Chezie Demegillo’s Diligence
Written By Reem Aldeek
Dil·i·gent [adjective]
1. having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
2. industrious
3. Attorney Chezie Demegillo
Chezie Demegillo’s profession comprises being a full-time lawyer — with 19 years of practice in handling labour law, civil, and criminal cases (2003-present), taught political science at the University of the Philippines - Cebu (1996-2007), and currently teaches at the University of the Visayas - Cebu (Labor Law), University of Southern Philippines (Labor law), and Southwestern University PHINMA (Constitutional law), a writer of three published books, and now an aspiring to be the Lone District of Lapu-Lapu’s Representative in the House of Representatives.
When asked about the attorney sees himself, he said, “Well, I see Atty. Demegillo … Atty. Chezie is an advocate, a visionary, and an idealist. And the reason why I am an advocate and an idealist [is] because I am a UP [University of the Philippines] product. My undergrad [degree] is from UP [Cebu campus], my master’s degree [Labor relations] is from UP [Diliman Campus]. Only my bachelor’s degree in law is from San Carlos [University of San Carlos], so that’s what makes me [an] idealist.”
He further expressed how he wants to return the favour to the people who made him who he is today.
“Whatever I am today, whoever I am today, all the things I have achieved today [are] because of people’s money. Probably this is the reason I am paying back, I want to pay back. Even in my practice, I help people because I see them as the one[s] who made me who I am today because, without people’s money, I don't think I can be a lawyer today.”
Demegillo describes himself as a product of diligence. “I have this diligence that no one can surpass. Because no matter how busy I am, I was able to write books. So as of today, I was able to publish three books, law books … and there are two coming. So all-in-all, I am going to have five books … so it’s a product of diligence,” he shared.
To note, his three published books are titled, Labor Standards and Social Legislations: Cases, Laws and Lecture Notes (2015), A Survey of Cases in Constitutional Law II Part 1 (2018), and A Survey of Cases in Constitutional Law II Part 2 (2018).
Writing books while carrying a workload of a lawyer and a teacher seems out of one’s accustomed league. “If I have 30 minutes, I can edit and write something,” Demegillo said.
Inspirations & Dreams
When asked about his inspiration, he simply replied, “Well, I never dreamed of becoming a lawyer.”
As cliché as it may sound, Demegillo’s faith lies in destiny. In fact, the man that he has grown into was not at all he had dreamt about.
His first profession of choice was to be a doctor. “It just so happens that my parents could not afford it if I [were to] study medicine, so I took the college entrance exam in UP … there [was] no other course that I like[d], so I enrolled in political science without even thinking of becoming a lawyer.”
The pivotal point that made him realize that being a lawyer was fascinating was his experience from his practicum, where all his clients were political prisoners. “I spent time with them, ate with them, and discussed with them. And that was the twist, I decided to become a lawyer because of their condition,” he shared.
Demegillo’s Secret to Life
Demegillo shared a secret to living a blithe state of mind.
He simply doesn’t get mad.
That’s it.
That’s the tip.
Rather, he smiles habitually — mainly to absorb positive energy.
“Well, I always believe that if you get mad, you absorb all the negative energies, and I feel down if I get mad. But when I'm smiling, I absorb positive energies. And if you’re mad at me, I will just smile. Your negative energy will go back to you, and the more it’ll go back to you twice,” he shared.
When he gets in a heated argument in court, he makes it a habit to smile and avoid opportunities that may anger him. “I always smile while arguing,” he said.
The aura he sets in court also applies to when he teaches his students. “When I conduct my classes, I pressure my students, I insult them. But when I insult them, I am not angry,” he added.
Running For Congress
When asked what made him decide to run to represent the lone district of Lapu-Lapu City, he shared that the candidacy was originally intended for his late friend and aspirant candidate, Secretary Adelino Sitoy, who died earlier the past year (2021).
“The one who was supposed to run in Lapu-Lapu was my friend, the old man Secretary [Adelino] Sitoy [Former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary under President Duterte’s administration]. He died of COVID ... when I contemplated I was looking at the possible contenders, I only saw two lawyers ... one is a friend of mine, the other one is my professor in the [University of San Carlos] College of Law ... When I realized that they were the ones who are aspiring, I decided I might as well run because I believe in myself, that I could do better than them,” he expressed.
Demegillo shared his basis for running for politics. “If I will win in this election, this is my destiny to do something bigger — not just lawyering,” he quipped.
“I want to do more because as a lawyer, you can only help up to the legal parameters — winning the case, arguing in court. After that, you cannot help anymore. So this time, I am going to use my profession, my knowledge, [and] my expertise to do something bigger, something that would affect the entire country. So that’s the reason why I joined politics.
“I see an opportunity and I hope that this opportunity will really bring me there to my destination,” he said.
Recommended Song: My Attorney Bernie - Dave Frishberg
Images from Atty. Chezie Demegillo’s Facebook Page
