About

From the Market to the Bar: A Journey of Grit, Resilience, and Results.

Most people see the title; few see the grind. My story didn’t begin in a quiet law library—it started at 2:00 AM in a bustling public market. As the eldest child in a family running a small carinderia, my "pre-game" for life involved pamamalengke, prepping ingredients, and washing dishes long before the sun came up.

Before I ever stepped into a college classroom, I was on the retail floor. From serving as a Sales Clerk at Robinsons Department Store (Stationery) to a Sales Agent at Robinsons Supermarket, I learned the value of hard work, customer psychology, and family duty. I didn't follow a traditional path; I followed the path of necessity and grit.

My entry into the legal world was almost cinematic. When my parents encouraged me to take the entrance exam at Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), I saw "AB Legal Studies" and—inspired by Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible—imagined myself as a sleek secret agent.

Admittedly, I wasn’t a "model student" at first; I was more likely to be found in a computer shop than a library. But life turns jokes into destiny. After finishing my AB degree, while job hunting in Makati, my friends and I stumbled upon the LPU College of Law. A friend joked, "Let’s just enroll so we have an allowance (baon)!" That "joke" became the ultimate turning point of my life.

Law school was a culture shock that demanded a discipline I hadn't yet mastered. Feeling the weight of my parents' sacrifices, I knew I had to step up. I transferred to Philippine Christian University (PCU) to balance my career and my budget.

I became a master of the "commuter sprint"—working full-time at Prudential Guarantee Assurance in Makati, handling recoveries and demand letters, before rushing to Taft Avenue for 5:30 PM classes. Later, I spent three years as a Property Consultant for DMCI Homes, further sharpening my negotiation and sales skills while completing my degree.

Even before earning the "Attorney" title, I was tested in the deep end. Hired as a Legal Officer for Floor Center Group of Companies, I was unexpectedly tasked to lead as the HR Head. I self-taught the complexities of Labor Relations and every facet of HR management on the fly. My career has since been defined by rapid, high-stakes growth:

• Senior HR Manager | AMA Computer College

• Associate Analyst / Senior Associate (Legal Ops) | Infosys BPM (Salesforce/SFDC)

In 2024, my Bachelor of Laws was officially conferred as a Juris Doctor degree. In January 2026, after facing the rigorous "Dragon Bar" exam, I emerged as a successful examinee. On February 6, I officially took my oath as a Full-Fledged Attorney.

To complement my legal background, I have equipped myself with global standards of professional excellence:

• Certified Practitioner in Human Resources (CPHR) by the Institute of Human Resource Professionals (IHRI).

• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Holder, ensuring that every legal and HR process I manage is optimized for efficiency and waste reduction.

I am a product of struggle and a testament that your starting line does not determine your finish. From a market errand boy to a Senior HR Leader and now a Lawyer, I carry the discipline of those 2:00 AM mornings into every case, contract, and consultation I handle.

I am not just an attorney; I am an advocate for efficiency, integrity, and relentless discipline—values I mastered in the streets long before I practiced them in the court.