Anthony Mark Emocling, the Philippines’ first visually-impaired Bar passer, shared how his parents played a vital role in his success.
“From the start, nandun sila sa akin. Hindi madaling magkaroon ng anak na may kapansanan pero kinaya pa rin po ng mga magulang ko. Hindi sila sumuko na bigyan ako ng better future. Pinag-aral nila ako college, elementary, hanggang law school,” Emocling told The Philippine STAR.
Emocling’s condition was not inborn. When he was 10 years old, he lost his sight due to an eye condition.
“Napunit ‘yung retina ko because mahina ‘yung kapit niya. Since 10 years old, nabulag ako. I stopped for three years. Hanggang my parents found a school for me. Nag-attend ako ng school for the blind for me to have a training in reading and writing and some household chores or other skills for independent living of persons with visual impairment,” he recalled.
“After I studied sa school for the blind, I was reintegrated to a normal school wherein ako lang po ‘yung visually impaired na student. I was just normal student, sumasali sa mga curricular and extracurricular na mga activities. ‘Yung mga teachers ko, sinabihan ko na as much as possible ‘wag nila ako i-exempt sa mga activities. It will be advantageous to me so that I will learn more and I will learn better,” he added.
Emocling said that his dream of becoming a lawyer ignited when he lost his sight at a very young age.
“‘Yung sineryoso kong mangarap maging lawyer is after ko nang mabulag kasi during that time, pinahiram ako ng lolo ko ng radyo niya. So I am listening to talk radio programs and during that time, it was the impeachment of former president Estrada and maraming nainterview na lawyers sa radio na magagaling mag-explain, magagaling mag-argue,” Emocling shared.
“Napabilib nila ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, baka parang kaya ko rin ‘yung ginagawa nila. Since then, pinangarap kong ‘yun na talaga ang kukunin kong profession someday,” he added.
In college, he took up political science at the University of Baguio. However, it wasn’t an easy journey for him.
“Talagang doble ‘yung effort ko para maipakita ko talaga sa mga tao na I am not just a visually impaired so dinodoble ko talaga ‘yung mga pag-aaral ko hanggang sa maintindihan ko ‘yung bawat subject na binibigay sa amin,” he said.
“Talagang kinoconvert ko ‘yung mga materials as early as possible para mabasa ko. Tinry ko maging active para makita din nung mga tao na I am not hopeless, na kaya ko rin sumabay sa mga regular na estudyante. I was a consistent dean’s lister and gumraduate ako ng cum laude,” Emocling added.
Recalling his law school days, Emocling said that with the help of technology, he was able to survive thousands of readings.
After graduating, he decided to take the Bar exam in 2017, but unfortunately, he did not succeed. He tried his luck until 2019 then the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
“Gusto ko pa pong ituloy that time kasi meron pa pong naniniwala sa akin. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hanggang may taong naniniwala sa akin, I will not fail them. ‘Pag sumuko lang ako doon lang ako babagsak eh,” he noted.
On his fourth try, all his hard work finally paid off!
“Hindi naman hadlang kung ilang take ka ng bar exams kasi hindi naman iyon ‘yung measurement ng success. ‘Yung mga hindi ko pagpasa, it’s just challenges,” Emocling said.
“Masayang-masaya talaga ako na nakapasa ako. Parang balewala na lang ‘yung mga failures ko dati. Hindi ako extraordinary. Kung kinaya ko, kaya niyo rin kasi ‘yung kapansanan natin, hindi ‘yan ‘yung nagde-define sa atin bilang tao, ‘yung nagde-define sa atin is ‘yung mga gagawin natin at mga ginagawa natin,” he stressed.
