MANILA - For the past years, the country's Bar examination has been dominated by familiar school names the likes of Ateneo de Manila, University of the Philippines and San Beda.

But this 2015, the prestigious list welcomed a new school name.

Thanks to Ronel Buenaventura, the name of Bulacan State University (BulSU) finally appeared in this circle of elites.

The 28-year old Bulacan native is the first from the university's 14 year-old College of Law to land in the Bar exam's Top 10.

Buenaventura made it as the 10th placer with an 85.75 percent rating.

Taking what is considered as the country's most prestigious professional licensure exam, Buenaventura admitted that making it to the top 10 was the furthest thing in his mind. He said all he was thinking back then was to do well and pass the exam the first time he takes it.

"During the exam ang aim ko, pumasa," Buenaventura told ABS-CBN News. "So noong nakita ko 'yung question sheet [sabi ko] dapat masagot ko 'to nang maayos."

Buenaventura said he was in the middle of doing volunteer works for a certain political tandem when he learned about the news.

All of a sudden, he said he received tons of Facebook and text messages telling him that not only did he pass the exams, he was actually one of the topnotchers.

"Nu’ng pinost ‘yung screenshot, ‘yung list lang nu’ng topnotcher, malabo pa, tinignan ko nang maige, tapos ‘yun nga, number 10. Sigaw ako nang sigaw dito, 'nag-top ako!' he said.

SECOND CHANCE

Buenaventura's road to the field of law began when he was a kid. He said he was trying to choose among the generic professions that most kids would come up with when asked what they want to be when they grow up: doctor, pilot, priest, lawyer, etc.

Since he can't be a priest and he does not want to be a doctor, he decided he wanted to be a lawyer.

The thought stuck in his mind until the time he entered college and realized, "Ay oo nga. Parang okay din mag-law."

Buenaventura finished his undergraduate and master’s degree in the University of the Philippines. Next in his plan is to take the UP Law Aptitude Examination (LAE) and fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer.

Unfortunately, he failed the exam.

Buenaventura said he was ready to give up and just pursue a different path, this time the road to the academe.

"Okay baka hindi naman para sa 'kin yung law. That time kasi nakatapos na ako ng M.A. ko then gusto ko talagang mag-PhD. So gusto ko magturo, mag-academician," he said.

But his father did not give up and suggested that he try BulSU's College of Law.

Like any good son, Buenaventura followed his father’s advice. And there he got another chance in his dream of becoming a lawyer.

"Sabi ng tatay ko, 'sige try mo lang, isang sem, ‘pag okay ituloy mo, 'pag ayaw mo, nahirapan ka, ihinto mo. Mahirap pero nag-enjoy ako. So, tinuloy ko na," he said.

After four years, Buenaventura graduated Magna Cum Laude.

CREATING A MARK

Buenaventura said he is proud to make history for his school, but more than the praises he is getting, he hopes to inspire aspiring law students and make them realize that more than the choice of school, it is one's work ethics that will truly make a difference.

"Hindi babasahin ng kaklase mo ‘yung cases para sa’yo. ‘Di niya sasagutan 'yung bar exams para sa’yo... Wala sa professor mo, wala naman talaga rin sa school mo," Buenaventura said.

"'Pag pumasok ka sa UST, ‘yung bar site, du’n sa mga nag-exam, sila lang. Dala nila ‘yung pangalan ng school pero di naman ‘yung school nagsasagot sa kanila. Sarili nila."

In fact, Buenaventura said he might have had an advantage compared to other law students from the bigger law schools in the country.

"'Yung atmosphere ng Bulacan State University College of Law kasi encouraging. 'Yung mga professors, parang inspiring. Welcoming sila na 'we’re pushing you to excel... Imbes na pagalitan ka directly, pagsasabihan ka lang. 'Yung iba, with motherly concern, fatherly concern," he explained.

"So I think 'yung advantage ko is hindi ako na-pressure in a sense na pinapagalitan ako, na natatakot ako. Na-pressure ako kasi sobrang pinupush kami na nakakahiya bumagsak. Unlike sa iba na natatakot ka kasi nga ibabagsak ka talaga."

Buenaventura admitted the whole idea of him making it to the top 10 has not fully sunk in his mind yet. He said he wants to be a labor practitioner and hopefully teach in the same college that was instrumental to his success. There are already few words of work offers but he said there's nothing formal yet.

For now, he said he wants to savor the fruit of his hard work, get the chance to give back to the community that has given him so much, and inspire those who will take the same road that he has chosen for himself.

His words of advice: "Believe in your dreams. Wala namang ibang makakagawa or walang makaka-realize nung dream mo kundi ikaw lang. Kung hard work, or smart work, or whatever, basta ikaw, ikaw 'yun. Wala nang iba." – with Angelica Celine Tolentino