A woman to herself, a lawyer, a boss, an entrepreneur, and a mom—all these things define her. To her, it’s because women have endless possibilities and she chooses to do and have it all for her happiness, even if society may think otherwise.
Graduated in the top 5 from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law and with a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Atty. Kathrina Mishael C. Sadsad-Tamesis specializes in litigation, specifically civil and criminal litigations, with a focus on family law, adoption, guardianship, nullity of marriage and legal separation, and judicial recognition of foreign divorce.
Known as Atty. KCS to the firm, Sadsad-Tamesis is a Partner of Sadsad Tamesis Legal and Accountancy Firm (STLAF) and the CEO of Metro.KST Enterprises, Corp., (MKST), the flagship company of her two operating businesses: the Massagedaily.ph and Metrobaby.ph.
“For me, it’s just [about] finding the right balance,” she said in an interview. “It’s basically how you see your happiness and how you balance it. […] Life is hard and it’s hard to balance [responsibilities] but at the end of the day, you will [be the one to] choose. Ikaw yung pipili. Choose your happiness and accept the consequences of your choices.”
Women in Law
One of her sources of happiness comes from the fulfillment of helping people and winning cases for her clients as a lawyer, which has always been her dream job.
After passing the Bar Examination in 2013, she worked as a corporate lawyer of several groups of companies, then practiced in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Philippines, an audit and tax firm. However, it is only in her third job where she practiced litigation as a junior associate that she truly enjoyed her work.
“I enjoy meeting people, going to court, appearing before the judges and solving other people’s cases. When I win a case, I’m very happy,” said Sadsad-Tamesis. “Whether I’m for the accused or the complainant, for me, it’s like a puzzle. You solve it, you look into the details. Tignan mo kung ano yung defenses mo, or saan yung mga matters na malakas ka and you solve it. I love the challenge and I enjoy doing it the most.”
In 2016, Sadsad-Tamesis and fellow Partners formed a law firm in Bulacan—the De Guia, Tamesis & Sadsad Law Firm, which was more of a part-time job to them. When she got pregnant and had a hard time going to her then-job, she resigned and focused her efforts towards their law firm.
Around 2019, she and her husband, Atty. Chris Tamesis decided to open another law firm in Quezon City—the STLAF.
“Why? Because that’s what I wanted to do. Dun ako nag-e-enjoy. That’s the job that motivates me to wake up in the morning […] That’s what inspires me the most.”
This is especially true when it comes to family law cases, her specialization.
“Favorite ko yung family law because it gives you a sense of fulfillment once you resolve the case,” she beamed. “For me kasi, lawyering is not just about getting money, it’s about helping other people [too].”
For her, it’s the connection with the clients that matter. “It’s full of emotions. Mas masaya, actually. Iba yung connection sa client in family law cases because you get to know them,” explained Sadsad-Tamesis, specifically pertaining to annulment and adoption cases. “Nase-serve yung purpose ko as a lawyer, as a woman.”
Lawyering, like other careers, is not just for men; it hasn’t been for a long time now, she emphasized. For her, the legal industry has evolved to not only recognize but also showcase women’s excellence.
“When I was in law school, mas marami nang babae […] Before kasi diba, parang pag lawyer, mostly lalaki. But for me, ngayon, nagiging pantay na,” she recalls. “Sa MTC, RTC, ang dami nang babaeng judges. So talagang pantay na for me. Lawyering is really [not just] for men, it’s also for women and maraming nag-e-excel na mga babaeng lawyers.
Women in Business
A respected lawyer in the firm, Sadsad-Tamesis is also an entrepreneur and CEO of the fast-growing company MKST. MKST houses Massagedaily.ph (MDPH), a home service spa with 39.5k followers on Facebook and Instagram, and its events division, the Luxe Lounge by MDPH.
“I really love massages since college. I also grew up kasi na merong nagho-home service sa bahay namin for my lola,” told Sadsad-Tamesis, recalling her memories. “[Although], before di ako fan ng home service; I go to the spa mismo. Then may isang beses, we tried home service and really liked it since you don’t have to travel home after getting your massage.”
According to her, it’s convenient and effort-efficient. However, because of demand, her favorite home service spa was always fully booked, so she thought, why not take advantage of it?
“Parang naisip ko, ‘Edi ako na lang mag-p-provide’. Naisip ko, ako na lang magbu-buo ng business na yon. I’ll build my own home service spa,” she chuckles. “Feeling ko meron [kasing] malaking market na hindi nase-serve…”
On navigating leadership and decision-making
As a Partner lawyer and CEO of a business, Sadsad-Tamesis approaches leadership and decision-making with professional finesse, consideration, and proficiency. Between the top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top strategy, she prefers the former.
“For me kasi mas mabilis yung top-to-bottom, communication is more direct and efficient but at the same time, I am still making sure that the decision is okay with everybody, hindi yung I’ll decide and impose. I do not want to impose on my people kung anong gagawin nila, I want to still give them the freedom to suggest and I honestly listen to those suggestions.”
Sadsad-Tamesis greatly values her people’s perspectives and inputs. To her, they are the heart of an organization.
