Many dream of becoming lawyers. Some are driven by a desire to help bring justice, others by the hope of carrying forward a legacy, while a few pursue it to fulfill a lifelong ambition.
For Hazel Annelou Cirunay, becoming a lawyer was never just about earning a title. It was the culmination of a dream planted in childhood, nurtured through years of public service at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and carried through unwavering faith amid personal trials.
Working as a Project Development Officer III as the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Communication (DROMIC) focal in DSWD’s Field Office 11 (Davao Region), Hazel traces her aspiration to become a lawyer when she was just 11 years old.
“God gave me the dream to become a lawyer when I was still 11 years old. I happened to read one of my father’s law books and I was drawn into how the concepts and provisions were explained through questions and answers,” Hazel shared.
That early spark stayed with her as she grew up, eventually leading her to pursue and finish Law school at the University of Mindanao while also working at DSWD’s FO-11 and serving at the frontlines of disaster response.
Balancing full-time work at the DSWD with the rigors of Law school and preparation for the Bar was far from easy. She described the experience not as a carefully planned routine, but as a daily surrender of trust.
“It was only by God’s grace that I managed to balance work and studies. I always come to school half-full, not having read as many cases as required. I come to work and school with full reliance in the Lord, knowing He will get me through every work and school one day at a time,” Hazel said.
There were no formulas or shortcuts, only perseverance shaped by faith. Hazel shared how she managed juggling work and school, never losing sight of her goal to achieve her childhood dream.
“In some instances, I complement work and studies so that when I get tired studying, I work. Or when I get tired working, I study—that’s how I kept my desire for both worlds burning,” she noted.
Her journey, however, extended far beyond academic challenges. Hazel faced profound personal loss with the passing of her father, underwent surgeries, and navigated financial difficulties, admitting that her journey as a whole was a struggle.
“I lost count of the many times I told the Lord I give up but He won’t let me. I had a lot of breakdowns but those only led me to many breakthroughs,” she said.
Through it all, Hazel found strength in the people around her—family and friends who prayed for her, classmates who shared the burden of law school, and colleagues at the DSWD who understood the weight of her dual responsibilities.
She credited the Department not just as her workplace, but also as a source of encouragement throughout her journey.
“God continuously sends in people who helped me overcome all these – my supportive and loving family, friends, colleagues, and heads of DSWD who were very understanding of the challenges I take on every day,” she said.
For Hazel, passing the Bar was not a declaration of personal triumph, but a humbling reminder of grace.
“The only thing I did in this journey was to show up, everything else was God’s. As long as I get to wake up each day, it is a reminder for me that my life and my dream isn’t over,” she recalled.
Now one step closer to becoming a full-fledged lawyer, Hazel carries with her not only the title of Attorney but the same sense of service that guided her work as a DSWD frontliner. One that is grounded in compassion, resilience, and faith.
Hazel has this simple but powerful message to fellow dreamers: “That long-held dream, pray for it. Heed, obey, trust, and show up with faith, knowing that the same God who placed that desire in your heart will be the same God who will carry you through to the end. Victory is sweet, but it’s sweetest when won with God.”
Hazel’s success places her among a remarkable group of public servants who proved that social service and academic excellence can go hand in hand.
She is one of several DSWD employees who passed the 2025 Bar Exams, where 5,594 out of 11,420 examinees earned their place in the legal profession.
Yet beyond the numbers and distinctions, her journey stands more as a testament to what faith, service, and determination can achieve.
As Hazel steps into a new chapter as a lawyer, she does so not leaving service behind, but carrying it forward. (CC)
