For a family, having one child become a lawyer is already a remarkable achievement. But what if not just one, but three siblings share the same success?
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Butuan City siblings become lawyers together
This became a reality for the Reserva family from Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte. Jobo Angelo, Pocholo Isabelo, and Harriet Golda Reserva all passed the 2023 Bar Examinations, officially earning the title of full-fledged lawyers. It seems as though destiny had reserved three slots just for them in this year’s Bar.
Photo courtesy: Harriet Golda Reserva (FB) via Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo
The three siblings reportedly come from a family of lawyers, but their simultaneous success in the Bar Exams was not something they planned. As first-time takers, they had no intention of taking the exam together or passing as a group.
In an interview with The Summit Express, Harriet Golda shared that all of them were first-time takers. She and her brother, Pocholo Isabelo, were law school classmates and graduated together. Meanwhile, their brother, Jobo Angelo, graduated in 2022 but chose to defer his Bar exam to take it alongside Harriet and Pocholo.
Photo courtesy: Harriet Golda Reserva (FB) via Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo
Working for their family firm
“All of us takers are working for our family firm RESERVA LAW OFFICE (alongside my sister, Hillary Olga Reserva, who passed the Bar in 2022 and my dad, Atty. James Reserva),” Harriet Golda told The Summit Express.
On her Facebook post on December 23, 2023, Atty. Harriet Golda shared her experiences during the Bar Exam.
The Intense Bar Exam experience
It can be read, “On the first day of the bar exam, I went home very discouraged because I was not able to follow the instructions in Political law.”
“I cried everything to my dad the whole night until the next day, because I thought I was gonna be disqualified from passing.”
“Come the 2nd day, I asked my mom if I can withdraw from the bar exams because my heightened emotions made me forget everything I studied for in Civil and Labor.”
“She told me, ‘ga, bahalag wala kay i-tubag. Just show up.’ And so I did. I finished the second day with a heavy heart because I knew to myself that wasn’t my best.”
“On the 3rd day, I became extremely sick. I couldn’t eat nor sleep because the stress and anxiety took over everything at that point. What sustained me, however, was [an energy drink], the Supreme Court’s set-up clinics in the bar site, the proctors in my exam room for accompanying me to the rest room every 30 minutes (yes, almost 15 times ko nangihi ato na adlaw) and above all, PRAYERS.”
“Prayers, prayers, prayers. I’ve always had a very complicated relationship with my faith and my God, but the bar journey just put all of my spiritual senses alive.”
“To pass the bar is a miracle. It is not enough that you are diligent, or that you read 12 hours a day— you also have to surrender and humble yourself over the fact that not everything is within your control.”
“If it is God’s will, then it is his will that has to be done. So if you ask me how I made it, I’d say JUST DO YOUR BEST and SURRENDER EVERYTHING TO GOD.”
Full-fledged lawyer
On December 22, 2023, Harriet became a ‘full-fledged lawyer,’ along with her siblings.
“I did not make this on my own. In fact, 20% ra ako efforts ani. It was all my mom, my dad, my mama say, my siblings (who are also now lawyers), my support system, and above all, GOD,” she said.
“Thank you so much for everyone’s prayers and support. Now it’s time to give back to GOD for giving me and my siblings this miracle.”
