Passion for Greatness: ‘A fulfillment of God’s mission’
NOTHING in this world comes with ease. One has to work hard in order to succeed.
In the life of Atty. Belinda Siason-Villa, it was never easy but she was able to find the right path in order to hurdle life’s challenges. And that path is from God.
She said, “When I was young, I struggled so much, questioning God’s existence. Just to finish my college, I transferred from one of my siblings to the other siblings who could help finance my schooling until I graduated from college. I pursued my dream of becoming a lawyer; I enrolled myself at University of Negros Occidental Recoletos. My siblings helped me in my finances. I took the bar and I failed. I never stop dreaming and I never lose hope, until I have read a quote which struck me most which reads ‘Divine intervention is not a chance or luck but a promise and an assurance to those who put God first in their lives.’ I copied it and posted it to all my law books. I got hold to God’s promise.”
She prayed and studied hard. She always seeks God’s guidance and protection in everything that she do.
“I put God first in my life. Before I started anything else, I seek God’s guidance. I developed the faith in me thru reading the Words of God and other inspirational books which made me very optimistic,” she said.
She decided to take the 2012 bar examinations. She tendered her resignation in her work and she gave up her small business.
“I have nothing. All I have is FAITH IN GOD. One of my siblings did not want to help me anymore because she had helped me already in my previous review. I prayed hard to God, looking for an answer to my prayer. While praying, I remember my younger sister who is in Hong Kong, I emailed her, pleading that she will help me finance my review. I have one (1) month to wait for her reply. Less than 24 hours from the day I emailed her, my phone rang; when I looked at the number, it is an international call. It was my sister’s calling, informing me that she will let me borrow money for my review. I was then very happy, and I told myself that taking my bar exams is just a formality for me to become a lawyer. I already claimed that I will pass the bar exams.”
She went to Manila for her review which took her seven months to finish.
“My review was very hard. I suffered a lot of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual struggles until the last day of our examinations. Faith, hard work, perseverance and determination drove me to sustain the hardship I go through during those tough times. But I never gave up,” she said.
Her children were her inspiration in pursuing her dreams.
She always thinks of them in times of loneliness and tiredness. They are her driving force that fueled her to go on and keep moving. She was excited to go home and be with her children after seven months of review in Manila.
Finally, she’s home and was hired again as Technical Staff at Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City.
While waiting for the result of the bar exams, she prayed hard religiously, asking and begging for God’s mercy and grace to make her a lawyer.
After five months of waiting, the result of the bar exams was released on March 20, 2013
She was attending a seminar at L’ Fisher Hotel. “My classmate Marilyn congratulated me. I congratulated her too, without knowing that the result was already released. My other classmates, officemates, friends, family and my boss, Councilor Em Ang called me up and congratulated me for passing the 2012 bar examinations. People around me congratulated me also. I opened my netbook and searched for my name to confirm if I indeed pass the bar exams and I saw it. I was surprised because I was a lone passer among our batchmates who took the bar exams. If it was not meant by God, I would never enjoy such an enormous blessing. God should be magnified for this feat. I source my strength and wisdom from God and All else comes with His perfection,” she narrated.
“I was overwhelmed and felt over joyed which I cannot concentrate and understand. My phone rang again, the same officemate and classmate called me up informing me that I was the lone passer of University of Negros Occidental Recoletos out of 56 bar takers. I felt sad because one of my best friends flanked. I paused for a while and reflected, realizing God’s plan for us that everything happens for a reason,” she added.
After three months from the release of the result, she resigned at Bacolod City Government and worked as a municipal legal officer of Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental until December 2013.
In 2014, she put up her own law office. She faced and heard many discouraging words, but still she pursued her plan.
She said, “I rented a small space for my office at 888 Chinatown Square. Considering that I do not have savings, I sought the help of my siblings and friends. My oldest sibling and friends volunteered to paint and arrange my office. I borrowed money from my other friends to buy two (2) office tables and for my rentals. Some of my clients contributed to the beautification of my office. Since my money was not enough for my office furniture, I took one set of my wooden furniture at home and temporarily used it in my office.”
Surprisingly, she had numbers of clients after a month. Many were astonished of my braveness in putting up my own office including my fellow lawyers. More than a year, my office is doing well; I paid off my debts and renovated my office. I have three employees helping me in my office. Many problems I encounter every day, and thru sincere prayers and perseverance, everything goes smoothly.
Attitude is more important than facts
She strongly agreed that with this phrase that is not what we go thru every day in our life but what matters most is how we go thru it. It is our attitude in dealing with our problems and difficulties in life because tough times never last but tough people do.
God wants us to live with all humility and simplicity. It’s never easy for those whose heart is detached with God. But it comes naturally for those who put God at the center of their lives.