God and the Bar Part III

I never planned to take the Bar after graduation. I was afraid to take a risk. I was afraid of the idea that if I could not pass Taxation in Law School, the more probable it would be that I could not pass the Bar. If I could not answer the question raised by a lawyer from the province, the more probable that I could not answer the question raised by a Bar examiner who is an expert of the law. I was already satisfied to finish what I started. 

One time, Fr. Jenstor Sioco, the parish priest of San Raphael the Archangel Parish in Balete, Aklan, asked me why I did not take the Bar. I told him that no one would take care of my parish if ever I would decide to take the Bar. Surprisingly, he offered himself to take care of my parish in my absence. In another time, Alan Pelayo texted me to take the Bar as he was reviewing at UPLC. He even offered his help to enrol me for the Review Class at UPLC. I could not forget what he told me; as if he was saying that the Bar is like a game of chance and we will never know if we can pass it unless we take the Bar Exam. I took all these events as signs from God that I should take the Bar in 2015. 

Immediately, I called for a meeting with all the parish ministers. After a lengthy discussion with them, the whole year activities of the parish were finalized for our parish calendar. The arrangement was to allow me to take my Review Class in Iloilo during weekend while I should be in the parish during weekdays. The Parish Pastoral Council headed by Sir Pedro De Juan Jr. was designated to supervise all the parish activities and schedules. The Parish Administrative Council headed by Shirly Briones was tasked to finish all the projects and beautification of the parish. The Parish Finance Council headed by Maam Tessie Dionisio was assigned to secure our Mass Collections and to pay for some expected expenses of the parish. Nay Laring and Maam Cynthia were assigned to take care of the needs of the priest. When it seemed that the parish was ready for this setup, it was the time that I asked permission from the bishop. Bishop Cor granted my request without hesitation. He then asked me where should I take my review. It was Fr. Echegaray who said that I would take up my review class in UP. I immediately affirmed Fr. Echegaray's answer to the question of Bishop Cor. Then Bishop Cor advised me to focus on my review while he would see to it that the parish would be taken care of. Because of this supervening event, I needed to change plans. I texted Fr. Dodot Torres of the Diocese of Cubao to help me have a parish where I could stay while reviewing in UP. I also asked my brother Ruben to enrol me in UPLC. I asked Kuya Danny of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish to organize a team of lawyers who can help me understand every Bar Subject. I prepared all the documents I needed as well as all the Textbooks I used in the Law School. Everything was ready that after Holy Week I left for Manila via Ro-Ro. 

When I arrived in Manila, I stayed at Kuya Danny's home first while waiting for the call of the Guest Priest in-charge of the Diocese of Cubao for my application to stay in their diocese. And on the day that the priest in-charge called me to see him, I was so happy that the said priest was so welcoming and kind-hearted to a priest like me who was searching for a place to stay in the city. He actually assigned me in the parish within UP itself! I then went to meet the parish priest of the said parish who also gave me a warm welcome. I asked him if I could already stay on a Monday being the first day of our Review Class in UP, and he answered in the affirmative. Monday came, I brought all my stuff from Paranaque to the parish inside UP Diliman.  There were two men in the parish who brought me to a room downstairs. But I realized that the room was not ready for anybody to use it. So I called up my brother Ruben and I decided to stay with him in his home while I was enrolled in a Review Class at UP. 

God and the Bar Part II

One of my most unforgettable happy moments in Law School happened during our class in Negotiable Instruments. Our professor returned the papers of my classmates after our quiz. I was smiling at that time because our professor was disgusted with the result of the quiz as she returned my classmates' papers while I did not receive my paper back. I thought I passed the quiz. I never thought that after our class with her, I found my paper on the floor crumpled. I realized our professor could not read my answers because of my bad handwriting. Anyway, I got a passing grade on this subject after the semester. 

