USC Law reward system; Topnotchers to have lifetime scholars

CEBU, Philippines - As practiced, Bar topnotchers from the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City are given a chance to share to other people the kind of education and learning they have gained that have made them achieve what they have now.

Four USC topnotchers were rewarded with selecting a person who can avail of the institution’s scholarship program and, for a lifetime, can continue to nominate a scholar once he or she completes the degree.

“We have set in place years ago a reward system whereby a Bar topnotcher will be permitted to nominate a scholar and in turn this scholar will take up for free any of the programs offered by the university,” USC College of Law Dean Atty. Joan Largo told The FREEMAN yesterday.

“Then after that scholar finishes or gets the degree, the topnotcher can then nominate another one. In other words, for the rest of his life, the topnotcher can give that gift of education,” she further said.

While all the 70 examinees from USC passed the exam, four of them landed in the top ten highest spots.

They are Karen Mae Calam, who topped the November 2016 Bar exams; Fiona Cristy Lao, who landed third; Anne Margaret Momongan, in the seventh place; and Jefferson Gomez, in the eighth place.

This is the first for USC that one of its products bagged the first place in the most difficult examinations in the country.

She shared that the tuition paid by the topnotcher in her entire academic years will be refunded to him or her; and each will also be given a laptop that they can use in their profession.

The greatest reward that the university can give to the topnotchers, Largo pointed out, is permitting them “to give another person the gift of education” that they were able to receive from the institution.

But like any other school program, Largo said the nominee must maintain a “good scholastic standing.”

In the police force, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Deputy Chief of Investigation and Detective Management Branch Head Chief  Inspector Maria Theresa Macatangay was one of the three police personnel in Cebu who passed the recently concluded Bar exam.

“Well, from the very start I really want to become a lawyer gyud. That’s why even though I faced different challenges both in work and school, I really strive to finish law and eventually took the bar exam. I’m just very lucky to be one of the successful passers.  I’m very thankful for that,” she said.

Macatangay, who passed Bar on her first try, was a product of University of San Jose-Recoletos.

She said that her journey to become a lawyer was never easy, specifically that he’s serving her fellowmen and at the same time pursuing law school.

“We conducted raids in the morning, I do office works. In the evening, I attend classes.  After classes, I do raids because I want to get medals. Medals not to decorate sa akong uniform, but I’m after the corresponding number of leaves. So, if may medalyang papuri ka, you have 3 days leave, pagkasanayan 4 days. Then, kagalingan, 5 days. Then imagine I’ll be having 5 days of leave to cater for my midterms, finals and mock bar and so on,” she said.

Macatangay was also very thankful for the financial assistance that the Philippine National Police has given her during her studies.

As for her future plans now that she’s already an official lawyer, she said she will continue serving the PNP as her way of giving back for all the help that the organization has given to her.

“So I think it’s the right time to me to give back to the organization. To extend whatever help I can give because of the chance and opportunities it opened for me to become what I am right now,” she said.

CCPO Director Joel Doria, on the other hand, was very proud that one of his police officials passed the bar exam.

“Actually, studious naman talaga ang batang iyan. Magaling iyan. Probably siguro, baka gagawin ko siyang station commander para magamit din niya. Although iyung position niya ngayon, deputy siya ng investigation ay magagamit din naman niya of filing cases,” Doria said.

On the other hand, Danao City’s police chief, Gerard Ace Pelare, also passed the bar exam.

“Very happy sa blessing, inspire to do more as a police. I hope nga ang akong nahibaw-an sa balaod makatabang sa akong pagka pulis,” said Pelare.

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas believes that the recent result of Bar examinations where no one from Metro Manila schools made it in the top 10 would mean that these schools should remain humble.

“If I were Deans of the Colleges of Law in Ateneo, De La Salle, UP and the rest, I’d be very humble. It calls for humility kay kuan naman gud sila sobra na kaayo well proud na kaayo,” he said.

He added that probably there would be a 10 percent increase in the number of enrollees of all colleges in Law here in Cebu because of the achievement of the Cebu law schools.

This would probably trigger parents from Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Negros, Iloilo and other provinces in Mindanao who wants to send their children to law school would choose Cebu instead of Metro Manila.

After hearing the Bar exam results, he immediately congratulated Largo for their achievement.

He said that he was impressed with her humility for saying “they must have good college days.” — May B. Miasco, Ermida Q. Moradas, Iris Mariani B. Algabre (FREEMAN)