Tigwahanon Manobo Lumad becomes first in his tribe to finish nursing and medicine degrees

Despite the discrimination he experienced, Jeoffrey Mambucon aka Otit, still became the first Tigwahanon Manobo Lumad to finish degrees in both nursing and medicine.

Otit was among the indigenous people who served as guest in Eat Bulaga's "Bawal Judgemental" Tuesday, where he shared his story about reaching successes he never even dreamed of.

As a child, Otit would always hear discriminating statements from people who would tell him that he wouldn't be successful because his parents were not given the privilege to study.

"Nung elementary po, 'yung mga bata na nagsasabi na wala kayong maabot sa buhay dahil walang pinagaralan mga magulang ko. Yung mama ko, walang pinagaralan, yung papa ko grade 1 lang po," he shared.

Otit saw the possibility of achieving more, when he reached high school. "From last section hanggang grumaduate po ako na naging top 7 po ng 300 high school, dahil po sa mga taong tumulong sa kin."

He studied nursing and practiced his profession for five years before he went back to his tribe, where he saw what people needed. 

"After po ng 5 years na nagne-nurse ako, bumalik ako sa tribo namin. Nakita ko po yung pangangailan ng tao ko," he narrated.

"Nung nagtrabaho na po ako sa ospital, makikita mo po yung mga pasyente mo na ikaw lang nakakausap sa kanila, masaya sila na naiintindihan ka nila yun po yung nagtulak sa kin. Na Lord di ko po to kaya pero magdodoktor po ako," he continued.

Otit said he recently finished a degree in medicine in De La Salle College of Medicine.

"Kahit tatlong ilog po yung lalakbayin ko, na kahit po tatlong araw lang ako nag-aaral nung elementary tatapusin ko po ito dahil gusto ko pong patunuyan na mali kayo sa panatag niyo sa magulang ko," he said.

"Bawal Judgemental" trended on Philippine Twitter after they guested indigenous people who shared their stories during the segment. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/LA, GMA News