Twenty Years in the Waiting: ETEEAP Story of Lowin Anacleto Balito

Learner Spotlight · Liceo de Cagayan University

Lowin Anacleto Balito
From serving meals outside the university gates to walking through them as an official student — proving that no dream ever truly expires.

Dreams Beyond the Mountain Trails of Bukidnon

Growing up in the mountains of Talakag, Bukidnon, Lowin Anacleto Balito harbored a dream that often felt impossibly far away. He would hear the radio jingle drifting across the airwaves — “Liceo is fun, come on and be one, Liceo is here for everyone” — and feel it tug at something deep inside him. More than almost anything, he longed to be a student at Liceo de Cagayan University in Cagayan de Oro City.

However, financial reality imposed severe constraints. Believing that prestigious private universities were reserved for wealthier families, Lowin enrolled elsewhere. When financial hardship forced him to stop, he relocated to the city to find work—a familiar story for many young Filipinos from rural provinces.

Serving Meals Outside the Gates He Longed to Enter

Lowin found employment at a small eatery situated directly across from the main entrance of Liceo de Cagayan University.

Every single day, Lowin served meals to college students. He watched them cross the university gates, carry their textbooks, and discuss their classes. For years, he looked at those gates from the outside, wondering if he would ever get the chance to step foot inside a lecture hall.

“Every day I saw the university and the students who dined at our eatery. My dream felt distant and uncertain, but it never completely died.”
— Lowin Anacleto Balito

The years went by, and work responsibilities accumulated. Yet the desire to complete a college degree remained burning beneath the surface.

Discovering ETEEAP at Liceo de Cagayan University

Two decades after he first heard that radio jingle in Bukidnon, Lowin learned about the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP).

Designed under Commission on Higher Education (CHED) guidelines for working adults who spent years acquiring skills in the workforce, ETEEAP evaluates prior work experience, professional training, and informal learning to award equivalent college course credits.

When Lowin discovered that Liceo de Cagayan University was an official deputized ETEEAP institution offering affordable tuition and flexible assessments, he took action:

1. Research & Counseling: He reached out to Liceo’s ETEEAP office to verify program requirements.
2. Document Compilation: He assembled his employment records, service history, and training certificates.
3. Assessment & Application: He submitted his portfolio for faculty panel evaluation.

On July 14, 2025 — exactly 20 years after his dream first took root — Lowin Balito walked through the gates of Liceo de Cagayan University as an officially enrolled student.

Pursuing BSBA Human Resource Development Management

Now enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), majoring in Human Resource Development Management (HRDM), Lowin found more than an academic curriculum. He discovered a calling that matched his own values.

The university’s motto — Nil Sine Numine (“Nothing Without the Divine Will”) — resonated with his journey of patience and resilience. The history of Liceo’s founders, who dedicated their lives to lifting underprivileged youth through accessible education, mirrored his desire to give back.

Giving Back to Bukidnon’s Indigenous Communities

Lowin’s ultimate goal extends beyond receiving a diploma. He plans to return to the Higaonon and Talaandig indigenous communities of Bukidnon to empower indigenous youth and working adults.

“I want them to know that their dreams are valid, no matter where they come from, what ethnic group they belong to, or how many years have passed.”

Key Lessons for Working Adult Learners

Lowin Balito’s story embodies the core mission of ETEEAP across the Philippines:

• Life Experience Holds Academic Value: Years spent working in management, customer service, or operations can translate directly into college units.
• Proximity & Time Are No Longer Barriers: Accredited universities in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon offer flexible modular evaluations so working adults don’t have to quit their jobs.
• It Is Never Too Late: Delay is not defeat. A degree earned at age 35 or 45 carries immense pride and practical career benefits.

Take the First Step Toward Your Own Degree

If Lowin’s story resonates with your own journey, take action today. Thousands of working Filipinos have the skills and work history required to qualify for ETEEAP.

Start by checking your eligibility with our free ETEEAP Qualifications Checker. You can also read our guide on Paano Mag-Apply sa ETEEAP or explore Accredited ETEEAP Schools in Mindanao.

Thanks to Mr. Lowin Anacleto Balito for sharing his inspiring journey.
Photo by: Lowin Anacleto Balito