Women power: A closer look at women bar passers
by Leony R. Garcia
Eleanor Roosevelt is right when she said that “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
The 2014 women bar passers exemplify this characteristic of today’s strong and determined woman.
Kate Reymundo was shot in the face and was recovering from the gunshot wound while reviewing for the bar exam.
Ateneo Law School graduate Katrina Veronica “Kate” Raymundo was reviewing for what is believed to be the toughest among licensure examinations while she was recovering from a gunshot wound that could’ve permanently maimed or killed her.
Raymundo made headlines last year when was shot in the face on May 13 in a carnapping attempt in Makati City.
In an interview with The Palladium, Ateneo Law School’s official publication, Raymundo said at 3:20 p.m. on that day, she and her boyfriend parked at the corner of Bautista Street and Buendia right across a bank to withdraw. She said she remained in the car while her boyfriend went to the bank.
It was then that she noticed a man circling the vehicle.
“I didn’t really mind him until he tried to open [the door],” Raymundo told The Palladium.
To attract the attention of people outside, Raymundo honked the car’s horn. But instead of running, the stranger pulled out a gun.
“I just bent my head downwards facing my seat because I already knew what was going to happen next,” she said, adding these all happened “in less than about five seconds.”
Good thing her boyfriend had rushed her to the hospital where they learned that she was hit on her right cheek. For that gunshot, Raymundo suffered a smashed cheekbone and eye orbital floor, a fractured jaw and C1 vertebrae, and a destroyed nasopharynx.
Even with these injuries Raymundo said she went on reviewing.
“I am not going to let this incident alter my plans completely. I might be reading slower, there may be days I can’t read because of the pain, but I will be taking the Bar this year. I will give it everything I’ve got,” she told herself.
Today, Raymundo has fully recovered after various medical procedures and operations. And her biggest feat so far is passing the bar exam.
“All I can say is that since then, I don’t ask for anything. I’m just thankful. I became a believer in miracles and it strengthened my faith,” she said.
Michelle Liao resigned from her work to focus on reviewing for the Bar exams but was not able to finish the exam.
Cebu’s topnotcher, on the other hand, was just hopeful she would pass the Bar exams because she was not able to finish the entire test.
That’s why, Michelle “Mishi” Liao, 32, was surprised when she learned she placed 5th on the exams.
The new lawyer said she credited “prayers” for her success. “No matter how hard you try to kill yourself over work, if you do not know how to ask and pray, nothing will happen,” she said.
Liao, the first female topnotcher for University of Cebu, is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and was given a brand new car by the school.
In a radio interview in Cebu, Liao advised future Bar exam takers to learn how to manage time and to balance studying and take a good rest.
Sandra Magalang was born cross-eyed and poor but went on to become Salutatorian of UP Law, 2014
Two decades ago, Health Secretary Juan Flavier launched Oplan Sagip Mata, a program to help save and correct the eyesight of poor, vision-impaired Filipinos which touched the lives of tens of thousands of anonymous children.
Twenty years later, one of the nameless beneficiaries of the sight-saving program is in the limelight as the Top 3 finisher in the 2014 Bar Exams.
Sandra Magalang was also a product of UP’s National College of Public Administration and Governance – in fact the first summa cum laude of UP-NCPAG.
In November last year, Magalang caught the attention of Flavier’s family, during the late secretary’s wake.
Magalang left a note for the family. Her letter written in the guest book itself, said it all:
To the family and loved ones of Dr. Flavier.
I apologize for writing at the back of this guest list, but this is the only way I can think of to convey my gratitude to your family and to Dr. Flavier.
My life was changed by his Oplan Sagip Mata almost 20 years ago, and thanks to this great man I was able to live differently despite being born cross-eyed and poor.
Without him, I could not have achieved the honors I have achieved, and his health programs have helped me reach places I never thought I would. I even graduated summa cum laude from this university, and this is all thanks to your great father/grandfather/loved one.
Thank you, and my deepest condolences.
Sincerely,
Sandra Magalang, UP Diliman 2010, 2014
2014 Bar exams topnotcher Irene Mae Alcobilla of San Beda College said that all she had hoped for was simply to pass the exam.
“Sobrang hirap po ng exam. Pero sinabi ko na lang na nakasagot naman ako doon. May sense naman ang sagot ko e, sabi ko papasa na ako doon, parang ganoon,” she said.
But when the results were finally out, and her name announced as this year’s topnotcher among the 1,126 who passed, the San Beda College of Law graduate could hardly believe it.
She said: “Sobrang nagulat po talaga ako kasi hindi naman po kasi ako ganun kagaling.”
A graduate of political science from West Visayas State University, Alcobilla added that she was overjoyed once the news sank in.
A day before the results of bar exams, Alcobilla posted on her Facebook account: “I declare that tomorrow, my dream will come true in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Alcobilla is one of the 3 San Beda graduates who made it to the top 10. The last time San Beda produced a topnotcher was in 2009 – courtesy of Reineir Paul Yebra.
Like Raymundo, Liao, Magalang and Alcobilla, Eleonor Roosevelt had surpassed tremendous trials. Her parents both died when she was just 10 years old and she was sent to school in England all by herself when she was a teenager.
Years later, she went on to become a revolutionary first lady, one of the most outspoken women to live in the White House.
When her husband Franklin became president of the United States of America in 1933, she dramatically changed the role of the first lady. Not content to stay in the background and handle domestic matters, she showed the world that the first lady was an important part of American politics.
She’s acknowledged to be a great humanitarian who dedicated much of her life to fighting for political and social change.
