATAN, JASMIN MARANAN
GESTO, KEVIN RUSTILA
GILLO, LADY HANNAH COSTUNA
GIRASOL, GLADY BARTOCES
GO, NOELYN LIBAO
GONZALES, GLADYS ANN CABARSE
GOROSPE, MARIA JUDITH FAYE TONGSON
GREY, IVY SAJONIA
HALLIG, SHARON VALERIANO
IMPLICA, MERRY JOY SALVADOR
INSO, VILMA MICULOB
JACINTO, ANADEL TILLANA
JAVIER, PAULITA ARELLANO
JAWILI, LURAMIE NAYSAY
JUMAMOY, EFJOHN APARECE
LACAMBRA, LAURENE ULSINO
LALUNA, JENNIFER JUPSON
LAXAMANA, GLORIA ANTONIO
LIM, VIRGINIA SUN
LOMOCSO, ROSHEN MEJOS
LOPEZ, MA VINA SHIELA MANUEL
LUCERO, MARY JANE OLIVERIO
MACACHOR, RITA LAD
MACALINGGANG, ALFIE AMER
MACURO, CHRISTINE DIANNE TUMALAY
MADALAG, SONIA GANTES
MAGLAQUE, LORDY MERO
MAMURI, MADONNA CAMILLE MAGLAMBAYAN
MANAOIS, GILBERT GARCIA
MANUEL, MELYSSA LAUREN MARIANO
MANZO, NOVA RAMOS
MARAGGAY, JESTONIE ALTEZ
MARCIANO, LAARNI VIVAS
MARIBAO, CHARITY BAIS
MARILLA, GRACE QUITORIA
MARIQUINA, CLARISSA DIANNE SEVILLA
MAROHOMSALIC, ALEAH LARGO
MARRON, JELLEN ATIGA
MAXIMO, GLADYS TUMAYAN
MAÑGALILE, EDUARDO JR GAYAS
MEFANIA, ALLEN DALE MANLIGUEZ
MERCADO, KIARA KEREN RONCESVALLES
MOICO, ARNEL BARTOLOME
MONTAÑO, MA REDEN NICOPIOR
NARVAEZ, LAURENCE ANTHONY GONZALES
NEMIAGA, CHONA MARIE BAJENTING
NEYRA, JO ANNE DELA CRUZ
NICERIO, JESSEL CATALBAS
OCIER, JOEL DELA CRUZ
OLILA, RIZA CALAMBO
OLOAN, CATALINA BACOCO
ONDE, MARK FRANCIS GABUYA
ORAYA, LYCA DIALINO
PADERNAL, CHARLIEMAGNE FERRER
PADILLO, PERLA MAY ALCOSEBA
PALEN, MARY GRETCHEN GLORIA
PALENG, ROJAN AYAN
PAMAN, RYAN ARNEL LALLEN
PASION, DAN OLIVER CRUZ
PEORO, ROLLY FRANCIS CANLAS
PEREZ, CHRISTINE BERMUNDO
PEREZ, MARTIN JULIUS VILLANGCA
PRADO, DARREN OSTAN
PRECILLA, PETER JOSEPH ACENAS
RAMOS, BRYAN RAYMOND GARCIA
RAMOS, GUIZZELLE SOLIZA
RAMOS, MAYBELLE PUDUCAY
RAMOS, NERRIZA PICHON
RAPSING, AIZA DEMDAM
RAZO, EMELYN DEGOMBIS
RELADO, SHEILA MAY TALAVERA
RETARDO, ROBINA TILAR
REYES, JENEEN YANGCO
REYES, ROWENA LAUCILLO
RICONALLA, RONILO ESCOREAL
RODERNO, PRINCESS NABLO
RONDERO, CHARMINE ANN GALENDEZ
ROQUE, JUDITH URIAN
ROSALES, RONA PATRICIA GERONIMO
SABRIDO, RHEA ORTIZ
SALES, LENNIN YU
SALVADOR, RIEN ROSE VALENZUELA
SALVE, LORRAINE CLAIRE KEE
SAMONTE, JEAN LUCIANO
SAMSON, IRENE TAYCO
SANTIZO, PAMELA DAWN CALOPEZ
SANTOS, PAUL LALIMARMO
SANTOS, RAYMOND ROBERT LUNA
SANTOS, RICA JANE SANTIAGO
SANTOS, YHNA THERESE PALAYA
SARITA, EMELITA CANOY
SARMIENTO, RICARDO JR ALMORO
SIADOR, JOEY BUSIKAW
SILVESTRE, CAMILLE JOL PEREZ
SIMBAJON, ROSELYN CARAGA
SIMON, GEORGE MARCELL PEREZ
SINDAY, ROMILYN AQUINO
SION, ROSELIETA TOMANGONG
SUBILLA, CLARENCE COBSILEN
SUROT, JAN JOELSON DOCTOLERO
TABORA, MARGARET UY
TACAY, SHILO ROSE PAGNAS
TAGUIC, MARY CRIS BUNGLAY
TALAN, JENA VALEZA
TANUDRA, MARIA ANGIE ALCUIREZ
TINGSON, LEANNE PEARL DREO
TOLENTINO, DONALD GENTUGAO
TUBIS, ROBERTO RAMOS
TUMALAY, GELYN MAE TRAVILLA
TUMALAY, J-ANN GUASIN
ULPINDO, TERENCE RAMIREZ
UNDA, KAMILAH SHARIEF
UNSON, DANTE PAOLO VALLE
UY, CARLO MARTIN HALDOS
VALDEZ, EMMYLOU LEAÑO
VALERA, FRANCISCO JOSE SALAZAR
VELASCO, BERNADETTE BEREDO
VERDAD, AIDALOU OGATIS
VILLAFUERTE, LEONARDO II GALVEZ
VIRAY, ANNE MADELIN EUGENIO
YBAÑEZ, SISLY MENDOZA
ZAMORA, MA FRANCES THERESE BONILLA
ZARAGOSA, CARLO MANALO

