CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Czarmaigne Laus had mixed emotions when the results of the 2018 Bar exams were released by the Supreme Court early this month, as she was among the 1,800 examinees out of 8,158 who passed.
The feeling of euphoria after seeing her name in the list was immediately replaced with deep longing and sadness because her half-brother -- who stood like a father to her when her father died -- met an untimely death in a helicopter crash just eight days before the results were out.
Czarmaigne is the eldest daughter of the late politician Ceferino “Pinong” Laus and former board member Monina Palma Laus.
Tatang Pinong was the father of LausGroup chairman Liberato "Levy" P. Laus, who was killed in a tragic helicopter accident in Malolos, Bulacan.
“He was there all throughout for me. He was just one text way. He would always ask me how I was with my studies and made sure I’m okay. He and Papa Pinong are my inspiration,” Czarmaigne told SunStar Pampanga.
She said the late businessman took up the responsibility of being a father figure to her and her siblings after the elder Laus died. Levy Laus looked after their well-being from the start.
Czarmaigne recalled a time when she had to leave San Beda College after her third year of studies, after not being able to meet the Quantity Point Index for her law course. She was short of a mere 0.5 to meet the cut.
“So during my lowest point, he called me to remind me his story. He told me that I should keep moving forward. He comforted me and told me na baka yun ang plan ni God para sa akin. He told me that there is nothing wrong in failing. It may be a blessing in disguise. And I should move on as I planned. He consistently supported me. When I graduated, he gave me agift. He said, I hope that would inspire me,” Czarmaigne said.
Czarmaigne said her brother had made a considerable contribution to Pampanga and the City of San Fernando. But she was quick to add that Levy Laus’s greatest contribution was to his family and extended relatives.
“I know this feat is nowhere near to what he had achieved, but I wanted him to know that he and Tatang Pinong are my inspiration, and always will be,” Czarmaigne added.