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MANILA - A law graduate who once failed the Bar exams placed fourth in her second try last year -- an achievement she attributed Wednesday to divine plan and right timing.

Dawna Fya Bandiola of the San Beda College-Alabang said that when she flunked the exam on her first try in 2018, she told herself, "Baka hindi ko pa po time, hindi pa po will ni Lord na ibigay sa akin iyong pinagpi-pray ko."

(Perhaps it was not yet the right time. It was not yet in the Lord's will to give me what I was praying for.)

"Hindi naman pala lahat talaga ibibigay sa 'yo kung kailan mo gusto. Mayroong times na kailangan maka-experience ka ng rejection para mas mabigyan mo ng importansya iyong mga bagay na hindi mo binibigyan ng pansin," she said.

(You won't be given everything you want when you want it. There are times you need to experience rejection so you could give more importance to the things you disregard.)

Bandiola scored 88.336 percent on her second try in the Bar exams last November, landing her in the 4th spot among top placers.

"Inisip ko na lang po that it's about timing," she told radio DZMM. "Inano ko na lang po lahat kay Lord, siya na lang po ang bahala sa 'kin. I will do my best, I will do my part and then He will do the rest."

(I just thought that it's about timing. I just lifted everything to the Lord, let Him take care of everything.)

"Tanggapin mo lang kung ano iyong ibibigay sa 'yo. Gawin mo iyong part mo. Magsipag ka, magdasal ka nang maigi. Ibibigay sa 'yo kung talagang para sa 'yo iyon," she said.

(Just accept what you are given. Do your part. Persevere, pray well. It will be given to you if it's meant for you.)

She said she was more "pressured and nervous" during her first try compared to when she re-took the Bar exams.

"Malayo po iyong exam noong 2018 sa 2019 Bar exams. Hindi ko rin po masasabi kung mas madali o mas mahirap kasi depende naman sa tao iyon... Relaxed lang po siguro ako this time," she said.

(The 2018 and 2019 Bar exams were different. I can't tell which is easier or more difficult. Maybe I was just more relaxed this time.)

Bandiola said she is currently employed, with taxation law as the focus of her work.