New lawyer, Atty. Mae Diane Azores of the University of Sto. Tomas – Legazpi, tops the 2019 Bar Exam topnotcher list. The result was announced by the Supreme Court of the Philippines on April 29, Wednesday.
In an interview with radio station DZMM, Mae Diane Azores celebrated the major achievement with mixed emotions. She remembered her grandma, who passed away last March 18.
“Before siya pumanaw sabi nya sakin, ‘Inaantay ko na lang sana yang results mo bago ako umalis,’ kaso yun nga po hindi na kınaya kasi grabe na rin po yun sakit niya,” Azores shared in the interview with Julius Babao of DZMM.
“So, I believe she’s watching from heaven, cheering for me,” she said.
Before she started the review, she prayed that she would be be in the topnotch list. But when she saw the result, she unexpectedly to placed in the highest spot. Her bar exam is 91.04 grade.
“Nung bago pa lang magstart ‘yung review, may nagsasabi nang mga tao na, ‘Oh, kaya mo yan, magiging topnotcher ka!’ Yung pressure na ‘yun ginamit ko siya as motivation and thinking ko na rin na baka kaya naman,” Azores said in an interview over radio station DZMM.
“Ang prayer ko talaga is, ‘Lord, ipasa mo ko. Let this be according to your will, sana maging topnotch na rin ako, kahit top 8 lang.’ Kaya nung nakita ko na top 1 hindi ko talaga in-expect,” she added.
She also shared her discipline, dedication and hard work in daily routine in pursuit to become a lawyer.
“yun preparation ko po gising ng maaga, 4am or 5am, dere-derechong aral, 10-12 hours. Then dedication po talaga at disiplina kasi alam ko, gusto ko po talaga maging abogado. Yun effort na binigay ko po ay grabe din po.” she said.
She also shared her plans as a lawyer.
“I can see myself as a litigator. Gusto ko po talagang mag-try at mag-practice as a trial lawyer,” she said.
“Gusto ko po siyang ma-experience and gusto ko rin mag-delve into the labor law practice considering the violations of writ of our employees right now. So I think it’s a very risky area that lawyers should pay attention to,” she added.
Moreover, Mae Diane is currently a Certified Public Accountant for DSWD Legazpi, Albay.