Nelson Morales

‘Para sa Diyos, bayan’: Bar 2025 passers vow to enter gov’t for public service

Bar examinees wait for the 2023 Bar exam results with their loved ones at the Supreme Court in Manila City on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. BAR Chair, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, announced that out of 10,387 bar takers, 3,812 passed the Bar exam, resulting in a 36.77% passing rate. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Tears and shouts of joy erupted among bar examinees after the Supreme Court released the official list of passers this Wednesday afternoon.One of those who passed the Bar Exams this year is Eduardo Regio, who finally succeeded on his 11th attempt.“Actually, ayaw ko na sanang kumuha. Sinabi ko, last take ko na ‘yung 2023. I would like to try ‘yung online. But nung nakita ko ‘yung grade ko – 73.495. Ba’t hindi ko i-try for the last time? Baka na-overconfident na ako noon,” Regio said. “Although talagang overconfident. Mayabang kasi ako. Kaya ‘yun ang tinanggal ko sa sarili ko right after na kailangan ‘yung mapagpakumbaba,” he added.He said he is dedicating his success to those who, like him, tried—and failed—several times before finally making it.“Maraming puwedeng matulungan lalo na ‘yung mga biktima ng injustices na walang pambayad ng abogado. Then ‘yung mga manggagawa na tinatanggal nang walang pakundangan,” he said.Ranie Rafael Santiago, who cried with his family members at the Supreme Court courtyard when he found out he passed, dedicated his success to the poor and vowed to be a lawyer for the people.“Tutulong po tayo sa gobyerno dahil right now naka-leave lang sa work. Di ako makapaniwala na isa ako sa limanglibong nakapasa. Honestly, para sa Diyos, para sa bayan lahat ng ito,” he told ABS-CBN News.Meanwhile, Estrella Abiso, the mother of another bar passer, is eager to celebrate her child’s success. Her child was too nervous to go to the Supreme Court during the announcement.“Nakita ko kung paano siya nag-struggle, nagpuyat, kasi ang hanapbuhay namin ay catering, naitaguyod namin siya sa ganoong paraan. First time sa family namin nagkaroon ng lawyer,” Abiso said.According to Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Exams, only 5,594 out of 11,425 examinees—or 48.98 percent—passed. Topping the Bar Exams is Jhenroniel Rhey Sanchez of the University of the Philippines College of Law, with a score of 92.7 percent.Placing second is Spinel Albert Declaro with 92.46 percent, followed by Alaiza Adviento with 91.91 percent—both from the University of Santo Tomas.Angelica Mitra of De La Salle Lipa placed fourth, while Marc Angelo Santos of UST ranked fifth.Several graduates from Bukidnon State University, Arellano University, and the University of the East also made it to the Top 20.Justice Lazaro-Javier stressed that there were no giveaway questions in the Bar Exams and that examiners were carefully selected. She added that the Supreme Court retained the 75 percent passing grade, the same standard used in the 2024 Bar Exams.“I only reminded examiners that my standard is reasonableness and I have them a rubric of how points will be assigned to the answers. When five should be given, when four should be given or two and one. The standard is clarity, conciseness, of course, logic and grammar,” Lazaro-Javier said.<div>MESSAGE TO REPEAT TAKERS</div>The SC magistrate also noted that while 11,425 examinees completed the three-day Bar Exams last September, five were disqualified for failing to submit documentary requirements.She also had a message for those who did not pass, including repeat takers.“You may grieve, but tomorrow you have to pick up the pieces, never believe you are a failure, never believe you are hopeless. Wala namang stigma, mahal na mahal namin sila. They need most our guidance and inspiration so walang stigma as far as the Supreme Court is concerned,” she told reporters.For her, the Philippine Bar Exams remain among the toughest in the world, citing problem-solving and essay-based format.Overwhelmed with gratitude, the new lawyers thanked God and their loved ones—and vowed to dedicate their success to the Filipino people, especially the poor.

Tears and shouts of joy erupted among bar examinees after the Supreme Court released the official list of passers this Wednesday afternoon.

Tears and shouts of joy erupted among bar examinees after the Supreme Court released the official list of passers this Wednesday afternoon.