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Librarians' Licensure Examination 2010: Results

Congratulations to the new librarians!

The passing rate for the Librarians' Licensure Examination is 27 percent (191 out of 699), down from 30 percent in 2009.

Below are the list of the Top 10, as well as the list of all successful examinees. Both were taken from ABS-CBNnews.com.

UPDATED 19 November 2010 to include the table detailing the passing rates for all the schools (pdf) represented at the exam. The file is from the official website of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). For trends during the past three years, see "The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009."

Top 10

ANGELINE MAY ISLA ODILAO 87.80
ALDIANE JOY BASALE AMBIT 87.05
NICOLO LORENZO TAPANG CERVANTES 86.30
MARY JANE CORTEZ MORANDARTE 86.25
IMELDA ROJAS BRAZAL 85.75
BIANCA REI TAMAYO BAYLAS 85.60
JOHANNA JAYNE SEE TACUS 85.50
IVY HONEYLOU GO CACHO 85.30
KRISTI MA FEVIE VILLAPANDO MACASAET 85.10
KELVIN BERNARDO SAMSON 84.75

Successful Examinees

ABRIGO, RYAN JOSEPH MIRANDA
ABYADO, EMMA TABACLA
AGALDANG, ROMELIN DENNISE BERNARDEZ
ALBANIA, PAMELA SALINAS
ALVARADO, CYRENE DE GUZMAN
AMAN, ERVIN JAYNAR
AMANTE, KRIZ MAE PALENZUELA
AMBIT, ALDIANE JOY BASALE
AMPOLOQUIO, ERNA SANCHEZ
ANIAG, MICHAEL LORENZO
ARANZANSO, BELINDA REPE
ARQUERO, MARICEL BUENO
ASILO, DIANA ABIGAIL ESCOBER
ASUMBRA, JENNIFER TUAZON
ATUEL, ANTHONY NERVES
BACAY, FLORENCE RENEE RUBIO
BACUS, SYLVIAN CRISTOBAL
BAGTAS, RYASMIN GAIL CRUZ
BAGUIOS, JERRY RIVERA
BAHIAN, MAGNOLIA ANGEL SEPADA
BAJO, RODERICK JABAT
BALICO, AISA REDONDIEZ
BALOCO, LORELIE AMIGO
BANAAG, LEA RINIA
BARASI, ANALYN GAMBOA
BARRO, JESSECA BERNAL
BAYLAS, BIANCA REI TAMAYO
BELMONTE, ABEL ANGELES
BERDIN, JANICE FLORES
BERTIZ, REA BASCO
BILUAN, DONNA LYN SAPAL
BOLANTE, LENI ANTUERPIA
BRAZA, HAYDEE BRETAÑA
BRAZAL, IMELDA ROJAS
BUENAVENTURA, GRACE ANN FERNANDO
BUYOCAN, KAREN MALITAH
CABILLON, CHARMANE BLASON
CABUGAO, MICHAEL REY CLEMENTE
CACANANTA, EVELYN ASPURIA
CACHO, IVY HONEYLOU GO
CADIZ, NIÑO MAR ANGELO RIGOR
CANTILERO, JERRY BARAL
CAO, DANILYN BALLESTEROS
CAPELA, MARIEGLO CIUBAL
CATAN, ROSE JASMIN BUMONGCAG
CERVANTES, NICOLO LORENZO TAPANG
CHAVEZ, PEACHIE ROSHELE TABOR
CODAMOS, JOVIE POKKIS
CRISOSTOMO, JOHN LEE GAVINO
CRUZ, HEHERSON CRUZ
CRUZ, JONATHAN ADRIANO
CRUZADO, REDEN MAGRAMO
CUARTEROS, ALMA MELAD
CUIZON, VANIZA CODO
DAGURO, HAIDEE LOU DACANAY
DAVID, MA LARA PATRICIA ARELLANO
DE GUZMAN, MA GRACIA RAE LUBIANO
DE LOS SANTOS, CHERYL SY
DE TORRES, CONNIE BAGSIT
DEL CAMPO, ROY RABINO
DELA VEGA-JUAN, MAGANA ALIX
DIJOS, SHENALY WATIMAR
DIONISIO, MELANIE FERNANDO
DIZON, EDITHA JACOSALEM
DOMINGO, JOSELITO DELA CRUZ
ELNAR, LEOREINA LOU SABATER
ESCOBER, LOVELYN BO
ESPEDIDO, RUBY ANTONNEITTE PAGLINAWAN
ESPINO, ARRIANE CRUZ
ESTRELLA, JENALYN MAGRACIA
EVA, MARK ANTHONY ESTRADA
FELIZARDO, GLENDA FIESTADA
FERNANDEZ, EMMELOU JOY OGATIS
FERNANDEZ, RENALYN SALUSOG
FERNANDO, JOSE TOMASITO NATIVIDAD
