WARNING: This post is written with the intention TO INSPIRE TAWI-TAWIANS in today’s generation. The author listed some youth hails from Bongao municipality of this province who excelled academically and in their chosen field of interests. Most of them in the list are board exam topnotchers and had proven competence not only in the Philippines but in abroad as well.

This list is in random order. You can nominate/suggest through my email-address heijay41@gmail.com if you know some.

1.       DR. ALRADJID J. JAMIRI, MD AND SIBLINGS

DR. ALRADJID J. JAMIRI graduated both his elementary and secondary as class valediction in MSU-TCTO-CDC Laboratory Elementary School and MSU-TCTO Science High School. He took his BS Biology and Doctor of Medicine at the University of the Philippines in Manila. He topped (Top-1) the Board Exam for Surgeon in 2012 and he is currently working at the UP – Government Hospital. His younger sisters are also following his footsteps.

FAUZIA J. JAMIRI, MD, MPH graduated both her elementary and secondary as first-honorable mentioned in MSU-TCTO-CDC Laboratory Elementary School (2002) and MSU-TCTO Science High School (2006). She took her BS Biology at the University of the Philippines – Mindanao (2010). While her Doctor of Medicine (2014) and Master of Public Health (2015) at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University. She’ll be taking the physician licensure examination soon.

ROJANNA J. JAMIRI, RN graduated her elementary as first-honorable mentioned in MSU-TCTO-CDC Laboratory Elementary School (2004) and her secondary as class salutatorian in MSU-TCTO Science High School (2008). She was an exchange student at Nothern Illinois Univeristy during her high school days. She took her BS Nursing at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University and graduated with honors – cum laude in 2012. She’s currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine at De La Salle University as full scholar.

2.       DR. AR-RAYAN A. ANUDDIN, RN, MD, MPH

Graduated his secondary education as Class Salutatorian at MSU-TCTO Science High School, the best high school in the province of Tawi-Tawi. He took his BS Nursing (2009), Doctor of Medicine (2013) and Master of Public Health (2014) at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University. He was the Top-6 of the Physician Licensure Examination in February 2015.

3.       DAYANG-DAYANG KHADIJA J. BAGUINDA

The class valedictorian of the Datu Halun Laboratory School both in kindergarten (1996) and elementary (2002). She was also the class valedictorian of MSU-TCTO Science High School (2006). She took her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at MSU Tawi-Tawi and graduated as Magna Cum Laude and Class Marshall (2010). She was awarded as the most outstanding student among the graduating class of 2010. She also received the university leadership award for being the SSC President in MSU Tawi-Tawi and Student Regent in MSU System as well. She pursued her Bachelor of Laws at the MSU Main Campus in Marawi City and graduated as Class Salutatorian last March 2015.

4.       YASHIER U. JUMAH
5.    DENZY-ROSE TANGKUSAN, RN

A girl with versatile talent who loves to sing and dance, Denzy was the class valedictorian of the Notre Dame of Bongao – Elementary Department (2003) and MSU-TCTO Science High School (2007). She was a Math Olympiad Champion during high school. She took her BS Nursing at the University of the Philippines in Manila. At present, she’s pursing her Doctor of Medicine in the same university.

6.       FATIMA JASMEEN ALIH, RN

The class valedictorian of MSU-TCTO CDC Laboratory Elementary School in 2003. She was an alumna of the Kennedy Lugar – Youth Exchange Study (KL-YES). KL-YES is a one-year cultural exchange study program in the USA that’s why she had to extend her studies in high school for one year. Like the other mentioned above, she’s also from MSU-TCTO Science High and graduated with honors in 2008. Jasmeen took her BS Nursing at Mindanao State University – Main Campus (Marawi City) and graduated with honors in 2012. Currently, she’s practising her profession in one of the hospitals in Manila.

