The story of perseverance of law student Jules Millanar is truly heartwarming; orphaned at an early age, he is now one of the 3,962 passers of the 2024 Bar Examinations.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Jules Millanar |
In a Facebook post on Sunday, December 15, Jules shared how he overcame the major challenges that affected not only him but also his two siblings.
“For those who might not know, I was orphaned at the early age of 15. We lost our mother in 2011, and just over a year later, my father tragically joined her. Our eldest sister was only 17, barely an adult herself, while our youngest was just 12. We were still kids who desperately needed parents, but life doesn’t wait for anyone to grow up,” Jules said.
According to him, his mother passed away due to colon cancer, while his father died of a heart attack.
“My mom died of colon cancer. She was selfless to the end; her only 'bisyo' was her family. The night before she died, she miraculously conjured the energy to hug me tightly even though she was in extreme pain. My father’s end came differently, but it was no less tragic. He suffered a heart attack in his bed. He had gripped his rosary so tightly that it shattered into pieces. He was pleading for his life, but even prayers that fierce went unanswered,” he said.
During that time, Jules said that all he and his siblings had was their father's insurance, but it was not enough.
He admitted that life seemed meaningless for him. There were days when he felt like he no longer wanted to exist.
“But I knew that if I gave in to despair, my sisters wouldn’t just have to bury another family member,” he justified. “They’d also inherit a heartbreak so deep it would scar them forever.”
Because of this, he was forced to move forward — not because he found hope, but out of obligation.
So, when the Bar exam results were released and Jules saw his name among the passers, he broke down.
For those who might not know, I was orphaned at the early age of 15. We lost our mother in 2011, and just over a year...
Posted by Jules Millanar on Saturday, December 14, 2024
Amid this victory, Jules did not forget to thank the people who, despite not being related to them by blood, extended help to him and his siblings.
In the end, Jules wished for those who read his post never to experience what he and his siblings went through. But if they ever find themselves in a similar situation, he hopes they will find the strength to fight and rise again, even when it seems impossible.
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
