Why too many flunkers in the Bar examinations?

Yesterday and last night, an “ocean of tears” was shed by thousands of Bar examinees all over the country who flunked last year’s examinations. The greatest tragedy that could befall a Law student is to realize that, after eight years of studying, one year of reviewing, and another year of waiting, when the crucial announcement was made, his or her name was not there. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of pesos in expenses, the hundreds of sleepless nights, the countless foregone pleasures and commitments just to take that much-dreaded Bar exams. More than 6,000 took the test, why were only few chosen?

I know the answers. I have been reflecting on these for years now, since I started teaching Law in 1977, when then governor Eddie Gullas asked me to teach in my alma mater, the Gullas Law School, founded by his uncle, Paulino Gullas, a Bar topnotcher who got 93 percent and was number one nationwide. He founded The FREEMAN, and the UV College of Law. UV’s founder was Don Vicente Gullas, Paulino’s elder brother. Today, the dean is Justice Portia Hormachuelos, a distinguished alumna of that college of law. And so, Dean Portia and I were analyzing why too many Bar examinees fail despite long years of preparation, and all the help from Bar reviewers, professors, and coaches. Too many fail despite all the Bar operations conducted by the school, fraternities and sororities, and student councils.

The first Achilles Heel is faulty English. Many of those taking the Bar cannot make his subject agree with his predicate. The grammar is wrong, the syntax twisted, the spelling incorrect. They cannot even distinguish between verb and adverb. They have forgotten their parts of speech. My God, I have been checking midterm and finals examination answer sheets since 1977 and I always suffer mental anguish, serious anxiety, and wounded feelings whenever I see how students express themselves in atrocious ways. I am sorry to say this but I was a working student too. I struggled my way. I lived in a squatter area. But I studied my English well. I practiced writing composition, I wrote as associate editor of The Visayanian. And I honed my power of expression and my ability to make myself understood.

The second reason is lack of fundamental knowledge of basic laws. Dean Eliong Gillamac used to tell us to memorize the 1935 Constitution and I did. It was shorter than the 1974 Constitution of Marcos and the much more concise than the 1986 Constitution of Cory Aquino. Judge Narvios was the best professor in Criminal Law, and Atty. Teddy Almase, a Bar topnotcher was and still is the best in Civil Law. The best professor in Remedial Law was the one and only Matoy Seno but he seldom attended our class. And so, we struggled on our own. We formed a study group and a learning barkada. We did not have wifi, Google, or internet. We only had one set of SCRA and we were asked to recite each day. I worked as a court interpreter from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a student from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

I could not afford to review in Manila. I reviewed alone in Langin, Ronda, and Dumanjug. I got 84.93 in the Bar. The tenth placer got 85. I cannot really understand that, with all the gadgets and learning tools today, students still flunk the Bar. But there are secrets I will share with those who seek my help.