“People [who] compose our organization, I believe, is the heart of the organization, not the leader. Kumbaga, ikaw leader ka, kung wala ka namang tao, wala kang followers, how can you lead right?” She points out, “[V]ery important sa akin yung mga tao sa organization ko, very important for me to hear their voices, malaman ano yung suggestions nila. For me, it is easier when it comes to implementation if the ideas come from the people and not just imposed upon them.”
On work-life balance
A typical day for a hands-on person like her consists of jam-packed meetings and a mountain of documents. In STLAF, in addition to the Litigation Department, she handles marketing, IT, and infrastructure, as well as her own case pleadings and reviews. Similarly, in MDPH, she oversees HR, Marketing, and Operations.
So how does a woman as busy as her maintain a work-life balance? Travel.
“Pag mga short term lang, I eat in my favorite restaurants, I eat my favorite meals. But, usually, I travel… every quarter?” She laughed. “I travel a lot and that’s how I unwind.”
As a traveler, she has never traveled alone, always with the company of her family or husband, because it’s fulfilling to her that way. “My favorite thing about traveling is seeing new places with the people I love.”
When asked about her favorite places to visit, she recommended the Philippines. And as a beach lover who finds comfort and relaxation even from the sound of the waves and the feel of the sand, Boracay is still at the top of the list.
“Of all the places I’ve been, maganda pa din yung Philippines talaga. Before I travelled abroad, naikot ko na din yung Pilipinas. For me, Boracay is still the best beach. Wala pa ring tatalo and El Nido has breathtaking views,” she guaranteed enthusiastically.
Her tip for aspiring travellers and people who plan to go abroad, is to explore the Philippines first. “Para pag pumunta ka ng ibang bansa, you’ll see, maganda pa din yung atin.”
Balancing career and motherhood
In a society that sees motherhood as a deterrent to career advancement, Sadsad-Tamesis is one of the many testaments that this notion is simply not true and is outdated.
Sadsad-Tamesis is a mother of three (3) wonderful children, and to her, being one is her favorite job. “I understand na merong ganong connotation na if you’re a mom, it’s a deterrent to your career, to whatever businesses you have. Pero for me, it’s just finding the right balance.”
“Diba sabi nga nila, ‘it takes a village to raise your child.’ Totoo yun, kumuha ka ng help. You get the help that you need […] Ako, how do I do it? I get all the help that I need in different aspects of my life,” she explained.
She understands and acknowledges fully how motherhood is essentially a full-time job and should never be underestimated, which means all the more reason to ask for help and make sure that mothers like her have a community that is willing to assist her in the fulfilling yet hectic journey of being a mother.
She cites her husband and nanny at home to help take care of her children, and her executive assistant at work to manage her work-life schedule.
“At the end of the day, for me, pag happy ka, pag fulfilled ka—your happiness will also radiate to your family. So for example, if pipilitin ko na mag-stay-at-home pero di ako happy, di rin magiging happy yung entire family. For me, kung masaya yung nanay, magiging masaya yung buong pamilya. So it’s basically how you see your happiness and how you balance it,” she said.
“And I believe, being a mom is not a deterrent but an inspiration for you to be where you are in terms of your career. Kasi if they see you [me] like this, they will also be inspired na maging kagaya mo [ko.]”
Choosing happiness; choosing your hard
Her presence alone is enough evidence of women’s excellence in the many different fields she is in and the many different fields women in general could be in.
“The fact that I am here as a Partner and I own businesses only shows that women can do it. You’re not limited to being a woman, a mom. Di dapat nalilimit yung possibilities. Women have endless possibilities as well,” she smiled knowingly.
Such representation and visibility in the industry’s workforce is important as it shows that women can do what the opposite sex can do.
“Supposedly, wala nang ‘this is for women, this is for men’. It should be ‘kaya nating gawin kung ano yung ginagawa nila’. I think the presence of women lawyers in the industry will prove that.”
So for a leader like her, what lesson can people, especially women, learn and take from her?
Choose one’s own happiness; choose your happiness, she always emphasized. But by doing so, you also choose everything that comes with it, even your “hard”. And that’s what matters—everything you have in your life is what you control and choose to have.
“[L]ife is hard, but you choose your hard. No matter what, there will be challenges—it’s just a matter of picking the ones that make the journey worthwhile. Always choose your hard and own the consequences. At the end of the day, go for the hard that leads to growth, fulfillment, and happiness.”
Disclaimer: The content of this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal concerns or specific legal guidance, please consult a qualified lawyer.
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AUTHORS: Patricia Mae L. Minimo and Atty. Kathrina Mishael Sadsad-Tamesis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Atty. Kathrina Mishael C. Sadsad-Tamesis, otherwise known as KCS, is a founding Partner of the Sadsad-Tamesis Legal and Accountancy Firm (STLAF). She graduated in the top 5 from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, and as a way to give back to her alma mater, Atty. Sadsad taught various law subjects within the University, including Obligations and Contracts, Corporation Laws, and Taxation.
She is focused on the field of civil and family law, including petitions for nullity of marriage, adoption cases, and judicial recognition of foreign divorce. Atty. Sadsad also handles criminal justice. She enjoyed great success as a trial lawyer, and her reputation for zealous and skilled representation resulted in her being retained to represent numerous high-profile clients.
Patricia Mae L. Minimo is the Firm’s content writer. She is a Communication graduate from the University of the Philippines – Baguio with a major in Journalism and a minor in Speech Communication.