Charmaine Arce Gabelo, a 2024 Bar exams passer, is joined by her mother and son during the release of the exams results inside the courtyard of the Supreme Court on Friday, December 13. (Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — A 43-year-old woman who believed it was never too late to chase her dreams is among the country’s 3,962 new lawyers.

Charmaine Arce Gabelo, who entered law school in 2020, successfully passed the 2024 Bar examinations on her first try. Delighted, Gabelo said that she owed her success to God.

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“Hindi lahat ng pinangarap ay binibigay. Yung Diyos ang pakiramdam kong nagbigay sakin ng katok nito,” Gabelo said in an interview with the media.

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(Not every dream is meant for us. I felt like God gave this push for me.)

READ: Bar Exam Results 2024: List of topnotchers, passers

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Gabelo mentioned that she was a seafarer for 12 years and ventured into multiple business ventures before becoming a lawyer.

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“Yung mga nag-iisip na baka late na kayo, hindi. Walang late. Hindi pwedeng hati ang puso mo pati ‘yung panahon mo,” Gabelo added.

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(To those who are thinking that you might be late, no. No such thing as late. You should not be half-hearted.)

fortune slots On wanting to be a lawyer

The newly minted lawyer also said that after ending her stint as a seafarer, she saw the different injustices in society.

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“Nung nagstay ako dito after ko magbarko, ‘di ba may tokhangan, tapos mayroon ding distribution na hindi mabigyan ‘yung mahihirap talaga. May mga katanungan tayo na ganun… Sana, baka may pagkakataon na baka makatulong ako so sinubukan ko lang po,” she said.

(When I stayed in the country after seafaring, there was tokhang (war on drugs) and instances where the aid distribution didn’t reach those who were truly in need. We had questions about that… there may be an opportunity where I can help, so I just gave it a try.)

While the Marcos administration has been exerting efforts to attract more green power developments to the market, the sector may be dealing with some hitches as the projects are now “being processed for termination” due to the companies’ failure to meet committed timelines, the agency noted Sunday.

When asked about her plans after passing the Bar examinations, Gabelo shared that she wants to be a criminal lawyer.

“Dasal ko lang kung saan ako dadalhin ng Diyos pero gusto ko talagang makapagpractice. Unti-unting malalaman kung mag-iimprove pero gusto ko talagang maging criminal lawyer,” she noted.

(I’m just praying for wherever God will lead me, but I really want to practice. I’ll gradually find out if I’ll improve, but I truly aspire to become a criminal lawyer.)

Not giving up on her dreams

Gabelo acknowledged the hardships in law school, emphasizing that her experiences strengthened her will to continue pursuing her dreams. She asked herself multiple times if this dream was meant for her.

“Iniisip ko kung para sa akin ba ‘to, pero nakaexperience na kayo ng mahirap, pero ayun ‘yung gusto mo lagi? Kada araw, may natutunan ka. Kada araw, nachachallenge ka. Kada araw, feel mo may mababago ka sa buhay hindi lang ikaw, ng pamilya pati ibang tao,” she stated.

(I asked myself if this was for me, but have you experienced something difficult, but you know that’s what you want? Every day, you learn. Every day, you get challenged. Every day, you feel like you, your family, and others’ lives can change, too.)

Gabelo’s mother and son joined her at the exam passers’ official release at the Supreme Court courtyard. She said that her mother’s prayers helped her through it all.

Gabelo added her 20-year-old son also wants to become a lawyer because of her.

“Nainspire siya. Nakikita niya ‘yung mga prof ko… Dami kong prof na nameet niya. Nakita niya yung other side ng spectrum na talagang may nagagawang pagbabago,” she added.

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(He was inspired. He met a lot of my professors. He saw the other side of the spectrum that can make a change.)crazy ball

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