“You put God in everything you do, and you will be guided all throughout.” – Atty. Rocky Thomas A. Balisong
His words of wisdom leave an inspiring message. He showed how his faith in God rose him from financial difficulties and helped him achieve the profession he is passionate about.
He’s a man of faith, determination, and perseverance.
Born and reared in Lepanto, Mankayan, Benguet, Atty. Rocky Thomas A. Balisong once dreamt of being a Catholic priest. At a young age, he served as a convent boy at Santa Rita Parish in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
As an altar server, everyone would have thought that he was destined to be a priest, “but somewhere along the way, I had an interest in becoming a lawyer,” shared Atty. Balisong during an interview with Bombo Radyo Baguio.
However, achieving his dream isn’t a walk in the park, as their family was struggling financially. Since their mother was a full-time housewife, their father, who was an employee of the Lepanto Mining Company, was the only one providing for their needs.
Despite suffering from financial problems, he persevered in finishing his studies by doing his part, focusing on his goal and always believing in himself.
“You cannot always rely on our creator. Of course one factor is you have to pray. You have to ask God for his guidance… for you to achieve your goals.”
Atty. Rocky Thomas A. Balisong
He graduated as a class salutatorian in elementary and was also a consistent academic achiever in his high school days at Lepanto. Though he spent most of his childhood life in Lepanto, he transferred to Tabuk National High School, where he finally finished his secondary education.
He then took a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Baguio Colleges Foundation (now University of the Cordilleras) and graduated in 1991. In taking law, he spent his first two years at the College of Law in the same school but transferred to Manuel L. Quezon University, where he graduated in 1995. With determination, he studied hard and passed the bar exam on March 3, 1996.
To support his studies, he had been a working student throughout his college years. He had been a waiter at his aunt’s restaurant, where he received free food and allowances. Not only that, he also taught at the Data Center of the Philippines in his last two years at the College of Law.
“Being a lawyer is actually my ambition na iyong courtroom drama na tinatawag. Dun kasi iyong passion ko. Iyong talagang mag a-appear sa court at makikipagtagisan. Iyong ilalaban iyong kaso ng kliyente.”
Joining him in his passion is his wife, who is also a lawyer. As the saying goes, every tree bears good fruit; their two eldest children are now lawyers. Their third child is a registered nurse and is currently taking up medicine, while their two youngest children are still studying in college.
Now, he is successfully practicing his profession in Baguio City. Though his dream of being a Catholic priest was not fulfilled, he still always put God in everything he does.
“Without God, haan tayo a magun-od dagitoy nga arapaap tayo iti biyag ket mamati ak nga isuna amin ti mangiturong iti dana ti biyag iti tunggal maysa kadatayo ditoy rabaw ti daga.”
