Inspirations for tomorrow’s Bar exams

Tomorrow and for the next three Sundays, over 8,000 Law graduates will take the much-dreaded Bar exams, tackling two subjects each Sunday. This year's chairman of the Bar is a retiring member of the Supreme Court, Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo. His two daughters became lawyers but one committed suicide by jumping from the top floor of a hotel just after passing the Bar in 2008. Del Castillo is soft-hearted and compassionate. This must be why more than 8,000 are taking the Bar tomorrow, the highest number since 2000.

Last year's Bar was topped by a male nurse from Bacolod, Mark John Simondo of the University of St. La Salle, who got 91.05. In 2016, the USC's Karen Mae L. Calam, a CPA, topped with 89.05. In 2015, it was UP's Rachel A. Miranda who got 87.40. In 2014, San Beda's Irene M. Alcobilla got 85. In 2013, UP's Nielson Pangan topped with 85.80, and in 2012, Ateneo's Ignatius M. Ingles got 85.64. Raul A. Atadero of Ateneo topped in 2011 with 85.53. And in 2010, Cesario Singson of Ateneo got 89. UP has the most first placers at 49, Ateneo has 22, and San Beda, 8.

In terms of passing rates, UP is number one with 73.71, followed by Ateneo, 67.55; San Beda, 67.13; USC, 67.13; Ateneo de Davao, 53.02; UST, 43.98; UC, 41.49; San Beda, Alabang, 39.10; PLM, 36.8, and Silliman 32.2. The Bar exams’ annual passing rates are unpredictable and erratic. In 2017, 1,724 out of 7,227 or 25% passed. In 2016, the highest in recent years, 3,747 out of 6,344, or 59.06% passed. In 2015, 1,731 out of 6,605, or 26.21% made it. In 2014, 1,126 out of 5,984, or 18.82%. In 2013, 1,174 out of 5,292 or 22.18%. In 2012, only 946 out of 5,343, or 17.71%. It was quite high in 2011 with 1,913 out of 5,987, making it 31.95%. In 2010, 982 passed or 20.20% of 4,847.

First placers who later became famous include President Manuel A. Roxas (UP), who got 92 in 1913, President Diosdado P. Macapagal (UST) who got 89.89 in 1936, Senator Jose W. Diokno (he did not go to Law school but was allowed to take the Bar) got 95.3, and tied with Senator Jovito Salonga (UP) in 1944. Justice and ConCom Chairwoman Cecilia Munoz-Palma got 92.6 in 1937. Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez (UM) got 91.3 in 1938. President Ferdinand E. Marcos got 92.35 in 1939 despite the fact that he was in prison when he reviewed for the Bar. University of Visayas' Paulino A. Gullas, uncle of The FREEMAN Chairman Jose Dodong Gullas, and Talisay City Mayor Eddie Gullas, got 93 in 1916. Chief Justice Pedro Yap got 91.7 in 1946. Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera got 93.85 in 1947.

The highest grade in the Bar was garnered by an Ilonggo who finished Law in San Beda, Justice Florenz D. Regalado, who got 96.7 in 1954. The first female Bar topnotcher was Senator Tecla San Andres-Ziga who got 99 in Remedial Law in 1930. The daughter of Justice Isaias Dicdican, Leonor from UP, topped the Bar at 91.2. Tomorrow is the first Sunday of the 2018 Bar. I feel that another Cebuana is going to top it again.