Bar topnotcher sets sights on politics

Emerging as one of the topnotchers in the 2006 Bar Examinations, this young Muslim raised in Cebu City wants to become a politician.

Al-shwaid Ismael, 27, who landed eight in the examinations, yesterday said he really wanted to be in public service, that's why it was his childhood dream to become a lawyer.

Lawyer Augusto Go, who owns the University of Cebu from which Ismael graduated magna cum laude, is giving Ismael a brand new car.

A jubilant Go, who is also a dealer of Toyota cars in Cebu, said he had already ordered a red Toyota Avanza, the latest van from Toyota after the Innova, displayed at the UC Banilad campus so Ismael could get it upon his return yesterday afternoon.

Ismael, a son of a popular Muslim leader in Cebu, said he wished to help change the dirty style of politics in the country.

"I have plans hopefully in the future to be of service to the public through politics. But I wanna be a catalyst of change...though idealistic it may sound," Ismael said.

The eldest of seven siblings of Hadji Nashir Ismael and Judith de Leon,

Ismael is the first lawyer in the family. But being a politician is within his blood since the brother of his mother, Jun de Leon, is the former vice mayor of Daanbantayan town.

Ismael, however, explained that he has yet to decide whether his entry into politics would be in Cebu City or in Jolo, Sulu where his father comes from.

Asked if he is not afraid to become a traditional politician, he said this would be a big challenge to him.

Ismael said the Jaycee creed and prayer that speak of service to humanity as the best work of life may have influenced his interest in public service. He was the president of the Junior Jaycees when he was taking up accountancy at the University of San Carlos.

Ismael was consistent honor student since elementary. He was the class valedictorian in high school at the Southwestern University. He also graduated cum laude from the University of San Carlos.

Ismael, however, did not take the accountancy board examination after graduation because he was already working. He was immediately hired as associate partner of the Megallos and Luna Law Offices in Makati City, where he already works as paralegal even before he passed the bar.

Being a student leader during his college days, Ismael was awarded as Outstanding Cebuano Youth Leader by the Cebu City government in 2000. - Fred P. Languido/LPM