JOEFFREY Mambucon, a Lumad, made history twice — being the first nurse in his tribe and later, the first to become a doctor.

His feat caught the attention of Vice President Leni Robredo, who lauded him for bringing pride to his tribe.

Mambucon, a member of the Tigwahanon-Manobo tribe, finished his nursing degree at the University of Mindanao in 2010 and became the first nurse of their tribe.

He worked as a nurse in the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in San Fernando until 2015.

He took a course in medicine at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite, and graduated in June 2020.

“Ang taong puno ng determinasyon at kumpyansa sa sarili, malayo ang mararating. Iyan ang pinatunayan ni Joeffrey Mambucon, isang Lumad mula sa Tigwahanon-Manobo tribe, at ang kauna-unahang miyembro ng kanilang tribo na nakapagtapos bilang Doctor of Medicine,” Robredo said.

“Maraming pagsubok ang hinarap ni Joeffrey mula pagkabata, kabilang dito ang kahirapan, at higit sa lahat, ang diskriminasyon dahil sa kanyang pagiging isang Lumad. Ngunit hindi niya ito hinayaang maging hadlang upang makamit ang kaniyang mga pangarap,” she added.

Mambucon said he wants to participate in the “Doctors to the Barrios Program” hoping that he would be assigned in his hometown to help his tribe.