Please, Don’t Call Me ‘Attorney’

By Lcid Crescent D. Fernandez

The day this column is published is the day I take my oath as a lawyer, sign the rolls, and earn the privilege of being called “Attorney”.

But, please, don’t call me “Attorney”.

Today marks the culmination of a decade-long journey, one that began with little more than big dreams and a restless heart. I was just some kid from Iloilo who dared to dream beyond what seemed possible. The long and winding path I was forced to take has taught me something profound: my worth as a person exists independently of my ability to practice law.

The title ‘Attorney’ may be a testament to the work that all of my fellow Bar passers have put in, but it does not define who we are. In a country where titles hold immense weight and are often worn proudly on sleeves, bannered across vehicles, embroidered and embossed in cloth and paper, and enumerated at gatherings – I choose to remain simply Lcid. There’s nothing wrong with being “simply Lcid”. I’ve learned to appreciate and respect who I am long before I became “Attorney Lcid”.

Titles are snapshots, markers, labels – but they do not encapsulate our stories. They’re convenient shortcuts to understanding a specific moment of our lives, but they don’t account for our growth, struggles, or individuality. A “doctor” might also be a caregiver, a poet, or an innovator. An “engineer” might double as a philosopher, solving life’s biggest questions. Reducing people to titles overlooks the richness of their experiences and the multidimensional nature of human potential.

There was a time when I clung to the idea that prefixes and suffixes defined my identity. But the late nights, the 4AM study sessions, and the relentless pursuit of this goal have shown me otherwise. My essence is found not in the titles I earn but in the dreams I chase and the connections I make along the way.

If I am to be remembered someday, let it not be solely for the title that now precedes my name.

Let it be for my reckless abandon in the pursuit of my goals.

Let it be for the stories shared with those who walked this path beside me.

Let it be for the moments of vulnerability and triumph, for the humanity behind the achievement.

At our core, we’re more than those roles we play or the titles we hold, it’s not the brands we wear or the colors we cheer for. Our value lies in how we treat others, the courage we show in adversity, and the passions we pursue. The heart of who you are, the very thing that makes you “you” is just too vast to fit into the eight letters and three syllables of a single word.

In the end, the title “Attorney” simply signifies that I am licensed to practice law. And while I am proud of this accomplishment, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still just a kid from Iloilo with big dreams.

So, if our paths cross, please don’t call me “Attorney” .

I’m fine being simply Lcid.