MANILA, Philippines – He once lifted steel and gravel under the heat of survival, and today Nadzer Casan Abbas stands as a testament to perseverance, proving that faith and sacrifice still matter.
Before topping the October 2025 Foresters Licensure Examination (FLE), Abbas grew up in poverty in Davao City, facing the weight of responsibility and hunger from an early age.
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| Photo courtesy: Nadzer Abbas |
He recalled, “Our family was always struggling, especially when our house was washed out by a flood; we had to live in a church for a year before we could move back home.”
Abbas exclusively shared his inspiring journey with The Summit Express, recounting how every struggle shaped his path to the top.
“During my elementary days, we barely ate three times a day,” he said, “but Alhamdulillah, there was always relief.”
As a child, he sold fruits and paper bags in the palengke, determined to help his parents keep the family standing.
In high school, he worked as a kargador, crate maker, and laborer, jobs that shaped resilience more than comfort ever could.
“I did all of that to survive,” Abbas shared, reflecting on hardships most children are never meant to face.
College at the University of Mindanao (UM) brought new struggles as finances remained his biggest obstacle.
“Forestry was not my first choice,” he admitted, “but I was inspired by Gina Lopez and her love for environmental conservation.”
With limited resources, he relied on student assistance while balancing academics and survival.
The pandemic forced him to stop school for a year, during which he worked full-time as a construction steelman.
“That time almost broke me,” he said, “but it also gave me strength.”
When he resumed his studies, he attended online classes during break times, proving persistence does not pause even on job sites.
After restrictions eased, he worked as a product sampling assistant and mascot, traveling across Mindanao to make ends meet.
His attempt to enter the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) was bittersweet—he passed the entrance exam and the physical exam, but did not succeed in the next phase.
“That was Allah’s plan,” Abbas said, choosing to fully commit to Forestry.
He sustained himself through art commissions and family support, slowly rebuilding confidence and purpose.
For months, he reviewed relentlessly, reading up to 500 questions daily despite exhaustion and doubt.
“There were days I lost motivation,” he admitted, “but prayer always brought me back.”
When results were released, Abbas was praying at a mosque as his father rushed to deliver the news.
“I ran home crying and hugged my mother,” he recalled, still shaken by the moment.
Now a university instructor, Abbas aims to support his family, pursue graduate studies, and serve the environment.
“Surely, with hardship comes ease,” he lives by, turning sacrifice into a story of triumph.
— The Summit Express