For Atty. Jeowy Loyloy Ompad, passing the Bar was already a miracle. Topping it—emerging as Top 6 in the 2025 Bar Examinations and the only Cebuano to enter the Top 20—was a grace he never demanded, only entrusted to God.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Even before the Supreme Court’s live announcement, anxiety had already taken hold. Sleep never came the night before. His body was exhausted, but his mind refused to rest, so he prayed.
By noon, the tension became physical. He cried. He vomited. At home with his wife — while their three children were in school — he tried to steady himself. It was his wife who encouraged him to watch the live announcement and face whatever outcome awaited.
When his name was finally called, gratitude came before celebration. He thanked God and embraced his wife. What he hoped for had become real.
Expectation, Doubt, and the Surprise of Top 6
After the Bar Exams, Atty. Ompad felt cautiously confident. He believed he answered well and expected to land within the Top 20. The lowest score he anticipated was 89.
But when 89 was announced and his name was not called, he thought his chances were gone.
Moments later, disbelief set in as his name was announced as Top 6, especially when his alma mater, University of San Jose–Recoletos, was mentioned. In that moment, he silently prayed to bring pride to Cebu and his hometown in Bantayan.
Rooted in the Sea
Atty. Ompad grew up in Moamboc Island, Bantayan, in a family of fisherfolk. Poverty was the life he lived.
He carries no shame in his roots. Instead, he draws strength from them.
From his father, he learned values that would define his character: never steal, no matter how difficult life becomes. “Once you start stealing,” his father would warn, “you will never stop.”
By the age of six, he was already helping his father — waking up at 5 a.m., returning home just in time to prepare for school. Fatigue was never an excuse. Responsibilities came first. That early structure shaped his discipline, time management, and relentless work ethic.
Why He Chose Law
He did not pursue law for wealth or status.
When he decided to study law despite already holding a senior position in the corporate world, many questioned him. To them, it seemed like reaching the peak — only to jump off and start over.
But Atty. Ompad had a deeper purpose.
He wanted to become a lawyer so the people from his hometown — the fisherfolk and the less fortunate — would have someone they could easily turn to for legal help, guidance, and representation.
Building a Foundation Before Law School
He took up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the University of Cebu–Main Campus, where he was a full scholar for four years. Tuition, books, and allowance were provided — an opportunity he credits entirely to God.
He later became a Certified Public Accountant and worked for 12 years in various locations, including overseas, before entering law school. He deliberately built his career and savings first, ensuring stability before taking on the demands of legal education.
While he does not consider his pre-law course an advantage, Accountancy familiarized him with legal terminology, allowing him to focus on more complex subjects. Still, he believes that success in law school ultimately depends on discipline, determination, study habits, and faith.
Life as a Working Law Student
While studying law, Atty. Ompad worked as a finance controller, a demanding role that often required taking calls even during class. At the same time, he was a husband, a father of three (now four, with one on the way), and someone managing multiple responsibilities.
For him, being a working student is not a disadvantage — it is a test of discipline.
He believes in computing time realistically. From the 24 hours in a day, he subtracts travel, work, and class hours. What remains, often only two to three hours, must be maximized. Studying before sleeping, waking up earlier, and prioritizing effectively became non-negotiable.
A System Built on Discipline
His Bar preparation began the moment he entered law school.
During regular semesters, he woke up at 4 a.m. to memorize codals, worked full days, attended late-night classes, and still studied before sleeping, no matter how exhausted he felt.
During Bar review, he trained his body and mind to endure four-hour focused study sessions, mirroring the actual exam. His routine included exercise, structured reading, past Bar questions, and strict discipline — no cellphone after dinner.
He followed a clear reading order: (1) codals, (2) personal notes, (3) past bar questions and cases, and (4) practice answering the past bar questions.
By the time he took the Bar, he had finished all 327 cases, many of which he began studying even before graduation.
Faith in the Midst of Fear
The Bar Exams were not without struggle.
On the first day, he had no sleep due to anxiety. He vomited, felt disoriented, and struggled to articulate answers despite knowing them. His mind felt detached from his body.
Remembering his professor’s advice, he prayed for calm and guidance. He focused on writing answers that were logical, concise, and sensible. When drowsiness set in, he used Vicks to stay awake and continued praying through every question.
A Voice for the Fisherfolk
Beyond professional success, Atty. Ompad’s mission is clear.
He wants to advocate for fisherfolk, pushing for social justice, sustainability, and proper representation of coastal communities in Cebu. He believes that those who provide food for the nation deserve protection, dignity, and a strong legal voice.
The Topnotcher’s Mindset
His secret is simple but demanding: aim for the top from the very beginning. When the goal is clear, discipline, character, values, and perseverance naturally follow.
A Message, a Dedication, and What Comes Next
For Atty. Jeowy Loyloy Ompad, this victory is not his alone.
He dedicates his achievement first to God, whom he credits for every opportunity, strength, and answered prayer. He also offers this milestone to his wife, who stood by him through financial struggles and uncertainty; to his children, who became his motivation; and to his parents and in-laws, whose values and sacrifices shaped his character.
He is equally grateful to his professors, law school friends and support groups, and to his community in Bantayan Island and Cebu, whose prayers and belief carried him through the most difficult moments.
Above all, he considers himself merely an instrument — one of many hands and hearts that made the journey possible.
His story, however, is not only meant for aspiring lawyers. It is a message for anyone who has a dream.
“If you have a dream, you have to work for it,” he said. “Ang imong damgo, magpabilin ra nang damgo kung imo ra nang ikatulog.”
Dreams, he believes, demand effort, discipline, and faith. They ask us to rise early, endure quietly, and keep going even when no one is watching.
As for what comes next, Atty. Ompad plans to continue working in the corporate world while remaining open to opportunities aligned with his values and advocacy. His long-term mission remains clear: to serve the less fortunate and to become a strong legal voice for the fisherfolk who shaped the man — and now the lawyer — he has become.
