Top 3 Bar topnotchers eyeing public service

Bar topnotchers have many doors open to them—doors that lead to lucrative, high-flying jobs. But the soon-to-be lawyers who took the top three spots in the 2014 Bar examinations said they are looking into a life in public service.

A report on 24 Oras on Thursday said that for now, first placer Irene Mae Alcobilla and third placer Sandra Magalang will be staying with the "small" law firm they are currently affiliated with.

They, along with second placer Christian Drilon, said they want to serve in public offices because they are needed there more, the report said.

"Public school education ako from Grade 1 until law school, so it wouldn't be strange for me to give back, or to devote my talents to public service," said Magalang.

Drilon, nephew of Senate President Franklin Drilon, shares the same mindset, except that he said he prefers not to follow his uncle's political footsteps.

"I would want to serve in government, but not as a politician," the younger Drilon said." I don't think I can handle everything that goes in the world of politics. But I think I would do better as an appointive official, maybe in the judiciary."

Alcobilla, who bested 1,126 law graduates—this year's passing rate was a mere 18.82 percent—told GMA News she is hoping that she and her fellow lawyers will not be taken away from service by their ambition.

"Sana hindi kayo malihis ng landas," she said. "Pagpe-pray ko rin na itong generation na 'to ay makatulong din sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa."

'Miracle'

For Alcobilla, who earned her law degree from San Beda College in Manila, topping the Bar was nothing short of a miracle.

She said she wasn't expecting to pull off the feat, dreaming only of passing the exam and becoming a lawyer in order to give back to her family.

She lost her mother and her brother when Typhoon Frank hit Antique in 2008, the "24 Oras" report said. She got through school with the help of a sibling who works overseas.

"'Miracle, this is a miracle,' sabi kong ganito. Kasi hindi ko naman talaga... I mean, lahat naman kami nangangarap na sana makapasok man lang, bonus. Pero 'yung Top 1? Hindi talaga 'yun... Pangangarapin mo lang," she said.

Alcobilla's schoolmates at the West Visayas State University described her as hard-working and determined to finish school, GMA Iloilo reported.

She was an active student leader, and eventually graduated there magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science in 2009, before moving to San Beda.

Professor Elfelda Ecube, one of Irene's former mentors, believes Irene's topping this year's exam is a reward for her sacrifice and hard work.

'Sagip Mata' beneficiary

Meanwhile, Magalang, who earned her law degree, summa cum laude, from the University of the Philippines, said she hopes "to do more litigation work" to hone her skills in the said area.

"And in the far future, I hope to enter the academe," she added.

Magalang was a beneficiary of "Oplan Sagip Mata," a program by the late Senator and Health Secretary Dr. Juan Flavier.

In a letter on the back of the guest list during Flavier's wake in November, she wrote about how the program "changed" her life "almost 20 years ago."

"[T]hanks to this great man I was able to live differently despite being born cross-eyed and poor. Without him, I could not have achieved the honors I have achieved, and his health programs have helped me reach places I never thought I would," she wrote. — Joel Locsin and Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/BM, GMA News