FLORO, MARTIN FELARCA
FOMEGAS, IRISH MAY TUMAPANG
FRAGATA, RONNIE BAWAS
FRONDOSO, THERESA MAE LABISTE
FRUEL, GILBERTO EUGENIO
GABO, CHRISTIAN CLARK IAN BLANCO
GAJES, HONEYLYN CALUB
GALANG, APRIL ARCILLA
GANIPES, BRODERICK TAO-EY
GARAIS, ANGELA CARIÑO
GARCIA, JOANNARIE CAPISTRANO
GARCIA, RAFAEL LAYOC
GENON, RONILO JR BESINAN
GEVERO, VENNA JANE DENOY
GLORIANI, JUDY ANN CAYSON
GONZAGA, SHEILA MAE PAGBILAO
GUILLERMO, RYAN GIL EDPALINA
HABAN, KLARIBEL PERALTA
HALCON, ALVIN ESCALDERON
HERNANDEZ, MA CHRISTINE SIDERIA
HERNANDO, RONIE SALMORIN
HERRERA, GEEMEE CAMILLE NUYLAN
IBASCO, MELANIE DIALOGO
IBUYAT, JUVY CALLEJAS
ICO, MILDRED SANTA ANA
IGNACIO, DAPHNE DUTERTE
IMPERIO, FLORIDA MAGANA
JIMENEZ, GISELLE MACAHILIG
JUAYANG, CHING BEE BORRO
JUNSAN, ARIANNE LIGAYA
LAROMBE, MARIA CARINA ALPARITA
LATIYAN, RHODORA BATUNA
LEIDA, LUNA MAY DEFENSOR
LEJANO, VERONICA JANE BALUGO
LEONCIO, JENNIFER RAMOS
LINDAYAO, JENNILYN ESTORQUE
LIWADEN, DELNA CARAMTO
LLAMAS, RECHY SUMALILENG
LOPEZ, ISABEL DINAH GARCIA
LUBATON, SWEET BONNIEBE MACEDA
LUZURIAGA, MA ROSELLE SUPERLATIVO
MABALOT, ADALIA LAGRIMAS
MACARASIG, OPALYN DIMAYUGA
MACASAET, KRISTI MA FEVIE VILLAPANDO
MALANOG, GINA LIMSAN
MAMA, ABUBAKAR SARANGANI
MANALO, CHARMAINE ANCELLA BAJETA
MANTALA, LIZA LORAINE BALANAY
MARIANO, RANDOLF DIONISIO
MATTI, LADY BERNICE GUSTILO
MEDINA, VIRGILIO JR GUINTO
MELGAR, SHERRYL ANNE JIM ARCABAL
MELU, ANGELICA GARAY
MERCURIO, HAZEL CRUZ
MIGUEL, JUNELITA MANGALI
MIJARES, RISA OPERIO
MIRANDA, CAROLYN DACILLO
MORANDARTE, MARY JANE CORTEZ
NARIO, ELVISA ESTRELLADO
NERI, CAROLYN TAMAYO
ODILAO, ANGELINE MAY ISLA
OJALDON, ERWIN ROY TALEON
OLIVERIO, ORLANDO JR LLABAN
OMONES, ANGELICUM REYES
OREGANO, LORELIE AMALLA
ORNILLO, MICHELLE PULA
ORUGA, VENUS BOYER
OSMA, MARIA AIMEE MARIBOJOC
PANOTES, JULIUS EDEJER
PASCO, SHARON GABITAN
PASTRANA, LEILANI PACIS
PEREZ, JENNIFER TOLEDO
PEREZ, KAREN JOAN BOMPAT
PLANAS, FE REMEDIO
POMAY, SARAH JANE BOMBANE
PONCE, VINAMAR AQUE
PROTACIO, EMMANUEL KRISTOFFER ROSIL
QUEROBINES, CATHERINE CALOGCOG
RAMIREZ, CRISELDA ANNE BAUTISTA
RAMOS, EUGENE GUTIERREZ
RAMOS, JEREMY CO
REAS, WITTY MAE DELA CRUZ
REQUINTA, LOURDES REBULANAN
RETAZO, MELODY ANINO
REYES, CECIL TENCHAVEZ
REYES, GAECELLE ESGUERRA
REYES, JULIUS ROMIL ONRADA
RICAFORT, MARISA CASTRO
RICO, MARIE PAZ GANIBAN
RIMANDO, RUVILYN TAMANG
RIVERA, CHRISTIAN JASPER BARROGO
SAMSON, KELVIN BERNARDO
SAMULDE, JOENECIO KALI
SANTILLAN, KAREN YANES
SAQUILABON, MARIA TERESA RUMAGUIRA
SEBIANO, JERLIE BOLISLIS
SEÑA, ROXANNE NICOLE
SIAZON, MELISSA ANNE AQUINO
SIBAYAN, CARL BRYAN WIDWIDAN
SIGOT, SHAILA SIANO
SOMERBANG, HELEN MOG-AW
SUPAN, RAEL BARTOLOME
TACUS, JOHANNA JAYNE SEE
TADINA, MARLINE PEÑAFLORIDA
TAGACAY, MARY JANE RAMIREZ
TAGLE, ALGEAN BAGHARI
TEJANO, ROSEVILLA ALINSUNORIN
TOLENTINO, CHIARA RICA TAYAWA
TUQUIB, RODELIA MERINA
UMADHAY, DARYL JUSTIN PEREZ
UMADHAY, VINCENT BRYAN LAVILLES
VELASCO, FREDERICK GERONA
VERDE, CONCORDIA BAUTISTA
VILLADORES, MC NIÑO RABAGO
VILLAPANDO, LYVIA ALMANZA
ZANORIA, EVELYN BUHAYAN

