“Sinong magsasabi na ang dating labandero, nanghihimalay ng mais, serbidor at tindero sa panaderya ay isa nang Bar passer at abogado?”
This 32-year-old man based in Sto. Tomas, Batangas survived several struggles in life growing up and he is a living proof that with hard work and dedication, nothing is impossible.
Alejandro Dela Vega shared on social media that it took blood, sweat, and tears to pass the first-ever digitalized Bar exams this year.
At a young age, he started working hard for his dreams and his family.
“Pangalawa ako sa aming magkakapatid. Apat kami. Hindi marangya ang kinagisnang buhay. Tsuper ang aking Ama at DH ang aking Ina sa ibang bansa. Alam ko na hindi kakayanin ng pamilya ko na mapagtapos ako ng kolehiyo sa estado ng buhay namen. Kaya naman nag sumikap ako at nag aral ng mabuti,” Dela Vega said in a Facebook post on Friday.
“Bata pa lang ako alam ko na ang salitang raket. Nanghihimalay ng mais, tumatanggap ng labada, nanilbihan bilang serbidor ng beer at tindero sa isang bakery upang kahit papaano ay may maitulong ako sa pamilya ko. Ang iniisip ko nun, kung matutulungan ko ang sarili ko, mas magkakaroon ng chance ang ibang kapatid ko kasi sa kanila na lang magpo-focus ang mga magulang ko,” he added.
When he was admitted to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Dela Vega became a working student to sustain his needs in college.
“Pinagsabay ko ang pag-aaral at pagiging isang service crew sa loob ng apat na taon. Magtatrabaho mula 3PM hanggang 12AM at gigising ng 6AM para naman pumasok sa klase na nagsisimula lagi ng 7AM. Hindi naging madali. Pero di ko sinukuan. Nakuha ko naman ang diploma. Nagtapos ako ng kursong AB Philosophy at natatanging estudyante na nagmartsa sa kursong iyon taong 2010. Achievement unlocked kumbaga,” he recalled.
Immediately after graduating, he worked as a call center agent and a part-time college instructor. He was able to help his family financially.
In 2015, he decided to enter law school as he wanted to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. Dela Vega juggled his time for work and academics.
“Kinailangan kong kumuha pa ng isa pang trabaho para matustusan ko ang pag-aaral ko, pag-aaral ng bunso kong kapatid at pag-alalay sa pamilya ko. Nag part-time instructor ako. Nagtuturo sa araw, nag-aaral sa hapon at corporate employee naman sa gabi. Sobrang hirap. Pero kinaya ko. Tinatanong ko nga ang sarili ko kung paano ko nakaya eh,” he stressed.
Months before taking the Bar exams, Dela Vega faced several struggles that tested his patience and perseverance.
“A month before the initial schedule of bar exam, nalooban ang bahay namin. Natangay ang laptop na gagamitin ko sa Bar exam. Naka-install na doon lahat. So I have no choice, nangutang para makabili agad ng pamalit. January 4, tinamaan ako ng COVID. Akala ko po hindi talaga ako papayagan ng Supreme Court. Pero tuloy pa rin ang review at dasal,” he recalled.
In 2022, his dreams finally turned into a reality. Dela Vega is now lawyer!
His family couldn’t be more proud of him after everything he’s been through.
“Hindi sila makapaniwala. Kasi parang suntok sa buwan. Sa angkan kasi namin, ako lang talaga ang kauna-unahang nakatungtong ng college. At una sa amin na magkaroon ng degree. Tapos ngayon, una ulit na naging abugado at unang lawyer ng aming barangay,” he told The Philippine STAR.
He now plans to continue teaching law students while working full time as a human resource manager.
“Walang impossible. Mangarap ka, magsikap ka at abutin mo. At habang inaabot mo ang pangarap mo, wag mong kalimutang maging mabuting tao. Mahalin ang pamilya, makisama nang mabuti sa ibang ano man ang estado nila sa buhay at ’wag kalimutan ang mga taong naging bahagi ng journey mo,” he said as he hopes that his story will inspire others to work hard in reaching their dreams.
