Bar Exams History

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Philippine Bar Examination

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional licensure examination for lawyers in thePhilippines.

It is the only professional licensure exam in the country that is not supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission.

The exam is exclusively administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippinesthrough the Supreme Court Bar

Examination Committee.

Contents

[show]

[edit]Brief history

The first bar exam was held in 1900, with 13 examinees, while the 2008 bar examination is the 107th (given per Article 8,

Section 5,1987 Constitution). The 2001 bar exam had the highest number of passers1,266 out of 3,849 examinees, or

32.89%, while 2006 had the highest examinees -.6,187. However, the Supreme Court of the Philippines' Office of the Bar

Confidant announced that (a new and official record of) 6,533 law graduates will take the 2008 Bar examinations. [1]

The most notable was the 1999 bar examinations which recorded the lowest passing rate of 16.59% or with a total number

of 660 successful examinees. Also, the 2003 bar exam was marred by controversy when the Court ordered a retake of the

Mercantile law due to questionnaire leakage.[2]In 2005, the High Tribunal implemented the "five-strike" rule, which

disqualifies five-time flunkers from taking future bar exams.[3]

[edit]Admission requirements

A bar candidate must meet the following academic qualifications:

Holder of a professional degreein law from a recognized law school in the

Philippines[4]

Holder of a bachelor's degreewith academic credits in certain required subjects from

a recognized college or university in the Philippines or abroad.[5]

He or she should also meet certain non-academic requisites:[6]

A Filipino citizen.

At least twenty-one (21) years of age.

A resident of the Philippines.

Satisfactory evidence of good moral character (usually a certificate from the dean of

law school or an immediate superior at work).
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No charges involving moral turpitude have been filed against the candidate or are

pending in any court in the Philippines.

In March 2010 the Philippine Supreme Court Issued Bar Matter 1153 amending provisions in sec 5 and 6 of rule 138 of the

rules of court now allowing Filipino foreign law school graduates to take the bar exam provided that they comply with the

following: a. completion of all courses leading to a degree of Bachelor of laws or its equivalent b. recognition or accreditation

of the law school by proper authority c. completion of all fourth year subjects in a program of a law school duly accredited by

the Philippine Government d. present proof of completing a separate bachelors degree

[edit]Committee of Bar Examiners

The Supreme Court appoints memberships in the Committee of Bar Examiners, the official task force for formulating bar

exam questions, instituting policy directives, executing procedures, grading bar examination papers, and releasing the

results of the annual bar examination.[7]

The committee is chaired by an incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court, who is designated by the Supreme Court to serve

for a term of one year. The members of the committee includes eight (8) members of theIntegrated Bar of the Philippines,

who also hold office for a term of one year.[8] While the Justice who shall act as Chairman is immediately known, committee

members must exert every effort to conceal their identities until the oath-taking of the successful bar examinees,

approximately six months after the bar exam.[9]

[edit]Bar review programs

Candidates who meet all the admission requirements usually enroll in special review classes after graduating from law

school. These programs are held from April to September in law schools, colleges, universities, and review centers.

Program schedule, content, and delivery differs from one review program to another. Lecturers in these programs are

called bar reviewers. They are usually full-time professors and part-time professorial lecturers in law schools and

universities. Most review programs invite incumbent and retired justices and high ranking public officials both as a marketing

tool and as a program innovation.[10]

[edit]Venue and itinerary

In recent years, the examinations were held during the four Sundays of September of every year at the campus ofDe La

Salle University-Manilaalong Taft Avenue,Manila. Starting 2011, the exams will be moved to November, and will be held at

theUniversity of Santo Tomas' campus along Espaa Boulevard, inSampaloc, Manila.

On February 8, 2011, the Supreme Court resolved to approve changes to the Rules of Court, thereby altering the schedule

for the examinations.[11] The schedule is now as follows:

First Sunday:
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Political and International Law, Labor and Social Legislation (morning

session)

Taxation (afternoon session)

Second Sunday:

Civil Law (morning session)

Mercantile Law (afternoon session)

Third Sunday:

Remedial Law, Legal Ethics (morning session)

Criminal Law (afternoon session)

Fourth Sunday:

Trial Memorandum (morning session)

Legal Opinion with one legal form (afternoon session)

[edit]Coverage

The examination covers the following topics, popularly known as the bar subjects:[12]

Political and Public International Law

Constitutional Law

Political Law

Administrative Law (only the basic doctrines, excluding implementing rules

and regulations of government agencies)

Law on Public Officers

Public Corporations

Suffrage

Public International Law

Labor and Social Legislation

Labor Law (Labor Code of the Philippines, excluding the implementing rules

and regulations)

Social Legislation

Social Security Law

Revised Government Service Insurance Act of 1977 (including

Employees Compensation Act of 1977)

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law
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Civil Law

Civil Code of the Philippines (excluding the Code of Muslim Personal Laws,

Water Code, Rental Law, Law on Sale of Subdivision of Lots and Condominiums)

Family Code of the Philippines (including the Child and Youth Welfare Code)

Property Registration Decree (excluding the Public Land Law)

Conflict of Laws (Private International Law)

Taxation

General principles of Taxation

Republic Act No. 1125, creating the Court of Tax Appeals

National Internal Revenue Code (including the Expanded Value Added Tax

or EVAT)

Tariff and Customs Code (excluding Arrastre and Classification of

Commodities)

Mercantile Law

Negotiable Instruments Law and Other Allied Laws

Negotiable Instruments Law (with the Uniform Currency Act)

Merchants and Commercial Transactions (including Articles 1 to

63 of the Code of Commerce, Retail Trade Law, Bulk Sales Law)