Performance of Schools in Alphabetical Order

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The Best and the Worst LIS Schools, 2007-2009

There are many ways of determining the "best" and the "worst." For this unofficial ranking, the best and worst library and information science (LIS) schools in the Philippines may be identified using the aggregate passing rates for each school whose graduates took the Librarians' Licensure Examination for the first time in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the only years for which detailed results per school are available. Only schools with examinees for all three years are included in the tables below. The schools are divided into three groups: those with 31 or more examinees, those with 11 to 30, and those with 10 or less.

LLE 2007-2009: Best & Worst LIS Schools

Note that the schools have been divided into groups arbitrarily, and that no school has actually been designated as "best" or "worst." This will be left to the reader to judge. The following observations, however, are offered as a way of demonstrating the need to divide the schools into groups—and its drawbacks—and the ways in which the tables may be used:

• Only two schools had more than 100 examinees: UP with 129, and PUP with 123. The former's passing rate is 95 percent, while the latter's is 45 percent.
• National Teacher's College, with 32 examinees, and Mindanao State University, with 30, are not in the same group, but one has a 6 percent passing rate, while the other's is 73 percent.
• All of Saint Louis University's 12 examinees passed. In contrast, not one of the 17 graduates from University of Northern Philippines-Vigan made it.
• Six schools were represented from 2007-2009, but all their examinees were repeaters, and that's why their names are on the list but no data is provided.

