8/4/2019 Women Are Like Teabags

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You may know her as the first woman Ombudsman but this Iron lady has a lot more to offer...

Merceditas Gutierrez hails from Samal, Bataan. Born with a statuesque figure, she is often invited to grace the

province’s Santa Cruzan. After finishing high school, her mother advised her to get an Education degree and after

that to return to Bataan and teach. After graduating from college, Mercy wanted to be a flight attendant and to

pursue a career in the Foreign Service but fate had a different plan. Her father, a lawyer, wanted her to follow his

footsteps. Being an obedient daughter, she entered Ateneo Law School and became part of Batch 1972.

In Law School, she liked studying Criminal Law because according to her it was easy to understand. Her least

favoured subjects were Legal Accounting and Taxation. Apart from her studies, she was also busy in Federacion

Internacionale de Abugado where she became the organization’s president for three consecutive years. When

asked about her best memory in law school, she quips that it was every time she gets called for a recitation

unprepared. After Law School, she took her post graduate studies in the Institute of Social Studies in Hague,

Netherlands.

Mercy may not have travelled in style like flight attendants but she definitely travels in class. Her travels inspired

her to collect dolls. She always make sure that she brings home one doll from the country where she has been to.

When feeling down, Mercy simply listens to her favourite music. After her morning prayer, she turns her iPod on

and plays it the whole day. She is a big fan of The Eagles, The Beatles and Cascades. A lot of people may not know

this but this woman can definitely sing. In fact, she has her own band where she sings the vocals. Her band iscomposed of her brothers and friends in Bataan. Every weekend, they all jam and play a repertoire of songs coming

from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s era.

Aside from singing, she also paints. Her favourite subjects are flowers and saints rendered in watercolour. She

usually paints during her free time or when she feels stressed or sad. Like every painter, she plans to have a solo

exhibition in the future. She also plans to establish an art scholarship dedicated to sending young and deserving

talents from Bataan to music school. Maybe one of these days her scholars will become world renowned like Cecil

Licad or Lea Salonga.

But among all the hats that she has being a mother is the role that she wants to be remembered with. As a mother

of four, Mercy successfully juggled her motherhood duties while being a public servant for 37 years. She never fails

to be on her family’s side whenever they need her. There was even an instance when all of her kids got sick at thesame time and she had to bring all her office work in the hospital just to monitor their recovery. When asked about

her ultimate dream, she simply answered that she wants her children to succeed in their chosen profession. So

what makes this woman happy? Definitely, it is her family, who have been and will always be there to support her.

For Merceditas , Ateneo Education was instrumental in molding her discipline in life. Everywhere she goes, she

follows the Atenean Mantra of being men and women for others. When she recently tendered her resignation to the

President, she only asked him for one thing. She asked the President if he could extend help to OFWs in

Madagascar. Her household help’s husband happened to be working there and was recently affected by a native

pandemic spreading in the country. As a woman for others, she says that true happiness lies in helping other

people. Now, she is looking forward in touching and helping more lives.

Merceditas Gutierrez is not just an Iron Lady, she is an artist, a mother and definitely a woman for others.

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MOTHER AND DAUGHTER FACE OFF 

MERCEDITAS

FAVORITES

Past time: Listening to music

Music: Sad Movies by The Eagles; anything from the 60s, 70s, 80s

TV Show: Anything from TCM and MGM

Movies: Old movies—i like the way they dress

Actor/Actress: Susan Roces

Food: Fish and Vegetables

Country: Philippines and Netherlands (where she pursued her post graduate studies)

Sports: Badminton

LIFE IN ATENEO LAW SCHOOL

Batch: 1972

Block: B

Favorite Subject/s and why: Criminal Law—easy to understandLeast Favorite Subject/s and why: Legal Accounting and Taxation

Organizations: Federacion Internacionale de Abugado

Why did you choose Ateneo over other law schools?

Father’s choice 

Best memory in Ateneo Law School: Getting called for recitation unprepared

I love Ateneo Law School because...: Learned a lot from Ateneo

MARGE

FAVORITES

Past time: reading, watching movies, hanging out with friendsMusic: R&B,Hip Hop, New Wave

TV Show: 90210, CSI, TMZ

Movies: Pretty in Pink, CSI and TMZ

Actor/Actress: Angelina Jolie

Food: Any dish from Little Asia

Country: Philippines and Spain

Sports: Basketball

LIFE IN ATENEO LAW SCHOOL

Batch: 2009

Block: CFavorite Subject/s and why: Property—I learned a lot from the subject.

Least Favorite Subject/s and why:

Organizations: Law School Choir and Ateneo Human Rights Center

Why did you choose Ateneo over other law schools?

Because I want to follow my mom’s footsteps so I wanted to the law school

where she graduated

Best memory in Ateneo Law School: Everyday in law school

I love Ateneo Law School because...: Ateneo produces men and women for others