The imprint of a lawyer in eight passwords – Part 2

In my column piece last Tuesday, we delved into the first three passwords Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa used during the 2022 Bar examinations. The examinees used these passwords to access their offline exams, delivered at the venue just minutes before the start, with each password offering a profound insight into the ideals of the legal profession.

Today, let me continue with the remaining five passwords revealed by Justice Caguioa in his speech during the oath-taking ceremony for new lawyers at the Philippine International Convention Center last May 2.

For the Commercial Law subject in the afternoon of the second day of the exams, Justice Caguioa chose "This is me" from the biographical musical drama of the story of P.T. Barnum, "The Greatest Showman." P.T. Barnum rose to fame with his circus, showing how imagination plays such a big part in one’s success. “The story showcases the diversity of humanity on so many levels, a diversity that is now embraced by today's world.”

Justice Caguioa selected the password intentionally to inspire aspiring lawyers to embrace their authenticity, use their imagination, and draw on their lived experiences. He emphasized that this approach would not only highlight their individuality but also foster imaginative, outside-the-box thinking, a critical component for success in the legal field.

On the third day during the morning exam of Civil Law 1, the password was "Dream the Impossible Dream." Borrowed from the musical "Man of La Mancha," this message encapsulates the spirit of lawyering. Justice Caguioa envisions lawyers embodying the spirit of Don Quixote, the knight-errant who seeks to right wrongs and fight for the helpless. The legal profession requires the courage to dream, to fight unbeatable foes, and to bear unbearable sorrows. Like Don Quixote, lawyers are tasked with seeing life not as it is, but as it should be.

The password for the afternoon exam of the third day was "One Day More" from "Les Misérables." “Of course the direct message of that password was, isang araw na lang at tapos na ang Bar examinations,” said Justice Caguioa. “But on a deeper level, ‘One Day More’ is an expression of hope for things to change for everyone.” Beyond merely surviving the Bar, this phrase encourages new lawyers to effect positive change in the world.

The underlying theme of "Les Misérables," the multifaceted nature of love, should be the cornerstone of a lawyer’s career --love of country, fellow humans, the rule of law, and God. Justice Caguioa said: “In the case of Eponine for Marius it was unrequited; of Fantine for Cosette, it was maternal love. Fatherly love of Jean Valjean for Cosette. The romantic love of Cosette and Marius. For Javert, unyielding and passionate love of the law. For Enjolras, love of country. And finally for Jean Valjean, love for God.”

On the fourth and last day of the 2022 Bar exams, the morning password in Remedial Law 1 was "I have fought the good fight," a reference to Timothy 4:7. It captures the rigorous road to lawyering, a battle and a chase demanding unyielding faith. “Indeed, the study of law is a fight, it is a race. And that you have kept the faith now sees you today, about to take your oath as lawyers,” Justice Caguioa told his audience.

The concluding password, chosen for the final Remedial Law 2 exam, was "Thy will be done," a passage taken from Matthew 6:10. It humbly acknowledges that after all the hard work and dedication, the final outcome is ultimately in God's hands.

These eight passwords, carefully chosen by Justice Caguioa, form what he calls "the imprint of a lawyer," signifying a delicate medley of virtues and skills that a good lawyer should strive to possess. A good lawyer should be a critical thinker, an articulate advocate, and an authentic individual. “As well, their courage must be so fueled by love, of country, of the law, of others. That their resolve to fight on becomes unshakable, with their conviction running deep, but their love and compassion running deeper still,” Justice Caguioa said.

But at the heart of their work, lawyers should remember that there “truly are heavenly proportions to the toil that that we do on this side of life,” and thus submit to the divine will. “A good lawyer in the truest sense of the word, I hope you will remember these passwords and the meanings behind them,” Justice Caguioa said.