After five years of law school while working as a janitor and eventually, a clerk at the Commission on Elections office, 35-year-old Ramil Comendador is now officially a lawyer.
His success story recently went viral when he was named one of the 3,747 passers of the 2016 Bar examinations. Ramil, who hails from Bicol, shared in an interview with News 5 how he had to work hard, sacrificing being with his wife and two toddlers in order to achieve his dreams.
“Kailangan kong tiisin malayo sa mga anak ko,” he lamented. “Para sa isang ama sobrang hirap po nun.”
What kept him going was his determination “to break the cycle of poverty in their family.”
“Nakita ko yung hirap ng pamilya ko, kaya nilaban ko talaga ang buhay ko. Sa totoo lang po, ultimo damit po hindi po ako bumibili, makapag-tuition lang,” Ramil told Rappler.
He also found inspiration in fulfilling another dream, which was to see his own father, who he never met.
In the same interview, he confessed that he would stay within the Supreme Court’s premises hoping to be interviewed just so his father could see him and want to finally meet him now that he’s a lawyer.
photo: Facebook
When he found out he passed, he screamed for joy. Tearfully, he told reporters present outside the Supreme Court a message for Filipinos.
“Gusto ko lang pong sabihin sa kanila na kaya po nating putulin ang cycle ng kahirapan, magsumikap lang. Huwag isiping mahirap, sige lang at kumapit sa panginoon.”
He also dedicated a message to his two daughters, both of whom are with their mom in Bicol.
“Anak, sabi ko magpray ka lang kay Jesus, ibibigay niya lahat. Maraming salamat anak. Bigyan ko muna ng time anak ko, miss na miss ko na sila, nasa Bicol sila.”
Well wishes poured in online, lauding Ramil for his great accomplishment. One of them was Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista commended Ramil: “Congratulations Atty Ramil Comendador for passing the bar exam and for proving that work designation is not a hindrance to one’s desire to quench the thirst for knowledge and to eventually reach their dreams. You are a source of pride and inspiration, not just to your Comelec family but to all those who dare to dream.”
Congratulations, Attorney Ramil! You are an inpsiration to us all!
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