Written by Mary Philline C. Rodriguez and Allysa Ann G. Tenefrancia
Bar Chairperson Justice Mario V. Lopez was suspensefully announcing the Top 20 Bar 2024 Topnotchers when at the midpoint, he called her—Raya B. Villacorta, the San Beda University College of Law 2024 Batch Valedictorian— as part of this year’s bar topnotchers.
Long before she placed 10th among the #MostValuableLawyers, Atty. Villacorta was just another law student battling her fears—quietly, courageously, and with a hope that, somehow, it will all be worth it.
Turning Doubt into Drive
Atty. Villacorta entered SBU-COL not as someone chasing the top, but as someone simply trying to stay afloat.
“My goal was not to get kicked out,” Atty. Villacorta remarked in an interview with thebarrister.
Surrounded by classmates with stronger legal education backgrounds, she battled self-doubt on the daily, but everything shifted when she was placed in the star section during her second year. What seemed like a simple goal had a turning point, but it wasn’t about recognition—it was about discovering the confidence to believe in herself and realizing what she was capable of.
“What began as pressure eventually turned into motivation,” she pondered. “Over time, striving for excellence became a habit rather than a fear-driven response.”
Finding the Roar within Her
At San Beda, students may wonder if law school ever gets easier. The professors hold high standards, the recitations are daunting, and the exams often feel impossible to answer.
“There were times I truly resented it,” Atty. Villacorta recalled. “But looking back now, I see it clearly—that was the training ground for the resilience and determination I carry today.”
Those grueling years filled with sleepless nights and last-minute readings laid the foundation for the strength she needed, not only in preparing for the bar, but also in facing challenges in her career.
“Last-minute court filings, urgent deadlines, drafting complex pleadings and position papers—none of these tasks feel overwhelming anymore,” she stated. “Surviving law school at San Beda instilled in me the confidence that I can overcome anything.”
It Takes a Village to Raise a Lawyer
Behind Atty. Villacorta’s silent determination was a strong circle of love: a family who never stopped believing and friends who shared the breakdowns and breakthroughs.
“Having people to share the highs and lows of law school helped me stay grounded and made the journey manageable,” said Atty. Villacorta.
Like many law students, there were days when Atty. Villacorta wanted to give up, but she did not—not because it was an easy choice, but because her dream was louder than her doubts, and when she felt like she couldn’t hold on anymore, she thought of her father.
“He went through law school while working full-time,” she shared. “If he could survive that, I knew I could survive this—with all the resources and support he never had.”
In those moments of struggle, Atty. Villacorta clung to her mantra: “Fake it ‘til you make it.” This wasn’t about pretending to be someone she wasn’t; it was about showing up, even when times were tough. Over time, the confidence she projected became real, allowing her to grow into a person who can face challenges head-on.
Atty. Villacorta thus advises fellow Bedans, “first, adopt the same mantra and two, make sure to have a strong support group.”
From the Hottest Fire Comes the Strongest Steel
If she could return to her days as a freshman who was anxious and insecure, Atty. Villacorta would offer her a gentle reassurance: “Hang in there, buddy. It may seem hard now, but you’ll make it, just like you always do.”
This message isn’t just for her past self but to every Bedan law student struggling in silence and battling the odds. “You’ll make it, just like you always do.”
Now a Junior Associate at Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) Law firm, Atty. Villacorta walks into courtrooms and conferences with quiet pride. Her story is not one of overnight success, but one of slow, steady triumph—of becoming.
And so, she did—Atty. Raya B. Villacorta is and will always be one of San Beda’s finest.
THE BARRISTER 