Filipino Librarian

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.

Librarians' Licensure Exams: 1992-2025

Labels: Licensed Librarians

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.

Outstanding Librarian 2020:
Stephen B. Alayon

Labels: Librarians: Awardees

Stephen B. Alayon

The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Stephen B. Alayon on 17 December 2020. The citation reads:

STEPHEN B. ALAYON is a distinguished achiever in the field of Library and Information Science, committed to uphold UN SDGs by supporting open access to information from publicly-funded researches on fisheries and aquaculture. His undertakings served to strengthen fisheries education by promoting research and scholarship through the dissemination of SEAFDEC publications in print, institutional repository, and digital library box. His advocacy ushered in the protection of fundamental freedoms through his outreach NcelLIBERation jail libraries: his crucial role in the institutionalization of PLAI National Congresses; and his passion and service to capacitate Fisheries and LIS professionals and students. His competence, excellence, and commendable track record earned him various awards and recognition such as PAARL Outstanding Academic/Research Librarian, ASLP Citation Award for Excellence in Research, PLAI Distinguished Service Award, Severino I. Velasco Award, and Gawad sa Natatanging Laybraryan (Visayas), SLA Asian Librarian Award, IASSIST Fellow. and ACS Publications Travel Grant for Librarians. As an officer/member of PLAI, PLAI-WVRLC, ASLP, PAARL, PATLS, SLA, and IAMSLIC, he demonstrated relentless dedication to these organizations as a testimony to an outstanding career.

Thanks to Stephen Alayon for the citation and photo.

Category: Librarians—Awardees

Outstanding Librarian 2019:
Enrique T. Cayaban

Labels: Librarians: Awardees

Enrique T. Cayaban

The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Enrique T. Cayaban on 20 June 2019. The citation reads:

For his distinguished contribution in the field of Librarianship, his exemplary service in his profession such as: Director of Libraries, Saint Mary’s University; Chief Librarian, Cagayan Valley Computer & Information Technology College; College Librarian, Nueva Vizcaya State Institute of Technology; assistant reference librarian of De la Salle University; his being a professor of graduate/undergraduate courses in Library Science; author of library science books; researcher, and resource person in national and regional seminars shows his commitment and professionalism in his field.

His competence, excellence, and commendable track record have earned him various awards and recognition such as: Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Libraryan [Luzon], PLAI, 2018); Lifetime Achievement Award (PAARL, 2018); Lifetime Achievement Award (CaVRLC, 2017); Outstanding Alumni Award (UST, 2011); Service Award for Exemplary Leadership and Cooperation from 2005 to 2010 (PLAI, 2011); Plaque of Recognition for 28 years of dedicated service and in various positions to Saint Mary’s University (SMU, 2011); Eagle Award for Service Excellence (3 consecutive years as Service Excellence Awardee, SMU, 2009); Most Outstanding Academic and Research Librarian in Luzon (PAARL, 2008); and 10th place, PRC Librarians Licensure Examination (PRC, 1998).

His leadership has been exemplified in the positions he held as the first president of Cagayan Valley Region Librarians Council (CaVRLC); board of trustees of Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI); executive council member of the National Committee on Library and Information Services (NCLIS) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); founding president of the Nueva Vizcaya Librarians Association, Inc. for eight (8) years; president of Bambang Sunshine Project Organization, Inc., a charity project for children with disabilities (CWDs), are testament to his relentless dedication to his organization/s and outstanding career.

Thanks to Ike Cayaban for the citation and photo.

Category: Librarians—Awardees

Free Registration for IFLA WLIC 2018 in Kuala Lumpur

Labels: Conferences

Would you like to attend the IFLA World Library and Information Congress 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia?

Dysart & Jones, a trusted advisor to the knowledge, library, and information community, is donating FREE REGISTRATION (worth 595 Euros) for ONE licensed librarian from the Philippines to attend the 84th WLIC from 24-30 August 2018. (NOTE: This donation does NOT include the cost of airfare, accommodations, and other expenses.)

Priority will be given to a Filipino librarian who is:

a first time attendee to the World Library and Information Congress; and
a member in good standing of the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI).

If you wish to qualify for this unique opportunity, please send an email with subject "IFLA WLIC 2018 free registration" to von.totanes@gmail.com by 8 August 2018, 12 nn (Manila time) with the following:

photo of PRC ID;
photo of the first page of your Philippine passport; and
answer to the question "Why should I be given free registration to IFLA WLIC 2018?" (max. 200 words).

The winner, as chosen by the donor, will be informed via email by August 9, 12 nn. S/he will receive a letter of confirmation of registration upon presentation of confirmed flight details and accommodations.

