A member of the Mag-indi or Mag-antsi tribe, has made history as the first member of her tribe to pass the recent criminologist licensure examination. Hailing from Porac, Lady Anne Duya pursued her criminology degree at the Central Luzon College of Science and Technology.
Reflecting on her challenging journey, Duya shared in an ABS-CBN News report, “When they asked me how the exam went when I returned home, I told them I struggled immensely. I just cried and cried at that time.” She added, “I told them we’ll just wait for the results because even I doubted that I would pass.”
Duya, who received various accolades such as the most outstanding criminology intern, service awardee, and best in thesis, graduated in July 2023. She attributed her success to her determination and the support she received as a scholar from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Pampanga and the provincial government.
Expressing her gratitude, Duya said, “Thank you very much to the scholarship program for indigenous people like us who cannot fully support our education… thank you for not losing hope in giving us the opportunity to dream and study.” She emphasized the importance of perseverance, saying, “So let’s not lose hope in dreaming because we are not just women or Aetas, but we are also individuals capable of achieving our dreams.”
Currently, Duya is deliberating on which agency to enter for her profession. She continues to take pride in her indigenous heritage.
