27/09/2026
Almost eleven years ago, I handled a pro bono case that has stayed with me to this day. My client was a poor farmer whose farm tools had been unlawfully taken from him without a search warrant, on the allegation that the items were in violation of a law concerning the concealment of deadly weapons. We fought the case, and in the end, he was acquitted. But what I remember most was not the acquittal itself. I remember the day my client came to me with a simple offering: a few cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and some coins he had taken from his old bamboo coin bank. It certainly was not much in monetary value. But I happily accepted them because I knew they were given sincerely, from the heart. For him, those vegetables and those coins represented gratitude. For me, they became one of the most meaningful payments I have ever received as a lawyer.
That night, after the promulgation of judgment, and after everything had settled, I found myself crying. I realized that I was already a practicing lawyer, and somewhere in a small corner of the country, there was a person who had placed his trust in me and believed that I could stand up for him. That moment gave me a deeper sense of fulfillment than any professional recognition could have given me. I prayed to the Good Lord for wisdom to know what is right, strength to stand for it, and courage to continue serving those who are less privileged in life and victims of injustices. Almost eleven years later, I still carry that prayer with me. It reminds me that the practice of law is not only about cases, pleadings, victories, or fees. Sometimes, the greatest reward is knowing that you became someone the poor and the underprivileged could depend on when they had nowhere else to turn.
Yes, that night too, I just gifted myself with milk tea because I was sure my wife was hotter than my coffee. 😁
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