Why am I doing this? There is very little information available to students regarding the quality of LIS schools, and it is my hope that this effort of mine can provoke more detailed studies. Plus, if even one prospective LIS student looks at these tables and decides to go to one school, instead of another, then the time I've spent on this would have been worth it.

The data used for this post came from the following files: 2007, 2008 and 2009. Below is an alphabetical list of all the schools, with passing rates for first timers, repeaters and overall performance:Librarians' Licensure Exam 2007-2009

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Unlicensed Librarians and R.A. 9246

A discussion on the violation of certain provisions of Republic Act No. 9246 (pdf; R.A. 9246), specifically the continued employment of unlicensed librarians in the Philippines, is now on its third week at the Filipino Librarians Googlegroup (1 2 3 4). Some have suggested that there are certain situations where violating the law is justified, but the appointment of non-librarians to head a library, despite the presence of qualified, licensed librarians, is indefensible. And then there are the unlicensed librarians who have been "OICs," supposedly a temporary designation, for almost two decades.

It is not clear, however, whether these emails are being read by those can do something about the concerns raised. But it is also important to remember that it is not just somebody else's responsibility to make sure the law is followed; it is also our responsibility. Why do I say this? Zarah Gagatiga has already pointed out that, "The librarian MUST have a license. The employer MUST hire a licensed librarian." But what if they DON'T? Do we just wait for the powers-that-be to put things right? Below are the relevant sections of R.A. 9246 and my comments, followed by suggestions on what licensed librarians can do to uphold the law:

SECTION 26. Illegal Practice of Librarianship. – A person who does not have a valid Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card or a temporary/ special permit from the Commission shall not practice or offer to practice librarianship in the Philippines or assume any position, which involve performing the function of a librarian as provided under Section 5 of this Act.

The "person" referred to in Section 26 is, in essence, someone who is working as a librarian illegally. Note, too, that there are no exceptions granted for certain kinds of librarians (e.g., special librarians). Everyone working as a librarian in the Philippines is covered by this law. The only exceptions, I suppose, are those whose employers are not covered by Philippine laws, like some international agencies.

SECTION 31. Employment of Librarians. – Only qualified and licensed librarians shall be employed as librarians in all government libraries. Local government units shall be given a period of three (3) years from the approval of this Act to comply with this provision.

The emphasis in Section 31 on government libraries does not imply that the law applies only to librarians working for the government. All this is means is that the government, as the single, largest employer of librarians, was singled out for special attention.

SECTION 32. Penal Provisions. – Any person who practices or offers to practice any function of a librarian as provided for under Section 5 of this Act who is not registered and has not been issued by the Commission a Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card, or a temporary license/permit or who violates any of the provisions of this Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) nor more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than three (3) years at the discretion of the court.

The most important phrase here is, to me, "upon conviction." Thus, a case has to be filed against the librarian. But I do wonder why the employer goes unpunished. Shouldn't the employer be liable as well?

There are, of course, certain realities that must be acknowledged, such as the fact that no one is really enforcing the law. Academic and school librarians are in a better position because accrediting agencies mark down universities and schools for non-compliance with the law, but all other kinds of libraries, including the public libraries funded by local governments, can ignore R.A. 9246 if they so desire. Have cases been filed against unlicensed librarians? Have any been convicted? If so, please let me know.

The following are my suggestions for those who wish to see R.A. 9246 implemented properly:

1. Verify whether someone working as a librarian is licensed or unlicensed. The Board for Librarians, the National Library, the Civil Service Commission, and the Philippine Librarians Association are supposed to have "up-to-date, complete and properly organized" lists of all licensed librarians in the Philippines.
2. Write a letter to the person, with copies to the person's employer, the Board for Librarians and the Philippine Librarians Association (and, if applicable, the National Library and/or the Civil Service Commission), indicating all the pertinent details and exactly how the provisions of R.A. 9246 have been violated, pointing out that the person's continued employment is punishable by law. Make sure you keep copies of all correspondence, and ask recipients to sign for any letters you give them.
3. If your letters are ignored or you are discriminated against or fired (because the person was your boss, for instance), file a case against the person at all appropriate agencies.
4. If filing a case, or even writing letters to the person or agencies concerned, is not an option, send letters to local and national newspapers laying out how the law is being violated. While this may be done anonymously, it is perhaps best that you identify yourself.

All these are, of course, easier said than done. But all we really need is one, high-profile case, preferably involving a well-known employer, that can then be used to show others who are violating the law that librarians are serious about policing their ranks.

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