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.