THE COMPASSIONATE LAWYER AND FAMILY MAN

A competent lawyer, a respected public servant, an accomplished real estate broker, a successful entrepreneur, an admired leader, a committed brother, a loving husband, and a devoted father. All these describe Lawyer Alexander Herrera Lim who, at the prime of his life, is still very much of a part of the scene be it in the courts of justice or in the business whirl.

Fondly called Aleckoy by his close friends and associates, he was born in Loay, Bohol on April 2, 1951 to parents Jose “Osoy” Lim and Lourdes Herrera. Both inculcated in the mind of the young boy the values of hard work and perseverance as instruments to reach one's goals, an upbringing that has proven beneficial.

Atty. Alexander H. Lim is married to Veronica Elisa Anub Trabajo, daughter of retired Provincial Fiscal Aureliano C. Trabajo and Eutiquia O. Anub, both of Carmen, Bohol. Mrs. Lim used to work with the First Consolidated Bank of Bohol , until she resigned to concentrate on his growing up children and family business.

They are blessed with three children. Aleck Francis is now 28 years old, a graduate of Master in Business Management at the University of Asia and the Pacific (June 10, 2000). He took up law at the College of Law , Ateneo de Manila University and passed the Bar in 2004. Alissa Ann is 26 years of age, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Economics at the University of Asia and the Pacific (June 17, 2000). She also finished law at the Ateneo de Manila University and passed the Bar in 2006. Alexis Franz is 20 years old, and finished his high school at Grace Christian School and is now taking an Entrepreneurial Management course at Entrepreneur School of Asia (formerly Thames International) in Quezon City . With two more lawyers in the family, and soon a business entrepreneur, Atty. And Mrs. Alexander Lim have done an extraordinary job. The apparent level-headedness of the siblings speaks well of the upbringing they got from their parents.

Atty. Lim finished his elementary and secondary education at Divine Word College in 1963 and 1967 respectively. After graduation from high school he opted for a new environment as a means for more personal development. He enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the University of Santo Tomas and finished the course handily in 1971. His main ambition was to become a lawyer. He was accepted at the premier law school at the country, the Ateneo de Manila University and graduated in 1975. That same year he took and passed the Bar. It is worth noting that his two elder children are now on their second courses, and are also taking up law at the Ateneo. Atty. Lim must have himself felt that he was accorded the best law training, for which reason his children are following his footsteps. Both father and son are members of the Aquila Legis Fraternity.

From his grandfather, who was involved in copra, rice and corn milling business, he learned the value of family solidarity. This was also the same tenet he learned from his parents. Although most of his brothers and sisters are now based abroad, the ties are still there. Licinia Lim Coe is a Doctor of Medicine graduated at the UST with lucrative practice in USA , until a car accident in 1976. Clarencio Lim is a businessman-CPA who finished his Commerce degree from Divine Word College . Mario Warlito is a Chemical Engineering graduate at UST, now in San Francisco , California , was a computer analyst. Semi-retired, he is presently a consultant of different companies here and abroad after his retirement from ARAMCO. Evangeline Lim Recio finished Banking and Finance, and is now working in a hospital in San Francisco . Caridad Betahar is a Medical Technologist from Centro Escolar University and is also now based in San Francisco . Linda Lim Inting is a Nurse from the Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing. She also practices her profession in San Francisco . Lourdes Lim Tabel finished Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at the college of the Holy Spirit Manila and is also based in San Francisco , California .

That orientation he had from his elders about business has been his guide in toiling for betterment in life. Even during his childhood he helped his grandfather's business like going to different towns on market days for rice and corn business. He also learned the value of frugality by saving his allowance and started a poultry business of his own when he was still in his teens. But his burning ambition has always been to be a good lawyer, so he practiced law with burning passion and has no fear in defending his clientele, he being dedicated to service, especially for the poor. As a Lawyer he is now serving as Senior and Managing Partner of the Trabajo-Lim Law Office, a law practice established in 1977 and recognized and accredited by the U. S. Embassy. He is also a Trustee of the Bohol Wisdom School ; Board Member of the Aries Quality Services Incorporated; President of Vismin Realty; and a Legal Consultant to various corporations.

If he serves the public well, more is his sincerity in preserving the sanctity of being a family man. Their bonding in the family is extremely passionate and harmonious. As a husband he keeps his responsibilities tight and he maintains the serenity in the family. He is a loving and responsible partner, and has always time for his wife. He was even present during the times when Elisa delivered their children, because he knew his importance on those momentous events. As a father he is all-out for the welfare of his children, and yet, he never uses his hands in reprimanding any of them whenever they have done wrong; he just vocally reproach them. Although he spares the rod, his children are not spoiled brats.

Years back I remember meeting Aleckoy at the Tagbilaran Airport pre-departure area. I sensed that he was tense and obviously not in his best elements, typical of somebody with a grievous problem. An insuring conversation with him revealed that his child was sick with dengue (according to the latest diagnosis by doctors in a local hospital). He had sleepless nights, and could not rest unless his youngest son could be cured. He had to cancel some appointments, even a couple of court hearings, so he himself could get the best medical attention. This dogged determination for the sake of a family member was visibly itched on his worried physiognomy. That picture of a dotting father for the sake of a child is still embedded in my memory even if it was only a passing incident, and it took place many years ago.

Atty. Alexander Lim had his taste as a legislator during the incumbency of Governor Constancio Torralba, when he succeeded Governor Victor de la Serna. In the incumbency of Governor Torralba he took me in as Technical Consultant on Special Studies and Projects. It was during this time when I witnessed the performance of Provincial Board Member Lim in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He knew how to serve his constituents and his voice was resonant in the session hall. As a public servant he did his job wholeheartedly.

It has been his burning ambition to be a good lawyer, especially when he noticed in his younger days that there were only few scions of Filipino-Chinese descent who went into the law profession, as most preferred the more lucrative business world. He has practiced law with zeal and takes every client's cause to heart. Nor does he keep distance from public issues which he now takes as a personal crusade no matter what the cost; for instance, the water and light privatization issue. He has a heart for public service, which attracted him once to politics; but now he has realized that as a private citizen he can even serve the public more. He has excelled in the practice of his professions, but it is as a family man that he values most. His happy children and loving wife can attest to this compassion. To him success in any endeavors is nothing if he fails as a family man.

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