2008 Bar top notcher fueled by hard work of struggling parents

MANILA, Philippines - Bar top notcher Judy Lardizabal must have been fueled by the hard work of her father, a tricycle diver, and her mother who sells food in the market. With a score of 85.70 percent, Lardizabal emerged on top of the 1,310 examinees who passed the 2008 Bar Examinations. Her father, Deodato Lardizabal, said in a radio report on Saturday that they were able to send Judy to the University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development and the San Sebastian College of Law because of their collective efforts. “Tiyaga naming mag-asawa at tsaka ng aming anak, ‘yun ang dahilan kung bakit siya nakatapos sa kanyang pag-aaral [She was able to finish her studies because of all our hard work]," he said. Lardizabal is reportedly second of three children – the oldest of whom is also a UP graduate and is currently working as a restaurant manager in Germany, while the youngest already has a family and is working as a construction worker. Their family is renting a house in Imus, Cavite. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV