Gratitude. (Part I: Family & Professors)

05.25.17: Roll-signing with Attys. Andrea Milaor and Arianne Cerezo.

It's exactly been a year since I signed the roll of attorneys but I have yet to express gratitude to those who helped me during my protracted but fulfilling odyssey as law student and bar reviewee.

Nevertheless, I believe that this is the best time to express what my heart has been longing to say for I believe that success does not merely involve passing a difficult exam but is completed with happiness in what one is doing as a result of fulfilling his dreams.

I did not expect the kind of joy it feels to be working as a practicing lawyer since I merely granted the wishes of my parents. This explains inconsistencies in my academic life. Some have witnessed the spirit; some the ghost. I was reading but not learning. Or too eager to say something.

Hence, I have kept to myself the joyful feelings for a year but I could not keep it any longer.

Today, I thank those who have helped me fulfill, and live, my dreams. Despite the sleepless nights, the whirlpool of anxieties, and the overwhelming volumes of readings, I have become what I have become, and that is partly because of you…

Family

05.22.17: With my parents on the day of the oath-taking.

To my father, Atty. Wilson M. Andes, you did not give up on me, but you gave me the freedom to choose what I wanted to do in life. When I told you I might become an engineer instead, you supported that wish. On my midterms exams in Criminal Law Review, I absented because I felt I didn’t want to become a lawyer anymore. I know you wanted me to be one but instead you drove me back home. Yet, on other days, you told me that you believed in me and my capabilities – that I write well and that my memory is sharp. Despite my frequent flip-flopping, you financially supported me all the way through until I passed the bar – with no hesitation or apprehension.

To my mother, Dr. Nancy M. Andes, the sweetest mom ever, you were a great source of inspiration to me as you consistently inspired me with words of encouragement and love. You may be as stubborn as a rock because you never thought of any alternative career for me; but thank you for I didn’t know lawyering actually suits me well. Indeed, mothers know best. I couldn’t thank you enough for being a game-changer in my life but I do wish that, from now on, I’ll be given complete liberty in future career plans and choices.

To my funny sister, Dr. Gianina M. Andes, your strong will gave me a good example in facing challenges. You are a self-confessed average student but your determination was a force to reckon with. Because of your good example, I became determined to finish what I had begun. The best thing about you, however, is your willingness to sacrifice a part of your time for others. On my deepest of lows, you visited me to cheer me up with your sense of humor – that, despite your busy schedules. I don’t think I could match the kind of sacrifices you’re willing to give for people you love.

Professors

To my professors, allow me to ask pardon for thanking you at such belated time. I know this is long overdue but I didn’t have the opportunity due to time constraints and busyness. I hope these simple messages will not only assuage whatever bad feelings you may have but feel within you the kind of triumph you all deserve.

To Judge Michael Balmaceda, you were one of the most effective professors I’ve ever had so I do not mind the strictness. I know that behind the stern façade was a nice and friendly fellow one could easily talk to outside of class. Your high standards were well-meant – the country deserves competent lawyers with the utmost integrity. I wish that you continue teaching because the legal profession needs you.

To Atty. Fiona Corral-Bobis, you’re one simple lady but a very peculiar professor. Dressed in the humblest of clothes, you’re the most chill professor in AQ Law but, despite the relaxed atmosphere of your classes, you were able to hone our skills and improve our legal knowledge in the most effective ways. You didn’t have to be strict but your style of teaching was very effective. That’s why I say, peculiar.

To Judge Cabredo, our dean, your knowledge is so extant – I never heard those principles from my other professors in Political Law. The way you bring us your knowledge can sometimes be hilarious so it was a joy to have become your student. Your decades of teaching in AQ Law will be remembered by the generations of lawyers you’ve taught.

To Atty. Gomez, our tax professor, I learned both the nitty-gritty and the general principles of Taxation very well because of your efforts. You had us memorize some principles and made us recite them through graded recitations, which were very effective mental exercises. You were strict but I enjoyed the challenges you threw on our paths.

To Atty. Barreda, you gave us a very strong foundation in Family Law, especially on Marriage. How you see things was so incisive, I wouldn’t have noticed them had you not become my professor. Many thanks for being my professor.

To Atty. Leandro Millano, my professor in both LTD and Insurance, you were very effective, comprehensive and detailed in teaching. The way you asked us questions sparked our interests in the subjects you taught; the more difficult legal nuances were made very simple.

To Atty. Teresita L. Cruz, a.k.a., TLC, you're the most hilarious professor I’ve ever had. You taught us succession in a very effective way. I still remember many of the principles even now as a lawyer. You are the reason why I am confident in accepting services to draft last wills and testament and in providing advice to clients in regards to wills and succession. 

To Atty. Lim, I remember how you had us memorize some tax principles and how you taught us the computation of donor’s, capital gains and income taxes on capital and ordinary assets using the white board. You showed us how easy Tax Laws are actually.

To Atty. Edwin Abella, you showed clear expertise in Tax Laws. You easily explained to us why the Tax Arbitrage rule was put into effect, which made us beam with amazement. The three attributes of a sound tax system were also clearly explained to us and in a way that began my love for such complicated subject. Thank you!

To Atty. Brondial, you were a very strict professor but which I will not forget because you had the kind of strictness that not only compelled us to read and read but was also complemented with effective teaching methods. Because you had us memorize the names of the 71 rules of civil procedure, I don’t have a hard time looking for them in the codals. Notwithstanding the length and extensiveness of civil procedures, you were able to cover all rules without ever sacrificing any of the parts.

To Atty. Fretti Ganchoon, my professor in Public International Law, the moment you spoke in class, I immediately fell in love with the subject because you showed pleasure in teaching PIL. You had us read the most page-turning book I’ve ever read in law school. I scored 105 out of 100 in the mid-terms despite studying for only four hours – that was the result of inspiration and love.

To Atty. Gwen Grecia-De Vera, my professor in Constitutional Law I, apart from making us recite, you also taught us the basic framework of the government. There was no dead air in your class. You limited the case assignments to the most important but suggested to us which cases we might be interested to read. The delimitation of the cases to the most crucial made evident results – I have a clear picture of our governmental framework after the sem and even until now.

To Dean Raul Pangalangan, my professor in Constitutional Liberties, your class was highly interactive and the cases you made us read were very interesting. The different tests you taught us were learned in ways that we will not forget. You were also a chill professor but was also very effective as one.

This article consists of two parts for easier reading. The next part shall be my messages to dear friends and other people who have made significant contributions to my passing the bar.