28/03/2026
"๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐
๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ!"
๐ด๐ก๐ก๐ฆ. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ. ๐ด๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ | ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ค
โWisdom lies in discerning when to speak and when to be still. Let us never allow ourselves to be silenced when speaking up matters most.โ This powerful quote finds a living embodiment in Atty. Maria Lourdes Isabel C. Arevalo, the Dean of the ESSU College of Law, whose journey reflects the quiet strength, resilient heart, and courageous voice that define true leadershipโone that listens with intent, acts with purpose, and speaks with unwavering conviction when it matters most.
She consistently excelled in her academics: from topping her batch during elementary to graduating from the most prestigious university in the country, the University of the Philippines Visayas โ Tacloban College, with a degree in Social Sciences major in Political Science. Throughout the years, she has served her peers and the community in numerous capacities, most notably as the Suprema of the UP Politikons, a college-based organization of the Division of Social Sciences in UPVTC. Heeding her heartโs earnest desire to be a beacon of truth, justice, and public service, she enrolled in the Juris Doctor program of the Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, Inc. College of Law. At a time when the world stood still in the grip of the pandemic, she rose with unwavering courage, sharpened her knowledge, and summoned relentless grit to conquer one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated examinations in the Philippinesโthe Bar Examination. She then worked as a private practitioner, helping the people resolve conflicts and find comfort in the sanctity and fairness of our laws. Her calm and reserved demeanor belies the breadth and impact of the transformative initiatives and meaningful work she has led and accomplished. Her path reveals a woman who understands when to listen, when to act, and most importantly, when to speak with conviction in pursuit of justice and service.
As a legal practitioner in Borongan City, she gives voice to those who often go unheard, translating her knowledge of the law into meaningful action at the grassroots level. Her work is not merely a profession, but a vocation and reflection of her belief that silence has no place where truth and justice are at stake. This same courage shaped her earlier role in public governance as an Area Coordinator for Tingog Sinirangan Partylist, where she engaged communities and contributed to inclusive representation. In the academe, Atty. Arevalo fiercely exemplifies her favorite quoteโguiding and teaching students not only to think critically, but to find their own voice and use it with purpose and conviction.
As part of the campaign, her life story is a reminder that true wisdom is not staticโit is dynamic, discerning, and brave. Like the babaylans before her, Atty. Arevalo leads with fearless conviction, grounded in knowledge, and driven by a deep sense of purpose. In every role she undertakes, she proves that while silence can be powerful, it is the courage to speak when it matters most that defines true leadership.
