Redemption for class underdog

MANILA, Philippines - For Nielson Pangan, topping last year’s Bar examinations was sweet redemption – both for himself and for his university.

Pangan, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law, admitted the results announced by the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday came as “a big surprise.”

“I was not really expecting this. Until now I am shocked. I don’t know how it happened,” Pangan said.

He admitted that while waiting for the results in the last five months, he considered pursuing a master’s degree in business administration should he fail the Bar.

“I had doubts. I even told my family that I might not make it. No one really expected it,” he said.

Pangan explained it was unexpected because he was in the middle of rankings among 200 students in their batch and among 170 who graduated last year.

He was ranked 96th in his class, according to the UP College of Law. Pangan, a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, finished his pre-law degree at New Era University (NEU). He said his success was also vindication for their college that has not had a first placer after Joan de Venecia in 2005.

In the 2011 Bar exams, UP did not have any graduate in the Top 10. That was when the format of the exams was changed into a predominantly multiple-choice questions type.

“I am really happy for my school for being on top again to redeem ourselves. Many people are saying UP is losing it already, but here we are and I’m really proud of my school,” he said.

Pangan, who garnered an average of 85.80 percent, revealed that members of their batch were reminded to do well in the Bar.

“From the start, our focus and training was really to be good lawyers. So sometimes, we don’t care about the Bar. But our batch really tried to excel in this one,” he said.

Four other UP law graduates made it to the top ten of last year’s Bar exams: Mark Xavier Oyales, second place, 85.45; Eden Catherine Mopia, fourth place, 84.05 percent; Michael Tiu Jr., eighth place, 83,70 percent; and Cyril Arnesto, 10th place, 83.60 percent.

Pangan attributed his success to a focused mindset while reviewing. He recalled spending 10 hours everyday reviewing for the Bar – the most grueling licensure exams in the country.

He said he idolizes former UP Law dean Marvic Leonen, now a justice in the Supreme Court.

The 27-year-old new lawyer plans to continue working with his law firm and teaching political science in NEU.

If being topnotcher was something new for Pangan, it was not the case with Rudy Ortea, third placer from the University of Batangas.

When he graduated from criminology in 2008, he topped the board exams.

Ortea said his father raised him by working as a tricycle driver while his mother is a cooperative clerk whom he described as a “tiger mom.”

“I learned hard work and patience from my father. The way he works, he doesn’t get tired,” he said.

Ortea said his mother pushed him to the limit: “She wants her children to be the best… I know she only pushes us to our limits for us to be the best.”

Ortea got 89.2 percent in the criminology board exams. He got 84.2 percent in the latest bar.

Manuel Sarausad, sixth placer from the University of Cebu, will get something special for making it to the Top 10. His school announced he would be given a brand new Toyota as a reward.

‘Not like lolo’

A grandson of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos also passed last year’s Bar exams.

Ferdinand Richard Michael Manotoc, a son of Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former basketball coach Tommy Manotoc, passed the Bar on his first try.

Manotoc though felt sorry he did not top the Bar like his grandfather.

The younger Manotoc told ABS-CBN News that he was able to talk to his mother Imee and his grandmother, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos immediately after receiving news that he passed the Bar.

He said his grandmother had gone to church to pray for him.

“I said sorry because I did not top the Bar, unlike Lolo. They said it doesn’t matter. I guess they’re very proud,” said Manotoc, younger brother of Borgy, a popular television personality.

In her Facebook page, Imee said: “Proud of my 4th generation UP Law son Atty. Michael Marcos Manotoc for passing the Bar Exam. Even if I didn’t want him to be a lawyer, I am so happy he is one now!”

Manotoc, for his part, denied he is among those being groomed to follow in the footsteps of politicians in the family. However, he did not discount the possibility he may join public service in the future.

Corpuz and Coles

In the list of Bar passers, two unique names caught the attention of netizens in social media: Habeas Corpuz and Nat King Coles.

Corpuz, a professor in the University of the Visayas, said his father was a soldier.

“When I was in elementary, I wanted my name changed because people would laugh at it,” he said.

Habeas corpus is an extraordinary legal move that requires a person under arrest to be brought before the court.

Corpuz told reporters that it was his father who thought of his name.

“My father was a soldier during the EDSA revolution and during the coup against (the late President Corazon) Cory (Aquino) when I was born. The nurse asked for a name and my father just blurted out ‘Ah, Habeas!’” he said.

Corpuz said he had wanted to become a lawyer ever since he was a child.

Another passer cited by social media users is Bar passer No. 270 Nat King Coles.

Nat King Cole is a popular American jazz artist who rose to prominence in the 1940s.

Coles, on the other hand, got his name from his father, who is fond of puns and great names, according to his sister.