Outstanding Librarian 2018:
Elizabeth R. Peralejo

Labels: Librarians: Awardees

Elizabeth R. Peralejo

The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Elizabeth R. Peralejo on 21 June 2018. The citation reads:

For demonstrating professional excellence and relentless dedication to her 40 years of involvement in the field of librarianship as shown in her significant contribution to the advancement of the profession through the revision of the Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) program, the drafting of the Code of Ethics for Filipino Librarians, the formulation of Standards for Philippine Libraries, the preparation of Minimum Requirements for Higher Education Institution Libraries Common to all Programs, and the monitoring of library schools to ensure that they conform with existing policies, standards, and guidelines; for being a sought-after speaker and trainer in seminar-workshops and conferences, allowing her to sit as a member of the Education and Training Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions; for spearheading various activities for the successful celebration of Library and Information Services Month, the National Book Week, and Librarians Day; for initiating and instituting changes in the operation of the national accredited professional organization of librarians such as its rules of proceedings during annual conventions and general assemblies, guidelines in the management of funds and grants, as well as the holding of national conferences; and for her active participation in socio-civic and religious organizations dedicated for the welfare of people with disabilities and in the renewal of families.

Thanks to Jamie Peralejo for the citation and photo.

Category: Librarians—Awardees

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

Labels: Licensed Librarians

"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

Hot Filipino Librarians

Labels: Librarians, Stereotypes

A few weeks ago, I was surprised to find my photo and name in a list of the hottest Filipino librarians. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I belong on the list. And I'm not being modest. Just take a look at the photos below ;-)

Note: All photos below are used with permission. And everyone on the list is a licensed librarian, except where indicated otherwise.

ISHEE finished her master's degree in library and information science in 2015, and is currently working at a law library. Her husband suggested using the pic above. He's sweet, right?

VINCE was a varsity basketball player before he traded balls and hoops for books and computers. He still manages, however, to score points with the college girls who line up to ask him questions... at the reference desk.

DIANNE, a magna cum laude graduate from the premier state university, is currently a full-time law student who's also studying for the librarian licensure exam. Oh, and she routinely beats her bf at Tekken.

NOEL followed in his mother's footsteps and is now a librarian at an international research institute. Except she's more like Marian the Librarian, and he's more like, well... Conan the Librarian's younger brother.

JOL is an AV librarian at an exclusive high school for boys. She approves their friend requests on Facebook only after they graduate AND only if she's friends with them IRL.

PHILIP is the kind of school librarian in whose presence a teenage girl has pretended to faint and who, after he took her into his arms to get her some help, started shouting, "Ang bango ni sir!!!"

KAORI is half-Filipino, half-Japanese. She's a librarian at the oldest university in the Philippines, where she's been told that she's "too hot to be a librarian." QED.

CARLO, who works at a local development bank, has been told he looks like K-drama star Lee Min Ho. But he does not take such comments seriously. He just strikes a pose and lets them decide. (Ok, I made up the last part.)

TIN is a hot mama who's employed as a librarian in Qatar. Her husband objected to posting her smoking hot pics, and that's why all you'll see here are the husband-approved pics above.

TROY is a storyteller who loves kids so much that once in a while he dresses up as HENERAL BASA at his public library and elsewhere. He makes reading fun... and that's hot!

Outstanding Librarian 2017:
Mila Medina Ramos

Labels: Librarians: Awardees

Mila Medina Ramos

The Professional Regulation Commission conferred the Outstanding Professional Librarian of the Year Award on Mila Medina Ramos on 23 June 2017. The citation reads:

For her distinguished contribution in the field of librarianship as demonstrated by her exemplary service to her profession through sharing of her expertise as resource speaker in local and international fora and providing free on-the-job training to local and foreign librarians; for her strong commitment and professionalism having served as member of the Board for Librarians and conducting reviews for takers of the Librarians Licensure Examination; for promoting the library profession through her book, essays and lectures and updating of Philippine Standards for Special Libraries; for her participation in national committees for framing cataloguing standards and librarians' competencies;

For steering the International Rice Research library into one of the model libraries in the Philippines and for pioneering the creation of PhilAgriNet, and assuming a major role in the formation of the CGIAR Libraries and Information Services Consortium; for heading the ALAP as its President who engineered IRRI's membership in the Agricultural Networks Information Collaborative (AgNIC) and took the initiative in conducting librarian-related research;

For her competence, excellence, and commendable track record that earned for her various awards and recognition, such as the Outsanding Librarian Award (ALAP, 2005), Outstanding Academic/Research Librarian Award 2005 (PAARL, 2006), CGIAR Science Award (CGIAR, 2006), PLAI-STRLC Most Distinguished Librarian Award (2009) that served as a testament to her outstanding career.

