MANILA, Philippines – Bar passer Ronald Vincent Gonzales’ journey to the legal profession is a testament to resilience, discipline, and faith.
Once a delivery rider navigating city streets, Gonzales is now a newly minted lawyer who placed 20th in the 2025 Bar Examinations, proving that detours do not diminish destiny.
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| Photo courtesy: Ronald Vincent Gonzales via Philstar Life |
Out of 5,594 passers, the 27-year-old University of the East (UE) College of Law graduate earned a score of 89.31.
His achievement was celebrated at the Supreme Court alongside family and friends, some of whom wore headbands bearing his face in a show of support.
Gonzales’ path was far from straightforward. According to Philstar Life, after high school, he entered the Philippine Military Academy as part of the Class of 2020, fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a soldier.
However, his stay lasted only a year after he was dismissed for a rule violation, abruptly ending his military aspirations.
The setback left him disheartened and depressed for months, but eventually led him to reassess his purpose.
Believing that law was his new calling, Gonzales enrolled in college and later pursued law school at UE, where he balanced academics with financial realities.
He briefly worked as a delivery rider and later secured a scholarship to ease his family’s burden.
Despite never being an honor student, he persevered, eventually becoming president of the UE Law Student Government.
In preparing for the grueling September 2025 Bar Exams, Gonzales followed a strict routine, combining intensive study with “passive learning” through audio lectures during exercise.
He credits “rest and prayer” as vital to surviving the process, along with the support of his family.
Gonzales also acknowledged the discipline instilled in him during his time at the PMA, which he carried into his Bar preparation.
Inspired by his experiences and exposure to hardship, he now plans to join the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), determined to serve those deprived of privilege and justice.
From setbacks to success, Atty. Ronald Vincent Gonzales’ story underscores that no distance is too far when fueled by a dream. Congratulations!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express