PHYSICAL DISABILITY NOT A HINDRANCE TO THIS FEISTY LAWYER

Atty.Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua,  State Solicitor and advocate of rights of  PWDs   (Persons  with Disability)

Atty. Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua was born a “special” child.  She had a rare medical condition called “spina bifida” that left her  with clubbed feet and with a part of her spinal cord exposed.

Early on in life,  Atty. Jessica learned to walk with  crutches.  She went to traditional schooling like any other girl of her age. She  did not allow her physical condition to stop her from having a life of her own.

Atty. Jessica  earned a college degree at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.  She  later worked at the Hall of Justice of Pasay City, where her daily encounters with lawyers inspired her to become a lawyer herself. Determined, she enrolled in the weekend law classes of Arellano University. For five years, she balanced work and studies. She eventually finished law school in 1999 at age thirty-four.

But while preparing for her bar exams, life sprung a surprise. Atty. Jessica  was diagnosed with "pyelonephritis" or inflammation of the kidney. She had to undergo dialysis right away.  A nephrologist advised her to have preemptive kidney transplant.

While still recuperating from her kidney transplant operation, Atty. Jessica  took the bar exam. In March 2002, Jec saw her name in the list of bar passers. And two months later, she was sworn in as a lawyer.

In 2006, life gave her another surprise, she met her future husband named Angel, whom she married two  years after.

Atty. Jessica is currently a State Solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General in Makati City.  where she has been  working for more than ten years now.

In "Pointers for New College Graduates," Atty. Jessica had these to share and more:

• Have a dream. If after self-examination, you find that your course is not going to take you to where you want to be, you need to retrain. You have to save money and allocate time preparing yourself. It is important that you ask for emotional support from your family members. Ask for their understanding.

• Look into your future. Reflect on what is important to you when you reach your twilight years, would you be happy with the career path you have chosen? Be brave and go for your dream. Take the “road less traveled” if you have to.

• Pray. Ask for signs to confirm that whatever career you perceive to be best for you is actually what God has planned for you. You will need quiet, solitude and time to find answers.

Read more about Atty. Jessica Siquijor-Magbanua,  and her pointers for new college graduates-- specifically those considering a career in  government service.

"Pointers for New College Graduates" by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at Fully Booked,  St. Pauls Bookstores and branches of Catholic Book Center.