COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Forty-two-year-old Rosemil Bañaga knew in her heart that she would become a lawyer, but the mother to three children did not expect she would make it to the top 10 of the 2011 Bar examinations.
Bañaga was busy doing her work as an accountant at the Alandea Lending Corp. here when the dean of Notre Dame University College of Law phoned her and informed she landed on the top four.
“I was overwhelmed. My colleagues said I’m about to break out in tears,” Bañaga told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“It’s a blessing from God. I have this feeling that I really had a calling to become a lawyer to help those in need. And God is making a way to make it happen….from financial matters as well as all I need in my studies,” she said.
“I have this joy that I can’t explain. I have no plans of going anywhere. I will stay in Cotabato, in the company that helped me from the start,” she said.
“From day one of my law school, I concentrated on reading law books, read the topics of my subjects ahead of classes, tutok talaga (I was really focused),” Bañaga said.
Bañaga said that during the bar exams in November 2011, her husband, Macario Bañaga, an engineer, was reciting the Divine Mercy novena.
“He was at a church near the exam’s venue reciting the novena, every time I went to the bar exam,” Bañaga said, adding that while she was taking the exam, her boss, Delia Sumail, a Christian married to a Muslim and owner of the lending firm, also prayed the novena.
“That helped a lot and that complemented my efforts in my studies,” said Bañaga, also a Certified Public Accountant, having passed the board in 1993.
She also earned her Master in Business Administration at Notre Dame University in 2004.
Fr. Eduardo Tanudtanud, president of the Notre Dame University where Bañaga graduated in 2011, said it was the first time a graduate of NDU College of Law was included on the top 5.
“Her making it to the 4th place is another feather for NDU. We are very proud of her,” said Tanudtanud.
Born in Libungan, North Cotabato, Bañaga finished her elementary and high school studies there. She earned her accountancy course at Notre Dame University and after passing the CPA board exam, she worked as auditor of the Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco). She left Magelco in 2006 as finance manager and worked as auditor of the lending firm.
“Read, read, read and read law books and devote more time,” was her simple advice to law students and those who would like to take up law.
“There is no substitute for being prepared in law school,” she added.
Tanudtanud said of the 60 examinees, six other students from NDU passed the exams.