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Posted in rcmcorner.multiply.com
January 4, 2009, 6:39PM
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After
passing the 1998 Bar Examination, I was intending to apply for a teaching job
in a small school in Pasay City. Teaching in law school was out of the
question. One of our professors
told us that before you could teach in law school, you have to be invited
first— applying without a prior invitation is a no-no.
In May 1999, my wife and I received an invitation to a
testimonial dinner hosted by the University for Class ‘98. I was asked to
prepare the opening prayer for the occasion while our class valedictorian was
asked to prepare a short speech.
“Make it short and ecumenical,” the organizers told me.
I
tried to compose a short prayer while holding my one month old baby. I was able
to scribble a few lines five hours after. Another three lines were added before
my wife and I got dressed for the occasion.
It’s
nice to see every one after the release of the Bar. We were all triumphant. We all dreamed to
make it big in the future. We all wished
to be rich and famous. I even heard someone hinting that he would become a Supreme Court
justice someday.
When the program opened, I went in front of the crowd and recited the prayer that I have prepared. It took me less than six minutes to deliver it. Well, I delivered it from the
heart while everyone was praying with me in silence.
Three speeches followed after the singing of the National Anthem.
Our class valedictorian delivered
a nice speech. Our Dean congratulated us. He praised the batch for giving the Institute of Law more than 50 new lawyers. The
School President reminded us that our mission is to lead others and to strive for excellence in our chosen profession. Dinner and wine drinking
spoiled the rest of the evening.
I
was getting food from the side table when the University President approached
me. He shook my hand and patted me on the back.
“I asked your Dean to take you
in as a new member of the IL faculty,” he said.
His announcement sealed my lips for a while. I never expected that the University President would tell me that he is recommending a teaching job for me in the Institute of Law. I searched for word
but the only thing that came out from my mouth was, “OK sir.” I could not even say the words, "Thank you, sir" because I was really surprised.
Few minutes later, the Dean confirmed the President’s news. He told me to report the following
Monday. He also introduced me to an old lady—the Chair of the
University’s Board of Trustees.
The
old lady told me the she liked the prayer that I have recited. She requested for a
copy of the prayer. Of course, I hesitated to hand
her the prayer. It was written in a
crumpled paper.
“It’s okay,” she told me. Left without a choice, I was prompted to give her the prayer. I have asked for apology because it was written on a scratch paper but she just smiled
and bid me good luck.
And so I got my first teaching job because of a prayer written in crumpled paper. I never knew that that prayer would change the course I was charting.
Many things had happened since I
recited that prayer.
I become a teacher in law school because I praised and thank God in that crumpled paper. He made me a teacher. He entrusted me with the mission of teaching young people the art of becoming advocates of law and justice.
Well, it still is true that I might the poorest among the Tamaraw lawyers who passed the 1998 Bar. But then, I am always sufficiently rewarded for all the works that I'm doing as a teacher of law.
