Photo Courtesy || Supreme Court of the Philippines
Cordillera - When Bar Chair Ramon Paul Hernando announced the list of successful bar exam takers, it included a surprising individual among the 3,812 new lawyers out of the 10,791 who participated. Remarkably, a senior citizen, 62-year-old Rosula Domingo Calacala, was among the passers, achieving success on her first attempt.
Calacala, originally an accountant, embarked on her legal journey at the age of 58 at Northeastern College in Isabela. Despite starting late, she never received failing marks, with her lowest grade standing at 75.
Her path to becoming a lawyer was somewhat accidental. Encouraged by a relative, who was a law student, to enroll her children in law school, Calacala faced refusal from her older children. Undeterred, she decided to take on the challenge herself.
Initially, Calacala hadn't envisioned becoming a lawyer. She only learned about law as a course when a relative suggested enrolling her children. Facing criticism and comments about her age when she decided to pursue law at 58, she persevered, despite occasional mental lapses common in her senior years. This determination led her to secure her position as Bar passer #832 on the Supreme Court’s list.
Despite her upcoming retirement as a municipal government employee in Jones, Isabela, Calacala plans to practice law in her town, providing assistance to those in need.
For women of her age aspiring to pursue similar dreams, Calacala offers a simple message: “Just take the Bar, just take law school! You don’t know where [it will take you].” She emphasizes that if she can achieve it, others can too.
Scheduled to take her oath on December 22, alongside other 2023 Bar passers at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Calacala's journey from having no law degree to obtaining professional legal certification took only five months.
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