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His parents rented a house in Manila, provided him a car, a helper and a driver to attend to his needs so he could concentrate on his reviews of the bar exams last year.
Their sacrifices paid off.
Raymond Garcia, opposition candidate for vice mayor in Cebu City, is one of the 1,893 law graduates who passed the 2006 bar exams.
A total of 6,187 took the 2006 bar exams, which had a passing rate of 30.60 percent.
The record number of law graduates completed the bar exams in four Sundays of September last year, which was held at the De La Salle University in Manila. The exams were administered by Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina Layusa.
“This calls for a big celebration. I wanted to share this with everybody who supported me and to those who are helping me in my campaign,” he said.
Garcia said he was jumping up and down inside a mall about 7 p.m. on Tuesday after a friend called him to relay to him the good news.
“I'm on cloud nine. I'm so happy,” he told Cebu Daily News (CDN), which called him while he was on his way home.
He said that while he already called his father to break the news, he wanted to share his success with his family.
Garcia said he never expected to pass the bar, which he said was one of the most difficult bar exams in 15 years. During his reviews, he also read questioners from bar exams in the past years.
In last year's exam, he said 25 points from taxation dealt on the newly approved law on the Expanded Value Added Tax, which he said was very difficult.
But his parents’ support gave him the inspiration to study even harder.
“My parents made sure that I had a comfortable place to stay. I'm very grateful for my parents’ support because during my review, I was confined to my room. I only go out on Sundays with my co-reviewees to watch a movie to keep my sanity,” he told CDN.
Garcia comes from a family of lawyers. His father, former mayor Alvin Garcia and elder brother Jess are lawyers as well as cousins Pablo John Garcia and Winston Garcia; and uncle Pablo Garcia.
Although he did not make it to the top ten, he said he did not mind because passing the bar was a “boost” to his candidacy.
He said a lawyer should be elected as vice mayor and presiding officer of the city's legislative body.
“This (Having passed the bar exam) is a boost to my candidacy but dili lang ta mo salig kaayo ana. I am running because of an advocacy,” he said.
Alvin Garcia said he was happy with his son made it. Aside from passing the bar exam, Raymond Garcia has a master's degree in business management from the University of Asia and the Pacific.
“We sacrificed because I believe that education is very important. This is the only thing that we leave Raymond,” the former mayor said.
Alvin said he made sure that Raymond was comfortable while he was in Manila while he was reviewing for the bar. He and his wife, Ninette, rented a house that Raymond shared with other Ateneo reviewees.
He and wife Ninette visited Raymond every weekend. “I believe that we have to equip our children in order to serve the people,” said Alvin.
Taking advantage of the Holy Week and the election ban against campaigning, Raymond said he would spend the week relaxing and planning his party.
According to the Supreme Court, the 2006 bar exams was the second time the "five-strike" rule was implemented. The rule limits to five the maximum number of times a candidate may take the government-administered test.
Those who failed the bar five or more times would no longer be eligible to take the bar exams in the future. /With Inquirer
