2 Cebu grads in Bar top 10

CEBU, Philippines - When she was a girl her father asked her to be a lawyer. Now 25, Athena Plaza did not disappoint, not just becoming a lawyer but also getting the second highest score in the 2015 Bar Examinations.

Plaza, a Law graduate of the University of San Carlos, clinched the second spot with 87.25 percent average, second only to Rachel Angeli Miranda of the University of the Philippines who got 87.40 percent.

Plaza is joined in the top 10 by Jecca Jacildo, also from USC, who earned the 8th spot with 86.85 percent.

The two Cebu graduates were among the only 1,731 of the 6,605 who took the exam last year. The passing rate remained unadjusted at 75 percent.

Plaza was eating in her house in Guadalupe, Cebu City, when USC College of Law Dean Joan Largo called her to tell her she took the second spot. She then went to her school where she received hugs from her professors and gave the media an interview.

“I did not know that there were already these posts in Facebook because I deactivated my account… Thankful kaayo ko ni Lord gi-grant niya akong wish,” she said.

She said she was already preparing for the Bar long before she graduated and actually aimed to grab a spot in the top ten. She added that she found the exam difficult especially Remedial Law.

“During my summer before fourth year, I already planned for it, read some tips. So I think you should plan way ahead. Right after graduation, I gave myself a few days to relax then I started the review and I reviewed every day,” she said.

She also said she had to miss out on recreational activities like hanging out with friends and watching movies.

“You can do these things once you become a lawyer…You don’t sacrifice, you just prioritize. You know the things that are valuable to you in the long term,” she said.

Once she takes oath and signs the Roll of Attorneys, Plaza said she will explore various fields before choosing what to specialize.

Plaza is the only child of Wilfredo, a retired policeman, and Encarnacion, a public school teacher. She graduated as cum laude in Law school. She took up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Legal Management as her pre-Law degree also at USC, where she graduated as Summa Cum Laude.

Largo said Athena’s achievement is the highest so far in the history of the USC College of Law. Before her, the highest a USC graduate got in the Bar was third place. That graduate was former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia who scored 91.5 percent in 1951.

“Athena is really an epitome of ‘excellence is a virtue’, grounded, humble, everything good, never bratty, very disciplined. She is really the embodiment of everything of USC,” Largo said.

Of the 64 Bar takers from USC, only 52 or 81.25 percent made the cut.

A pleasant surprise

For an employee of The FREEMAN, it was “sweeter the second time around.”

 The FREEMAN’s lifestyle editorial assistant Sarah Jane Nengasca surprised her officemates after it was revealed she was among the 2015 Bar passers.

Nengasca admitted she kept her barrister profile low and preferred not to share with colleagues that she took last year’s exam for fear that she might fail again.

“Dili man always imohang plano, iyaha (God) g’yud. Di man pang-MMK akong life so feel nako mao siguro gibagsak ko pero di ra man just now nga mabagsak ka. Ang mind ra gyud nimo ang magdala kon as aka padung,” she said.

Nengasca and Jacildo were classmates at the University of the Philippines. Both graduated in 2010 with the degree of Mass Communication. Jacildo was not available for an interview yesterday.

Nengasca immediately pursued Law at the University of San Carlos and graduated in 2014.

During her Law school years, Nengasca worked in the Mandaue City Hall and rushed to her classes after her shift. She shared she barely got five hours of sleep since she would start studying upon reaching home and finish by dawn. 

She said she would spend most of her time reading and going on study groups instead of just surfing the Internet, adding she is not fond of social media.

Nengasca said while she personally chose to become a lawyer, she was even more motivated to pursue her father’s dream.

Dr. Rosante Nengasca, who is a graduate school professor at Southwestern University, also flunked the Bar exam ten years ago. 

“Wa man ko na-pressure ni papa kay mao ni iyang pangarap. Ako man pud ‘ning choice. Malingaw ra man pud ko og study,” Nengasca said, adding she is even thankful since her father motivated her all the way by teaching and helping with her assignments.

Nengasca prepared for the 2015 Bar by reviewing online while staying with her mother, Dr. Leonora Nengasca, who is a public school teacher in Tabuelan.

Before the Bar results came in, Nengasca went to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño to ease her anxiety, but on her way to the office she started to feel more anxious.

She scrolled down the list of passers and thought she had failed again, but when she checked again she saw her name in the list and felt relieved. She immediately wanted to call her parents about the good news.

Nengasca said the 2015 Bar exam was as difficult as it was two years ago but she prefers last year’s essay-type examination since  they could freely explain their answers compared to the 2014 Bar exams where they were given multiple-choice and essay questions.

After passing the Bar, Sarah said she will choose between labor or prosecution. Rosante said he will support whatever she chooses, but admitted he prefers she choose prosecution.

While Nengasca has not made a choice yet, she prefers to stay in the media and continue to write for the meantime.

Nengasca said her younger brother may also soon follow her footsteps and study Law. Her father, on the other hand, says he may still consider taking the Bar exam again. —/BRP (FREEMAN)