Aklanon lawyer shuns social networking sites and tops Bar exams

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman law graduate shunned social networking sites, for the meantime, to focus in the 2013 Philippine bar examinations.

The strategy worked out well for Aklanon lawyer Eden Catherine Bernarte Mopia, who got a rating of 84.05 percent, to emerge fourth place in the bar examinations held last October.

“Walang Facebook and Twitter tayo mula May hanggang October last year. Binigay ko sa boyfriend ko ang cellphone ko para makapag-concentrate ako. Sinasabihan lang niya ako pag may importanteng text tungkol sa Bar or urgent messages,” she said in an interview by Barangay 92.9 Super Radyo Kalibo.

Known as “Cathy” to her friends and family, the top notch lawyer had the strong support of her parents - Sarah Escalona Bernarte, a government employee who hails from Numancia, Aklan and Moises Tabares Mopia, a native of Makato, Aklan.

 

“Magagaling ang batchmates ko and nagulat din ako na isa ako sa mga taga-UP na nakapasok sa top ten,” Mopia said when she heard the news, but admitted she also entertained the feelings of doubt of being a bar flunker.  

“May ibang subjects na alanganin at nahirapan ako but there were subjects din na napag-aralan ko rin. Masyadong malawak ang coverage ng exam,” she hinted when asked by Kaibahang Butz Maquinto of Barangay 92.9 Super Radyo Kalibo of the four Sundays of grueling exams. 

Only 22.18 percent or 1,174 law graduates who took the 2013 bar examinations passed the tests, according to Supreme Court (SC) Justice Arturo D. Brion, chairman of the examinations committee.

Mopia, who placed 6th out of the 170 UP Diliman graduates, also offered words of advice for anyone pursuing law studies.

“Huwag mapagod mag-aral, palaging magdasal at humingi ng guidance sa Diyos at I’m sure makakamit din ninyo ang tagumpay,” she said.

Mopia, 28, is currently working as Legal Assistant with Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices in Makati City since January.

Mopia plans to “stay with the law firm for few years for training, pursue masteral degree abroad or enter the government service.”

Cathy said there will be no wedding bells yet for her and her boyfriend, also a graduate of UP Diliman College of Architecture this year.