In 2012, I decided to stop my studies in Law School. I was assigned as a parish priest at San Lorenzo de Mla Parish in Camaligan, Batan, Aklan and I had to give up the Law School to shepherd the said parish. I saw how my classmates enjoyed their last year in Law School while I was struggling to be a good parish priest (as it was my first time to be a parish priest). Neverthless, I never regretted my decision because priesthood is my first vocation and I must be a priest to my parishioners. 

After a year, I went back to Law School to finish what I started. I made it sure that there was no conflict with my schedule in the parish and in the Law School. If ever there was a conflict, I made the parish my priority. The bad part of my experience in my return to Law School happened as I failed in our Final Exam on Taxation. Dan Tejada who was my classmate then and (is now a lawyer) informed me that I needed to take the "removal". I did take it but I knew I failed again. I said to myself, how could I know something about taxation because I never paid any income tax since I was born. I admit, Taxation as a subject was my greatest stumbling block before I finally graduated from the Law School in 2014.

God and the Bar Part I

I was grade six when Lola Mary, my mom and I went to Iloilo to meet uncle Tony Acevedo. We had to ask for my uncle's financial support as I was planning to enter the seminary after graduation. My mom, a widow could not afford to spend all her salary just for me, the youngest among her six little children. So, Lola Mary and mama advised her to seek uncle Tony's financial assistance. At uncle Tony's house in Iloilo, he initially asked me to choose between priesthood and the legal profession. I chose priesthood. Thirteen years later, I was ordained priest inspired by four signifcant persons in my life. 

During those times I was studying in the seminary, Mama, Lola Mary and my mom would always give me an option to take the legal profession if I would decide to leave the seminary. They would always tell me stories about Uncle Tony as a lawyer in the family. Though they inspired me to be a child like my uncle Tony, they had not awaken my interest to take the legal profession. I loved priesthood the most though this love for priesthood was tested many times by various circumstances and instances. It took a miracle that I was ordained priest in 2001.

Even when I was newly ordained as priest, my mom continued to encourage me to use my available time for studies. She would tell me that life is a continuous  learning process; that education does not stop as long as I want to learn. I listened and followed her motherly advise except for one i.e., to take the legal profession. I found out later that she once studied in law school but she never had the chance to finish her studies as she gave priority to her role as a wife to our father and as a mother to us their children. I also found out how uncle Tony influenced her to consider legal profession as a noble profession. Both of them, uncle Tony and my mom always wanted to have another lawyer in the family. It was their dream for the family but which I never dreamed for myself. Years had passed, being a lawyer had not occured into my mind until on one occasion when I visited Atty. Olen Gonzales in his home. He told me that I have to save a huge amount to pay for a lawyer. My family he said is engaged in politics and as a priest, I need a lawyer to defend my rights because I am not expected to speak something beyond the boundary of my vocation. I pondered upon his words but I took no action to hire any lawyer for my behalf. I believe I am blessed that Atty. Olen's son, Atty. Chris Gonzales who is now a fiscal in our province is a very dear friend of mine and he is always ready to help me in any legal battle as long as I have not done any wrong. Fiscal Chris and I have been good friends since we were in the minor seminary though he was one year senior to me. With his legal knowledge and expertise, I have been confident that he can set me free as he sets the truth free. 

But much to my surprise, Jhoanna Gonzales Guarin, the fiscal's sister and Atty. Olen's daughter, who happened to be my close friend invited me to join her in enrolling at Aklan Catholic College to take up Law. Without hesitation, I agreed. I took the entrance exam, passed the said exam and enrolled in Law School. It was my first day in Law School that I learned Jhoanna did not enroll. So, I planned to back out. But our professor in Civil Code and Perfam on that day reminded me of my seminary days as she was strict in handling our class. She asked us to stand up and recite the first few articles of the Civil Code. If one could not recite those articles, he or she would remain standing until the class ends. This is what we did in the seminary when we were in high school! This classroom experience awakened my interest to stay in Law School. I loved standing in the class with a smile every time I could not memorize, recite or answer the professor's question in Civil Code and Perfam. From this I learned to enjoy our class in Law School especially with the growing camaraderie within our batch.