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Monday, May 8, 2017
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ILOILO City – Perhaps there are no other people at city hall happier than the three legislative staff in the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) who passing the recent 2016 Philippine Bar examinations.
Atty. Doni June Almio, Atty. Christian Oberio and Atty. Frances Grace Parcon have been working at the SP while waiting for the Bar results. They are set to take their oaths on May 22.
What comes next for them?
They said they will continue serving the city government and provide assistance to people who need their services.
“I have yet to decide what I am going to do after the oath-taking but one thing is sure and that is I will personally come back here and continue to work,” said 25-year-old Almio.
Together with Oberio and another Bar passer, Atty. Jose Ray Vencer, they work as consultants of Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda.
Other passers are Atty. Jhanrey Gonzaga and Atty. Love Faith Hayco assigned at the City Legal Office and Atty. Johnna Tronco-Catilo of the Local Economic Enterprise Office.
Almio took his Law degree at the University of San Agustin. He was elected president of the College of Law Student Council when he was in third year.
When asked what motivated him, Almio looked back to a play when he was in high school.
“I acted as a lawyer and my role was to defend an old man who was killed. From there, I was inspired to be a lawyer,” said Almio.
An only child, Almio said his family is very supportive of him. His father died two years ago.
“I know my father is raising his thumb and is proud of what I have achieved,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Oberio said he wanted to be a lawyer at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) though he will continue rendering service to the city government by providing legal assistance to the public.
Oberio said by working at the SP, he became appreciative of city ordinances and resolutions.
“Councilor Baronda is very organized when it comes to preparing ordinances and resolutions. I have also seen the importance of cooperation between the city government and the private sector,” added Oberio.
He revealed that an injustice his neighbor experienced inspired him to become a lawyer.
“I wanted to stress that there is due process in our country. We should not condemn a person without investigation,” Oberio said.
The 26-year-old Parcon said she was also thankful despite the hardships she experienced.
“I thought I could not take the exam because I was sick and I kept on vomiting weeks before. However, I was glad that a week before the exam, I was already okay,” said the eldest daughter of Councilor Armand Parcon.
She said it was his father who inspired her to become a lawyer.
“My father was a law student but he was not able to take the bar. So I decided to continue what he had started. Everything was not easy. I was working and at the same time taking up law. I worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and I went to school after my work,” she said.
Parcon previously worked at the Senior Citizens’ Affairs Office before she was assigned to the SP.
While waiting for the results, Parcon said she visited five churches.
“I was riding a jeepney from Leganes church when a friend of mine in Manila called me that I passed the Bar. At first, I did not believe her but when my father confirmed it, I almost cried in the jeepney. I could not explain how happy I am and thankful to those who have supported me,” said Parcon./PN
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