Couple’s treat: Boyfriend passes 2025 Bar exams after girlfriend gets doctor’s license

MANILA, Philippines – Arvene Flores awaited the results of the 2025 Bar Examinations at the Supreme Court (SC) grounds on Wednesday, January 7, with his supportive girlfriend, Dr. Grace Maggay.

The couple burst into tears when they learned that Flores was among the 5,594 takers who passed the 2025 Bar Examinations, and hugged each other tightly.

Months earlier, in October last year, Maggay passed the Physicians Licensure Examination.

Flores later gave media a glimpse of his inspiring story.

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Flores said becoming a lawyer was his childhood dream — he wanted to help people understand their rights.

“Nakita ko kasi na a lot of our Filipino na kababayan parang hindi sila masyadong aware or parang nate-take advantage sila dahil siyempre hindi sila familiar [sa batas]. So I want to help po [kung] ano ‘yong kaya kong itutulong sa mga tao,” he said.

(I saw that a lot of our fellow Filipinos are not aware or are being taken advantage of because they’re not familiar with our laws. So I want to help with whatever I can.)

Flores said he is a working law student from Arellano University so he had to juggle his studies and his job.

“I’m a working student so I had to work while studying in law school…. Self-supporting ako, I had to find time after work [do’n] ako mag-aaral,” Flores told reporters. “And I think everything, ‘yong sacrifice, [is] worth it. Dahil ‘yan, nakita ko ‘yong pangalan ko.”

(I’m self-supporting, I had to find time after work to study. And I think everything, the sacrifice, is worth it because I saw my name in the list of passers.)

Maggay, who is a witness to her boyfriend’s perseverance, shared that Flores did not have enough sleep when he took the Bar exams.

“Sobrang proud po kami. Pumasok siya, [nag-take ng] Bar exams siya na wala talagang tulog as in. Sabi ko, nire-remind ko siya matulog siya pero pumupunta siya sa testing site na walang tulog,” Maggay shared.

(We are so proud of him. He even took the Bar exams without sleep. I told him, I reminded him to get some sleep but he went to the testing site without proper rest.)

For aspiring lawyers who are working students like him, Flores has this advice: “No matter how long it will take you, ang goal naman natin is pumupunta sa finish line na ‘yan, maging isang self-employed abogado. So manage your time well and I think mag-rest din…. Hindi lang puro work and aral,” the incoming lawyer said.

(No matter how long it will take you, our goal is to get to the finish line and become a self-employed lawyer. So manage your time well and I think you have to get some rest too – not only studies and work.) – Rappler.com