A tinigol, a hand-rolled cigarette made from dried lomboy leaves, means a lot to this 2025 Summa cum Laude graduate of Silliman University, Dyann Tubio from Dauin, Negros Oriental.
Lomboy is the traditional leaf used for smoking tobacco cigarettes in Southern Philippines. Her mother, known to her suki in the public market as Manang Helen, supported her from grade school to college through her income from selling tinigol.
Her father, Manong Roque, is equally hardworking as a farmer, and had been the family’s anchor to their daily needs.
Dyann said she is thankful, and proud of her parents: “My mother would walk through the kalomboyan everyday to gather leaves to be rolled into cigarettes, and my father would climb coconut trees every copra harvest season.”
She recalled, “There were a lot of times when we had to borrow money just so I could go to school. This was usually the means whenever the delivery of my scholarship allowance was delayed.”
“But I never thought of quitting because my parents’ humble life taught me to believe there will always be a way to survive” the challenges, Dyann said.
“My inspiration is my family, especially my parents. I want to succeed in life to be able to give them a better life someday,” she said.
Dyann had been a consistent honor student, and her mathematical ability would always give her “first honor” citations every school year, since grade school.
Her mathematical ability also gave her a scholarship at Dauin Science High School where she graduated as class valedictorian.
The public school wizard chose Mathematics as her major in college. Her love for Mathematics is deeply-rooted: “I was still young when I knew I had fallen in love with Math. It is also the subject in school where I excel the most,” having participated in various math competitions.
Dyann did consider other courses like Nursing and MedTech, but she did not see herself finding joy in those professions. She was the happiest when she learned that Math is one of the priority courses of the Department of Science & Technology Scholarship program. And knowing that there is a degree program in Mathematics at Silliman University, her “dream school”, it became the biggest factor in eventually majoring in Math in college.
From then on, there was no point of regret as she was so inspired by her college professors, Dr. Rhea Rheem Muarip-Bolodo, and Dr. Jenette Bantug.
“Ma’am Rhea and Ma’am Jenette truly inspired me. As our Department Chairperson, Ma’am Rhea has been supportive of us, and I have also been inspired by the way she balanced her academic, professional, and personal life,” Dyann said, adding that Dr. Bantug inspired her with a “lot of life lessons, and I could relate to her stories when she was still studying as a college student.”
College was challenging for a student like Dyann who comes from a humble home. But God sent an angel, her Tita Mathy Alam (Martina Lagat) who works in London, and who has been a “huge help” with all the other school payments beyond tuition.
The DOST scholarship covered only P20,000 every semester. Other fees were covered by Dyann’s other regular source: “I also did part- time math tutoring to augment my allowance.”
Our summa cum laude graduate is now looking forward to a career in the academe: “Teaching is one of the career paths I am considering,” said Dyann, who said she plans to pursue a master’s degree to be able to teach in higher education.
“If I am qualified [to teach] with my professional Education units, I would love to get into teaching as soon as possible,” Dyann said.
She’s also on the look-out for a more stable financial source, as she prepares to take the Licensure Examinations for Teachers.
Dyann’s humble presence may not have been felt by many in campus, even her name did not sound familiar; but when ‘Dyann Tubio’ was announced as Silliman’s summa cum laude this year, everyone loudly applauded as it came as a big surprise.
Dyann Tubio had always been working humbly like a silent river, and finally, she has reached the ocean with a big harvest of glory.
Dyann Tubio’s message to Filipino young students who continue to struggle due to poverty: “Whatever challenges and circumstances you may be fac, do not lose faith and courage. It is okay to struggle because it helps us grow. What matters is that we keep going, at our own pace. Remember where you once started, think about your purpose, and stay focused on your goals.”
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Author’s email: karlmike@yahoo.com
