Twenty-four year old Francis Dominic Pedroche Abril of Barangay Salaan, Mangaldan has ranked 9th in the graduating batch of the School of Law of Saint Louis University in Baguio City.
FD is the son of the late Barangay Captain in Salaan and Local Government Unit employee, Kap. Cesar Abril and Mangaldan National High School Teacher Mrs. Lorna Abril. He is the youngest of two siblings, his older brother Jover also served their community as Barangay Kagawad.
He graduated Cum Laude in his undergraduate degree in Legal Studies at the same University in 2016.
FB admitted that the road towards his Juris Doctor degree was not easy and that he was heart-broken for failing entrance examinations in high school and college.
“I failed the Special Science High School Class Entrance Test, and UPCAT (for a Science course also). It broke my heart. I questioned my worth/capacity. Yun pala, hindi naman pala ako para sa ganung field. Yung Bachelor’s ko is Legal Studies kasi na-intriga ako sa Impeachment ni CJ Corona (circa,2012 nung pa-college nako). It feels like home. Masaya pala ang batas. So tumuloy ako ng abogasya. Ayun, nasurvive ko pala. Lesson: baka kaya tayo bumabagsak sa entrance tests ng Schools kasi hinahanda tayo ng tadhana sa journey na babagay sa atin,” FD said.
FB was supposed to take the November 2020 bar examination, however due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Supreme Court has postponed the said exam. FD also shared that as a full-time student with no source of income, so he was eager to take legal-related jobs.
“Yung Bar hindi lang patalinuhan o pagalingan ng pagsulat. I could even say its completely a psychological test. Presently, I am balancing time for myself, my work, and my studies. Ayoko na malunod sa academics. Ito mali ko nung law school to the extent na compromise mental health ko nun kasi ginawa kong mundo ang pag-aaral. This time, kumpleto ako sa tulog, kain, exercise, and other wellness,” said when asked how he is preparing for the Bar this year.
FD plans on specializing in civil and commercial law. He also finds government procurement and anti-money laundering interesting as a legal field.
Mangaldan’s future lawyer gets his motivation and inspiration from his personal experiences and struggles.
“Dati ung source of inspiration ko is to face or challenge Miriam Santiago, JPE, Serafin Cuevas, Estilito Mendoza. Mahuhusay sila. Tingin ko gusto ko sila makalaban. David- Golliath lang ang peg. Pero gusto ko lang talaga ma-challenge. Ngayon, may dagdag inspirasyon na. Poverty, death of my father, family inheritance issues na ang mga hugot ko.”
When asked what he can advise current law students and Mangaldan’s future lawyers, he answered:
“The study of law is like a walk in the park-jurassic park. Understatement pa nga yung hardcore difficult eh. Pero at the end of the day, isipin mo, right to life,liberty, and property ang pinaglalaban mo kaya paghirapan mong aralin at kabisaduhin paano mo ipagtatanggol ang kliyente mo. Lahat ng hirap, iyak, pagod, part ng process. Embrace mo lang ‘yan. Di mo mamalayan nakagraduate ka na pala. As an evidence, Uhm, Exhibit “A”: Nakagraduate ako.”
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Aldrin Soriano 
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