Tineg, Abra produces its second summa cum laude

Just two days after celebrating its first-ever summa cum laude, the town of Tineg, Abra, once again beams with pride as it has just produced another summa cum laude who also belongs to the itneg tribe.

At 25 years old, Abdul Salam B. Amerol of Barangay Cogon, Tineg has carved his name in the academic records of Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) degree. 

On July 3, 2025, Abdul was recognized during the university’s 21st commencement exercises held at the NVSU Gymnasium in Bayombong. Not only did he earn the highest Latin honor, but he was also named BSCS class valedictorian. 

Abdul’s achievement comes with hurdles but continued to push through

Behind his success, Abdul said he faced various hindrances along the way. One of those hurdles was coming from a broken family. 

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Abdul shared he was raised only by his mother, and their family's source of income was selling fruit and snacks. Being a vendor, her mother did all she could to support his education.

For said reason,   he candidly called his summa cum laude journey a “plot twist”.

“I come from a broken family, and my mother is a fruit vendor, minsan snacks. And as for receiving the Latin award, plot twist yung pagiging summa,” he said. 

The Itneg lad further revealed that one of his supporters is his girlfriend, along with grit and kapeng barako, which were crucial to his academic feat despite the enduring financial difficulties. 

“…..si mama, si bebikeyks, pure solid grit and kapeng barako. On the challenges—the same typical student challenges and academic pressures, with financial limitations being the most persistent challenge along the way,” he added.  

As for his plans, now that he has graduated, he expressed interest in mission-driven work that fosters technical growth or perhaps serving in the public or education sectors. 

Advice to fellow Latin awardees

As for his fellow summa cum laudes, Abdul urged them to keep pushing in their job search, choose what brings them happiness, and pursue purpose rather than status. 

“To my fellow Latin awardees, shatawt sainyo, gora lang sa paghahanap ng work; kung saan kayo masaya, dun tayo. As for the aspiring Latin awardees, ‘Don’t chase the title; chase the purpose’,” he concluded.  

Tineg’s first-ever summa cum laude is John Valencia Lalugan. The 23-year-old is one of the graduates of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Saint Louis University in Baguio City this year, receiving the highest honor during the graduation ceremony on July 1, 2025.