UP graduate tops Bar exam

A graduate of the University of the Philippines topped the 2005 Bar examination as results were released last night by the Supreme Court to thousands of expectant examinees who trooped to the court premises on Padre Faura street in Ermita, Manila.

Joan de Venecia, a niece of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., scored an average 87.20 percent in the Bar exams administered last September.

The topnotcher is the eldest child of lawyer Antonio de Venecia, brother of the Speaker.

De Venecia, 25, works at the Sycip-Salazar-Gatmaitan law firm as a paralegal assistant. She was a UP validectorian and a great debater who has been sent to Europe, Australia and the United States.

The Speaker called her niece "an extremely bright" girl.

Second on the list is Jomini Nazareno of the Ateneo Law School in Manila, who received 86.40 percent. Sheryl May Tanquilut, also from the Ateneo Law School placed third, with a score of 85.95.

Others in the Top 10 were Nyerson Dexter Tito Tualla of the Manuel Luis Quezon University, who placed fourth with 85.45 percent; Tamsin Rae Lucila of UP, fifth with 85.35; Gladys Gervacio of the University of Perpetual Help, sixth with a score of 85.3;

Claudine Orocio-Isorena at seventh place with 85.2; Pedro Jose Bernardo of the Ateneo Law School, eight place with a score of 85.05; Dexter Calizar of the Philippine Law School, ninth with 84.7 percent, and Johnson Ong of Far Eastern University with 84.65.

Tanquilut, interviewed by reporters at the Supreme Court grounds, said yesterday that she did not expect to be in the top 10, but only wanted to pass the exams, touted as one of the most controversial and the most anticipated government-administered licensure tests.

She told reporters that there were a lot of people who inspired her to study hard and pursue her dream.

She said she had the full support of her family, friends and her boyfriend Emilio — her classmate in law school who was constantly at her side, even when she hurried off to the SC grounds to learn first-hand the results of the Bar exams.

Tanquilut works at the Romulo-Mabanta-Buenaventura-Santoc-Delos Angeles Law Firm.

Bernardo, in an interview with reporters, said passing the Bar was a surreal feeling. He said all the grueling months of waiting finally bore fruit and the result was pretty satisfying. He said he was able to learn the results from his mother who called him up.

This year’s Bar passers represent 27.2 percent of the total number of the 5,610 examinees.