62-yr.-old mom in Isabela shatters age barriers, passes 2023 Bar exam

Does age limit people from reaching their aspirations in life?

Rosula Calacala, a 62-year-old mother and government employee in Jones, Isabela, proved that chasing dreams knows no age after passing one of the toughest examinations being administered in the Philippines on her first take.

Calacala is one of the 3,812 successful Bar examinees this year.

The 62-year-old Certified Public Accountant went viral after she was caught bursting into tears outside the Supreme Court of the Philippines on December 5, inspiring Filipinos who watched her tell her story while being overwhelmed with emotions.

Didn’t expect to pass

In her interview with Bombo Radyo Cauayan on December 6, Calacala explained she was very surprised to see her name in the list of passers because she did not expect to be included in it in the first place.

“Matanda na ako, sino ang mage-expect sa akin na papasa?” She said, adding the setbacks she faced before the Bar – losing her mom in February this year and suffering from COVID-19.

Supportive family

Calacala first pitched the idea of entering law school to her children. However, when no one among them wanted to, she decided to enroll instead.

“May pamangkin kasi ako na nagla-law school sabi niya, ‘tita, tita paaralin mo yung mga anak mo ng law’ sabi niya. Eh sinabi ko naman sa mga anak ko, ayaw naman nila. So sabi ko, ako na lang mag-aral total tapos na kayong lahat,” she recalled.

Her family members supported her decision, and no one from her kids told her she was too old to get a law degree. In fact, her children were the ones who bought her books and gave her allowance while her husband was the one who took care of her, cooked for her, and did the household chores while she was studying.

‘Laging napapatayo’

The new Bar passer remembered having to adapt to the nature of law school where one has to read before attending his or her class. During her first semester, there was even a subject where she stood every session because she could not recite.

“During my semester, every time, may isa akong subject na every session talaga nakatayo talaga ako dahil hindi ako makasagot. At the end of the semester naka-adjust naman ako,” she said.

Reading all the time

Calacala admitted that her memory is not as sharp as before especially when she got infected with Covid-19. She described she had a hard time recalling names and places.

This did not deter her though as she strived to finish law school in 4 years and take the Bar immediately after graduation.

“Araw araw na habang nakabukas ang mata ko, nagbabasa ako. Walang minuto na hindi nagbabasa ang mga mata ko for as long as wala akong ginagawa,” she said.

With her success in the Bar, Calacala thanked the people behind this feat especially her family who supported her since day one.

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