For these new 'doctorneys,' one title wasn't enough
To be a doctor is to carry the weight of lives in your hands—a responsibility that requires a lifetime of dedication. But for doctors Bernard Acosta and Araceli Celine Sto. Domingo Enriquez, the service didn’t stop there.
Recently, these two physicians added a new title to their names and have joined the elite ranks of "Doctorneys" after passing the 2025 Bar Exam.
Bernard’s journey inspired by the screen
Growing up, Acosta was captivated by crime-solving shows like ABS-CBN's Scene of the Crime Operatives and Ipaglaban Mo. The dream was solidified when he saw a 2004 feature on GMA's Mel and Joy about a doctor-lawyer-musician.
"Parang sobrang cool non," Bernard recalled. "Then, lo and behold, naging prof ko siya sa Med School. Ayun, lalong na reinforce."
However, transitioning from the Physician Licensure Exam to the Bar was a culture shock—not just in content, but in the grueling psychological toll.
"[The Bar] was the toughest wait," Bernard shared with PhilSTAR L!fe. "Imagine waiting for four months for the results. The anxiety buildup is exponential. And if you did not make it, you have to do it all over again."
His approach to the Bar was one of discipline and self-awareness. He avoided the "all-nighter" culture, training his body to be peak-functional during actual exam hours.
"Nag aaral lang ako the same time ng oras ng actual exam. Bihira yung puyatan. Sinanay ko lang yung katawan ko na gising sa umaga," Bernardo shared.
Celine’s balancing act
Meanwhile, for Enriquez, the Bar was performing a high-stakes balancing act. Unlike her experience with the PLE as a fresh graduate in her 20s, the Bar Exam found her in a completely different season of life.
"I was studying while being a wife, a mother, and a practicing medical doctor. It demanded long hours of discipline and sacrifice, but it also required me to be intentional about making time for my husband, Mookie, my twin daughters, Ava and Ali, my work, and the parts of my life that matter deeply to me," she told L!fe.
For her, the motivation to pursue law was born from the gaps she saw during the pandemic. She witnessed the struggles of both patients and healthcare workers to find legal help, and realized that "there was still so much work to be done to better serve people through both the healthcare and justice systems in the Philippines."
"I wanted to do more—to advocate for my patients and to help address the systemic issues that affected their care," she continued.
Her advice to aspiring dual-professionals? "Do not be pressured by the pace of others... Progress may feel slow, but consistency will get you there."
Two professions, one mission
What drives a person to survive both residency and a law internship? For these two, it is the realization that health and justice are inextricably linked.
Enriquez plans to dive into the private legal sector as an associate while continuing her work as a physician, medico-legal officer, and advocate for patients' rights and healthcare reforms.
"I see these two professions not as separate paths, but as complementary avenues to serve and protect the Filipino people," she says.
While for Bernard, his wit shines through when asked if he will practice both.
"May nagsabi kasi sa akin na once you become both, mga 70% legal, 30% medical ka na. I don’t know, pero kung may magkakaso ng serious physical injuries puwede ko rin namang isuture yung mga lacerations nila," he joked, adding that he will "cross the bridge when he gets there."
He shared that he is keeping his options open—whether working in a forensic lab, as a medic-legal officer, or as a teacher.