A Striking Similarity

Look more closely at Ms. Mary Jean Lacaba at left, the latest kidnap victim of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf, and Ms. Judy Lardizabal at right, the latest lady topnotcher of the Philippine Bar Exam. Now, you will confirm with me the striking similarity between the two faces both exuding calmness, inner confidence, and above all, COURAGE, i.e. the Filipina of today.

Both had been peppered with the anxiety of waiting - one from 75 days of captivity and the other from 175 days of suspended animation since taking the bar exam in September 2008.

Ms. Lacaba told us all the hardships that they went through in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf such as suffering from diarrhea for lack of potable water, poor food ration, constantly moving from one place to another even in the middle of the night to elude pursuing government troops, hogtied sometimes, and worst of all - the threat of being beheaded anytime. That was simply horrible, but what raw courage was there that we saw from the two other kidnap victims and Ms. Lacaba.

Ms. Lardizabal, on the other hand, told us about the anxiety of waiting for the result of the bar exam. But that was not simple case of waiting for a result. Consider the pressure that she went through becasue her classmates and professors did not just expect her to pass but to top the bar exam. There were earlier indications when she used to top her class examinations by getting perfect or almost perfect scores in all of her exams since her third year at the San Sebastian College of Law. For simple Judy, she was just praying to pass the bar exam. Then, the result came and she even refused to watch TV or read the news for fear that she might have failed and frustrated a lot of people. But alas, her classmates' and professors' expectations came. She did not only pass the bar exam but came out to the top among more than 6,000 examinees from more than 100 law schools in the country.

The nature of pain and anxiety experienced by both women may not be the same but they give us some clear lessons and insights: 1) the Filipina has gone far way ahead outside of just being the mother at home (both have families of their own, by the way); 2) it showed that the empowered Filipina can rise to our expectations and prove their worth when given equal opportunity with their male counterparts; 3) Prayer and unwavering faith in God spell the difference.

Mary Jean and Judy: your stories may be retold several times and regardless of how they will be portrayed in the angle and preferrence of the writer, they will serve to inspire us no end. I know you will reach far greater heights of achievement, and maybe fame too, but I still wish you good luck, God bless you.