Thanks to Rene Manlangit for the citation and photo.

Category: Librarians—Awardees

Marianita D. Dablio — Filipino Librarian

Labels: Librarians

Congratulations to Dr. Marianita D. Dablio for her Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of the Philippines Library Science Alumni Association (UPLSAA)!

Below is the response she delivered at the awarding ceremony.

Response
Marianita D. Dablio
2 July 2016

Thank you, UPLSAA 2015-2016, for this Distinguished Alumna Award.

It is with great humility that I receive this award in behalf of the librarians, library staff, and LIS faculty with whom I have worked at the Mindanao State University and other institutions in Mindanao. I would like to thank the faculty of the Institute, now School, of Library and Information Studies, who impressed on me the solid groundings of a good librarian: Prof. Rosa Vallejo, Dr. Ursula Picache, Prof. Filomena Tann, Prof. Namnama Hidalgo, and Prof. Herminia Santos.

How did I become a Librarian? My “romance” with the field must have started when I worked as a student assistant at the Mindanao State University Library, while pursuing a degree in BS Elementary Education. A long, long overdue expression of gratitude goes to two Institute alumni, Benifredo Sta. Maria and Leticia Espinas Aquino, who paved the way in my becoming a librarian. How can I ever forget the “imposing” voices of these two figures, who persistently told us what a library should be? Sir Benny and Ma’am Letty insisted that I should study in what was then the UP Institute of Library Science.

I would like to believe that as SLIS alumni, we have to spread our wings and leave a lasting imprint. I ventured to start the MSU Department of Library Science (now Department of Library and Information Science) as a one-woman department. Now the department has three full-time faculty members who are at the forefront of producing quality LIS professionals in Mindanao. It is worth noting the department has developed a number of Muslim and Christian librarians in the region, and in the country, as well.

Years of library work have earned me a number of monickers: “the walking encyclopedia,” “the walking dictionary,” and “Dabliography.” I realized that this image has highlighted our vital role in sourcing, resourcing, and outsourcing information for our various publics. It is our knack for looking for alternative sources of information that have connected us to our users.

Our profession is reaching a critical turn. It has reached a point where at the service delivery, “I don’t know” is not possible as a reply anymore. I always remind my students that “ewan” is not an acceptable option in dealing with our patrons. Colleagues tell us what happens when the librarian says “ambot” (meaning “ewan” or I don’t know). Perhaps it is is time to develop our reference course as an engaging moment where our students can apply their psychology, sociology, and even politics of the information interaction. With all the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there is still no substitute for face-to-face communication.

One of the most unforgettable lessons of being a teacher is how students and library practitioners are “teaching” me instead of the other way around. One never misses to listen to their endless stories of “no support,” “walang budget,” “walang paki si Boss,” and maraming “nega” sa buhay librarian. The realities of the field resound that libraries are indeed resource-intensive institutions. Perhaps we can train them how to manage libraries amidst resource constraints. Indeed the challenge is how to teach our students to see beyond the box.

With so much information around us, I have advocated the responsive and responsible use of library and information sources. We have to develop strategies on how our library professionals can respond to the changes, yet be ethically responsible for the use of such resources. Let us develop our information literacy sessions—where our students are provided opportunities to relearn, retool, and rethink—to enable them to rediscover the world from inside out.

Indeed, this award is a very prestigious one. With UP’s SLIS taking the lead in LIS education, we its alumni are challenged to reflect on what can do for those at the peripheries. UP’s SLIS has been a guiding light in our pursuit for quality education in Mindanao. While we see the need for increasing the number of Muslim and Christian library professionals, we look forward to encouraging more of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao to become librarians. Perhaps only then can we claim that Filipino librarians are multicultural. The UPLSAA has been the beacon for our initiatives.

A librarian’s work is never done, even after retirement. I retired three years ago, but my retirement felt more like a back subject. I have returned to the readings and many other things I wanted to do before I retired. I also call this phase in my life as “in progress.” I have not finished sending my expression of gratitude to the many students I have interacted with, and to the colleagues who supported me all the way.

My response has been full of “we,” “us,” and “our” because in every aspect, I was not doing the job solo. So I share this award with my former administrators who, while setting high expectations, had confidence in my ability to deliver. I would also like to thank the many individuals who shared the true meaning of resourcefulness.

I would like to thank my family, who have been there ALWAYS, through thick and thin.

For the greatnesS of God’s love in his mercy and compassion.

For all of us, MAGANDANG BUHAY!

Reproduced with the author's permission.