Inspiring story of the 20-year journey of a father and daughter conquering the Bar together go viral

• Ferdinand Narciso finally passed the Bar Exam on his fifth attempt after a nearly 20-year hiatus from his initial dream
• Mary Joyce Narciso inspired her father to return to law school after she decided to pursue a legal career to impact society
• The duo lived and studied together in Manila, navigating the financial and emotional toll of the country's toughest licensure test
• Both father and daughter were among the 5,594 successful examinees who passed the historic 2025 Bar Examinations

Ferdinand Narciso, 57, and his daughter, Mary Joyce Narciso, officially joined the ranks of the country’s 5,594 new lawyers this year.

Their success is more than just a professional milestone; it is a story of grit, role reversal, and a father’s refusal to let a dream die.

Ferdinand’s pursuit of the "Atty." title began in 2005. At the time, Mary Joyce was only in the fifth grade, watching her father navigate the grueling review process.

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Despite his dedication, Ferdinand faced heartbreak four times, failing in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009.

Crushed by the repetitive setbacks, he eventually decided to hang up his books, seemingly leaving his legal aspirations in the past.

The spark was reignited nearly 20 years later, but this time, the roles were reversed. Mary Joyce, who had been working for five years, secretly decided to enter law school to seek a more impactful career.

When she finally revealed her plans to her father, the news did more than just surprise him—it inspired him.

"When I passed the law school entrance exam, si papa tinanong niya ako kung itutuloy ko ba. So sabi ko, 'Yes Papa, I want to enroll sa law school'," Mary Joyce recalled. "And then siya 'yung na-inspire to take the exam again. Tinanong niya ako when I'll be graduating, I told him 2025. And then that's when we made the decision together to take the exam right after I graduate."

The journey was a massive undertaking. Ferdinand had to return to law school for his fourth-year refresher and take a sabbatical from work, while Mary Joyce resigned from her job to focus entirely on the review.

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Financing decades of study and multiple exam attempts had already taken a toll, making this "final stand" a high-pressure gamble for the family.

Living together in Manila during the final review months, the duo developed a silent but powerful routine.

While they used different study methods—Ferdinand in a formal review center and Mary Joyce studying independently—they shared the same table.

"So 'yung schedule namin, early morning maguluto na kami ng breakfast. Either ako o siya. Tapos may separate tables. Naka-set up na yung codals niya, 'yung reviewers niya. Ako din, nakaset up na rin 'yung reviewers ko, 'yung codals ko, 'yung laptop ko. Tapos tahimik kami. Hindi kami nag-uusap," Mary Joyce said.

On the day the results were released, the anxiety was palpable. Having witnessed her father’s pain 20 years ago, Mary Joyce’s priority was his success.

"So sakto una 'yung name ni papa sa list. Umiyak na talaga ako," she said. "And then doon ko lang naalala, ''Yung pangalan ko rin ba nandoon?' So nakita ko din 'yung pangalan ko, so sobrang saya 'yung family namin. Until now, pino-process pa rin namin pero sobrang saya talaga for our family."

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For Ferdinand, the victory belongs to his daughter. "Thank you very much sa'yo anak at ikaw actually ang inspirasyon ko rin talaga kung bakit tinuloy-tuloy natin ng mag-Bar at eventually nakapasa ako."

In other news, investigators have officially dismissed romantic jealousy as a potential trigger for the fatal shooting that occurred in Sibulan on January 9. The violent episode resulted in the tragic loss of four lives, specifically claiming a female civilian and three members of the local police force. The Philippine National Police identified extreme alcohol consumption during a birthday gathering as a primary catalyst for the unexpected outbreak of violence. In response to the tragedy, administrative changes were immediately implemented, leading to the dismissal of top-ranking law enforcement officials in Negros Oriental.

Still in other news, law enforcement officers in San Pablo City have successfully taken into custody the individual suspected of the brutal killing of an eight-year-old student. The harrowing details of the Grade 3 pupil's death have ignited a massive digital protest, with citizens intensely lobbying for the return of capital punishment. The arrest was made possible through strategic intelligence gathering, aimed at providing a swift path to justice for the victim's grieving relatives. Despite the suspect being behind bars, the local community remains on edge as families express heightened anxiety over the safety of their children in public spaces.

Source: KAMI.com.gh