Working student, solo mom becomes a lawyer

ILOILO City – They say it is difficult for one to become a lawyer.

However, an employee of DSWD Field Office VI and a solo parent has hurdled the challenge and became a full-fledged lawyer recently.

Regional Information Officer Atty. May R. Castillo is one of the few organic employees of the regional office who became a lawyer. She became full-fledged after the signing of Roll of Attorneys at the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Manila lately. She was solely accompanied by her 79-year old father Conrado Rago who represented the whole family particularly on behalf of Atty. Castillo’s son Feljames and her deceased mother Asuncion Grecia Javellana whom she lost in August 2021, while preparing for the bar examinations due to cardiac arrest.

Asked about her secret of survival, she said that, “the achievement is a product of God’s grace, that when one pours out all her efforts and at the same time helps others, God gives victory.”

“Of course, there is no shortcut. Preparation is key. Balancing work, motherhood and studies has always been challenging. I have refused many island getaways because I have to study. I also had to keep track of office deliverables because I dont want to compromise my work. My son has and is always a motivation,” she said.

For Atty. Castillo, writing is her first love as she entered the media industry way back in 1999 as a volunteer writer for then Daily Informer. She then worked as a correspondent of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and later as a Senior Field Reporter of Panay News, a local newspaper. She spent her five years as a beat reporter covering Police Regional Office 6, Hall of Justice, and Iloilo City Hall.

Atty. Castillo enhanced her passion for writing when she first entered and was hired by the Agency in June 2004 as a writer for KALAHI-CIDSS or Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services.

Barely a year, she was assigned as Information Officer-designate. In September 2005, she was appointed as the Regional Information Officer (RIO). She then continued her passion for positive change through her advocacies for upliftment of lives, welfare, and protection of children, elderly, underprivileged, and the marginalized sectors as she wrote many feature stories highlighting the impacts made by the Department through different programs, services, and interventions.

Atty. Castillo has provided key support in the DSWD operations along communication work from typhoons Frank, Yolanda, Guimaras Strait Tragedy, Boracay closure, COVID 19 response, implementation of Social Amelioration Program, Special Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the recent tropical depression Agaton.

During her stint, she received numerous awards such as Best Performing Information Officer in 2010 and 2012, Most Promising Writer by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and Best Blogger for two consecutive years under the Smart Journ.Ph online platform, among others.

CALLING

It’s been her long dream to become a lawyer since she graduated With Honors and Salutatorian in Mandurriao Elementary School and Mandurriao National High School in Iloilo City, respectively. She was awarded Best Debater, Best Speaker, and Best in English during her high school days.

In college, she is also an academic awardee in her senior year when she took Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications major in Journalism at the West Visayas State University here. Being a media practitioner has opened so many good opportunities for her and one of these was when she was hired by the DSWD.

While working at the Department, an opportunity came her way when she enrolled herself in the Bachelor of Laws at Central Philippine University here way back 2003-2004. In the following year, she was not able to proceed with her second year because she could not support her studies then.

Years had passed, Atty. Castillo got this motivation and inspiration from her 15-year-old son to continue her law school.

She then enrolled at the University of San Agustin in 2017 until she graduated and passed the bar examinations.

Today, Atty. Castillo continues working at the Department handling PCC, 8888, Anti-Red-Tape Unit, and Social Marketing Section.

Atty. Castillo also thanks the people who believed and supported her such as her family, professors at USA College of Law, Jurists Review Center, and DSWD Management headed by Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, among others.

“Since this is a product of grace, there are many people who have helped. I may not mention everyone but please know that I am grateful. May you all be blessed even more and your kindness will come back to you,” she said.//mgc