7.       ATTY. MOHAMMAD JAMALUL J. GIDUCOS

Atty. Giducos obtained his elementary education from Datu Halun Laboratory School and graduated as second-honorable mentioned in 2002. In 2006, he graduated also as second-honorable mentioned at MSU-TCTO Preparatory High School. A multi-talented singer and essayist of the Batch. He took his Bachelor of Arts in English at MSU Tawi-Tawi for only 7 semesters (3 and half years) and graduated with honors – cum laude in 2010. He was also a recipient of college leadership awardee of the College of Arts and Sciences. He took his Bachelor of Laws (2014) at the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City and recently passed the BAR Exam (take one). He’s currently practicing his profession as lawyer in Metro Manila.

8.       OMAR BROTHERS

MIDZWAN H. OMAR

Graduated as first-honorable mentioned at MSU-TCTO Preparatory High School in 2011. He was one of the top students in the Philippine Military Academy in 2015. His performance in college entrance exams in different top universities in the Philippines was also a very commendable.

MADZFAR H. OMAR

Also honed from MSU-TCTO CDC Laboratory School and graduated as class salutatorian at MSU-TCTO Science High School in 2013. Currently, he’s studying at Philippine Military Academy. Madzfar was the only PNPA passer in Tawi-Tawi during his time.

9.       DR. NORSMA S. VILLACARLOS

An alumna of MSU-TCTO CDC Laboratory Elementary School, MSU-TCTO High School and Manila Central University (MCU). She graduated at the top of her class at MCU. Recently, she topped (Top-10) the Optometrist Board Examination in 2015.

10.       MARK LUMABAS

An outstanding alumnus of Notre Dame of Bongao from Kindergarten, Elementary and High School and graduated all of them as Class Valedictorian. Obtaining a score of 133, he was the Tawi-Tawi’s Top-1 in the MSU System Admission and Scholarship Examination (SASE) and the only Tawi-Tawian in the Top-20 in MSU System-Wide. Mark was a blue eagle scholar at the Ateneo De Zamboanga University and graduated as cum laude in 2010 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.

11.   AL-KHAIZER H. IBRAHIM

Graduated his Islamic Education in Bongao from kindergarten, elementary and high school and he finished all of them as class valedictorian. He also graduated with honors at Datu Halun Laboratory School in 2003. He pursued his secondary education at MSU-TCTO Science High School (2007) as academic scholar. He then took his BS Computer Science at MSU Tawi-Tawi and graduated with as college leadership awardee. He obtained his certificate in local government management from Hiroshima University in Japan last February 2015. In March 2015, he received his certificate his government management in MSU Tawi-Tawi. Currently, he’s a graduating student leading to the degree of Master in Public Administration major in Public Fiscal Administration in the same university. At present, he’s a college instructor at the Mahardika Institute of Technology Inc. in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

12.   KAI DARUL, CPA

Last but not the least, KAI DARUL, CPA the owner of the first muslim fashion blog in the Philippines www.lilpink.info and the first hijabi magazine in the country www.hijabimag.com. Kai, excelled not only in western but in Islamic Education too. If there’s a girl who performed well in entrance exams in the universities she applied for college during her senior year in high school it’s probably Kai. She was the Top-5 in the WMSU College Entrance Test in Zamboanga City, Top-19 (Nationwide) of MSU System Admission and Scholarship Examination and UPCAT qualifier at the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Kai graduated as class valedictorian in kindergarten at MSU-TCTO CDC Laboratory School (1998). And Class Salutarorian in elementary in the same school (2004). Though she passed at the Philippine Science High School – Central Mindanao (Tubod), she pursued her secondary education at the MSU-TCTO Preparatory High School, the beloved alma mater of her parents. In 2008, she graduated as the class valedictorian of her batch and garnered more than 20 awards. During her high school days, she was the Best Speller of MSU Tawi-Tawi defeating other contestants of MSU Tawi-Tawi High Schools and Colleges. She took her BS Accountancy at MSU Iligan Institute of Technology. She was also the undefeated essayist of Iligan City. In addition she also made it to the dean's list and a recipient of Academic Leadership Award in college. She passed the CPA Board Exam in 2013. She obtained her certificate in local government management from Hiroshima University in Japan last February 2015. She’s currently working at MSU Tawi-Tawi as an internal auditor, part-time blogger and a freelance news writer online.