This couple, who both aced the 2023 Bar examinations, shared their set up and “secret” in their relationship while studying law.
“Naintindihan namin parehas na nasa sitwasyon kami ng buhay namin na hindi namin priority ang lumandi. Hindi namin priority ang humarot. Ang humarot namin ay law school, bar, at yung ‘Atty.’ period ng pangarap na ‘yon. Sabi nga ni Rocky, landi responsibly,” 26-year-old Mark Josel Vivit told The Philippine STAR.
His girlfriend Rockylle Dominique Balisong, 26, noted that since they have their own goals and study habits, they were able to surpass the hard times in their relationship and law school.
“Pareho kami ng study habits, na ayaw namin na may kasamang iba. Kapag study, study lang talaga. Hindi kami nagde-demand na mag-study date. Ayaw talaga namin kasi mas nadi-distract kami. Siguro ‘yon, naka-help yon na hindi kami nag-aaway dahil sa law school. Usual naman po ‘yung pag-aaway sa relationship, pero not talaga ‘yung, hindi talaga kami nagde-debate,” Rockylle said.
“Never kami talagang nag-debate. Usually long messages lang ‘yon. Tas after non sorry-sorry na. Nung law school, syempre may mga away-away ‘di ba? Pero nare-resolve naman quickly. Normal naman sa relasyon ‘yung away. Boring kapag wala. Char! Kasi para sa amin, sayang lang ‘yung oras na nag-aaway kami kaysa sa nag-aaral kami. Kasi pareho kaming grade-conscious,” Mark echoed.
Mark and Rockylle were college best friends. They both graduated with a degree in political science at the University of Santo Tomas.
It was just in 2021 that their relationship became official after reconnecting in 2019.
Mark entered law school at the Ateneo De Manila University-School of Law in 2018.
While Rockylle decided to work in corporate and entered law school at San Beda University in 2019.
“Nauna kasi ako so parang ang nangyari sa una, tips, tulong kung paano mag-aral, paano ang law school,” he said.
“Sa kanya ako humihiram ng books no’ng time na ‘yon kasi ayaw kong bumili,” Rockylle added.
The couple stressed that they became each other’s anchor all throughout their journey of being a lawyer.
“Sobrang supportive nito ni Rocky. Magpapadala ng pagkain, pupuntahan ako sa unit. Siya ‘yung parang taga-console kapag may nangyari. Laking tulong na ‘yan sa mental health ng isang student eh ‘di ba? ‘Yung may sasalo sa ‘yo emotionally,” said Mark.
“Nung first year kasi siyempre masyado pa kong seryoso non sa law school, CUT so madalas is nakakalimutan ko talagang kumain, so siya talaga ‘yung nagpapadala ng food,” Rockylle added.
Just this year, Mark landed second place, while Rockylle finished at 18th place at the 2023 Bar examinations.
Mark equipped, “Ang pinagdadasal ko lang talaga sa Lord, “Lord sana pumasa po ako!” Gusto ko lang naman pong maging abogado!”
They both noted that they did not expect to be included in the topnotchers as they just wanted to pass the exams together.
“‘Yung secret din talaga namin is, is alam namin ‘yung goal naming dalawa separately and together. So separately syempre ‘yung ATTY. and then together is to be with each other for a very, very long time,” Rockylle said.
“Hindi namin pinagsasama ‘yung individual goals namin at tsaka ‘yung goals namin as a pair para din ma, hindi ma-mix ‘yung, hindi ma-mix ‘yung goals. Kaya hinayaan namin ‘yung isa’t isa to reach each other’s goals tapos tsaka namin iwo-work ‘yung relationship talaga namin,” she added.
