LAWYER Algie Kwillan Mariacos of Bakun, Benguet assured his willingness to return to his hometown and practice his profession after placing eighth in the 2017 Philippine Bar Exams.
Mariacos revealed some of his struggles while studying and reviewing for the 2017 bar exams after he graduated in College of Law in San Benda University-Manila.
“The primary challenge and struggle that I had to face was that of finances since I was studying in Metro Manila. We are not a well of family but because of the contributions from my relatives, cousins and family friends, I was able to finish my law studies,” Mariacos said.
Aside from finances, the distance between him and his family was also a challenge since every time he would fail in his quizzes, he had no one to turn to but rely on himself.
“But ever since I was young, I wanted to express myself so I felt being a lawyer would be the path that I would like to take,” added Mariacos who passed the BAR with an 88.9 percent passing rate.
The 25–year–old hails from Sinakbat, Bakun and studied Philosophy at Saint Louis University before taking his law degree at San Beda College in Metro Manila.
“When I was young, I was already exposed to the church, I was socially aware of what was happening in society. And myself realization is for me to become a lawyer and help, so the more I studied, the deeper my conviction was to become a lawyer as part of my own way of helping society,” the lawyer stated.
One of the toughest part of Mariacos's study was taking up classes in criminal law and taxation which he successfully passed.
When ask on what he thinks about the proceedings in the Supreme Court pertaining to the quo-warranto against Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the lawyer declined.
“I would decline to give any comments on that because that is a very sensitive issue. It is best that we let the authorities resolve it,” Mariacos added, the eldest among the three children of Nena and Denver Mariacos, both government workers in the municipality.
The bar passer have also stated his intention of going back to his hometown to practice his profession after additional studies in the law profession.
Also making an impressive performance is Attorney Nadia Christine Mandiguarin ranking 15th with a passing mark of 87.55 percent.
The exam results which was officially announced by the Supreme Court on April 26 recorded a 25.5 percent total passing rate.