AS A reward for his hard work and sacrifices, the former janitor who made headlines for passing the 2016 bar examinations was honored by no less than Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada.
Ramil Comendador, who completed his law in the city-run Universidad de Manila, received P100,000 cash incentive and plaque of recognition from Estrada in simple ceremonies at the Office of the Mayor on Thursday.
“Success is no accident,” Estrada said of Comendador’s feat.
“Mr. Comendador truly proved that hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice are all you need to achieve your dream,” Estrada said.
Estrada said he was personally awed by Comendador’s success story and hoped every Filipino would be inspired by him.
“It’s not every day you’ll meet someone like Mr. Comendador—rather Atty. Comendador now—who juggled work, family, and study to become what he is now.”
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work,” Estrada said, quoting American statesman and retired US Army Gen. Colin Powell.
Comendador’s success, Estrada added, motivated him to further improve the city’s educational system, especially at the city-run public schools and universities, “so that more young ‘Comendadors’ will be inspired to study hard and become successful and responsible citizens in the future.”
Estrada said he was so proud of the university’s achievement.
“It shows we are succeeding in raising the standards of the UDM, and making it at par with private universities.”
UDM, formerly known as the City College of Manila, is one of the universities and colleges in Manila funded by the city government.
It currently has 12,000 students, all considered scholars because their tuition fees are subsidized by the city government.
Comendador is the latest successful product of UDM after Arianne Joyce Gimenez, who placed 10th in the November nurse licensure examinations.
She, too, was gifted with P100,000 cash by Estrada last February.
The former janitor-turned-researcher of the Commission on Elections is one of the 13 UDM law graduates who passed the bar exams.
He enrolled at UDM-College of Law in 2011 and belatedly finished it only last year due to his erratic work schedule.
Prior to taking up law, Comendador finished his Bachelor of Science in Public Administration degree in the same university.
Comendador lives with his geodetic engineer-wife Cristy, and two sons aged 8 and 4, at the Pabahay ni Erap in Malabon City. He now works as an election assistant/researcher at the Malabon office of Comelec.
He worked as utility worker at the Comelec main office in Intramuros for four years, starting in 2007, with a measly monthly salary of only P5,000 that he used to help finance his studies.
“I am thankful for the excellent schooling at UDM. If there was no UDM, we will not be able to reach anything. Thank you to UDM and the support given by Mayor Erap,” he said in Tagalog.
Comendador credits his success to his mother, a single parent, for teaching him the value of education. “All that I have sacrificed for, for my family, especially to (sic) my mother who supported us,” he said.
As to his father he never saw, he said he was still hoping he would get to meet him someday: “I just want to have the feeling of a son having a father.”
Recounting his hardships as a working student, Comendador narrated he was often late at school because of his eight-hour work but he never gave up; it only encouraged him to work harder.
He also thanked his lawyer-friends at Comelec who lent him books he needed in school because he could not afford to buy all of it because of his limited financial resources.
“Learn how to dream, ask for guidance from the Lord, and reach for your goals in life,” Comendador said.