Letters of Credit under the Code of Commerce

Insurance Code

Transportation Laws

Common Carriers (Articles 1732 to 1766 of the New Civil Code)

Commercial Contracts for Transportation Over Land (Articles 349

to 379 of the Code of Commerce)

Maritime Commerce

Public Service Act

Corporation Law

Corporation Code

Securities Act

Banking Laws

Laws on Secrecy of Bank Deposits

Deposit Insurance Corporation
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Trust Receipts Law (excluding the General Banking Act)

Other Special Laws

Chattel Mortgage Law

Warehouse Receipts Law

Laws on Intellectual Creations

Copyright Law

Patent Law

Trademark Law

Insolvency Law

Truth in Lending Act

Criminal Law

Revised Penal Code (Books I & II excluding penalties for specific felonies)

Indeterminate Sentence Law

Probation Law

Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act

Anti-Fencing Law

Bouncing Checks Law

Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972

Heinous Crimes Law (excluding penalties)

Remedial Law

Revised Rules of Court

1991 Revised Rule on Summary Procedure

Local Government Code on Conciliation Procedures (Chapter VII)

Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (excluding purely administrative

provisions, Military Justice Law, Judiciary Act of 1948, and the Law Reorganizing

the Court of Agrarian Relations)

Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises

Legal Ethics

Judicial Ethics

Code of Professional Responsibility

Grievance Procedures (Rules 139-B, Revised Rules of Court)
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Forms

[edit]Grading system

The eight bar subjects are separately graded. Each subject contributes to the general average in the following proportion: [13]

Subject Weight'

Civil Law 15%

Labor Law and Social Legislation 10%

Mercantile Law 15%

Criminal Law 10%

Political and International Law 15%

Taxation 10%

Remedial Law 20%

Legal Ethics and PracticalExercises

5%

The passing average fixed by law is 75%, with no grade falling below 50% in any bar subject.[14]

[edit]Passing average vs. Passing rate

The passing average is the minimum grade in the exam required to be admitted to the practice of law. The passing rate is

the proportion of total number of bar passers in relation to the total number of bar examinees. It is usually computed on two

levelsthe national level (national bar passing rate), and the law school level (law school passing rate).

In the past, passing averages were considerably lower to admit more new lawyers (i.e. 69% in 1947, 69.45% in 1946, 70%

in 1948). Since 1982, the passing average has been fixed at 75%. This has led to a dramatic decrease in the national

passing rate of bar examinees, from an all-time high of 75.17% in 1954 to an all-time low of 16.59% in 1999 (all-time low

should have been the single digit 5% national passing rate for the 2007 bar examination if the Supreme Court did not lower
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the passing average to 70% and lowered the disqualification rate in 3 subjects). In recent years, the annual national bar

passing rate ranges from 20% to 30%.[15]

[edit]Passing Percentage (1978-2011)

Year Passing Percentage

2011 31.95% (1,913 out of 5,987)

2010 20.26% (982 out of 4,847)

2009 24.58% (1,451 out of 5,903)

2008 20.58% (1,310 out of 6,364)

2007 22.91% (1,289 out of 5,626)

2006 30.60% (1,893 out of 6,187)

2005 27.22% (1,526 out of 5,607)

2004 31.61% (1,659 out of 5,249)

2003 20.71% (1,108 out of 5,349)

2002 19.68% (917 out of 4,659)

2001 32.89% (1,266 out of 3,849)

2000 20.84% (979 out of 4,698)

1999 16.59% (660 out of 3,978)

1998 39.63%
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1997 18.11% (710 out of 3,921)

1996 31.21% (1,217 out of 3,900)

1995 30.90% (987 out of 3,194)

1994 30.87%

1993 21.65%

1992 17.25%

1991 17.81% (569 out of 3,194)

1990 27.94% (866 out of 3,100)

1989 21.22% (639 out of 3,012)

1988 24.26% (689 out of 2,840)

1987 16.95% (480 out of 2,832)

1986 18.88% (491 out of 2,600)

1985 25.78% (701 out of 2,719)

1984 21.80% (563 out of 2,582)


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1983 21.30% (523 out of 2,455)

1982 20.50% (433 out of 2,112)

1981 43.71% (841 out of 1,924)

1980 33.61% (605 out of 1,800)

1979 49.51% (903 out of 1,824)

1978 56.93% (1,076 out of 1,890)

[edit]Law school passing rates

Law schools with the highest bar passing rates from 1996 to 2005 include:

Schools with more than 30 examinees:

Ateneo de Manila Law School - 89.19%

San Beda College of Law - 85.27%

University of the Philippines College of Law - 85.19%

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law - 56.70%

Far Eastern University Institute of Law - 26.25%

University of the East College of Law - 26.23%

Schools with 30 or less examinees:

Ateneo de Davao College of Law - 65.57%

University of San Carlos - 54.45%

Arellano University - 46.18%

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of Law - 41.26%

Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan - 37.45%

Lyceum of the Philippines University - 32.40%
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Saint Louis University - 31.38%[15]

[16][17]

In 2009, the Commission on Higher Education revealed its list of top law schools based on average passing percentage,

regardless of the number of candidates. The top 10 schools of that list are:

Ateneo de Manila Law School 91.24%

San Beda College of Law 88.4%

University of the Philippines College of Law 82.85%

Far Eastern University-De La Salle University (Juris Doctor MBA) 77.42%

Ateneo de Davao College of Law 75.92%

University of San Carlos 68.2%

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law 67.64%

University of Cebu--52.81%

University of Perpetual Help-Rizal 50.81%

Arellano University 49.3%[18]

[edit]Role of the Supreme Court, Criticisms

In 2007, only 5% (of the 5,626 who took the 2007 tests, or less than 300) got the passing grade of 75%. Thus, the Supreme

Court adjusted the standard to 70% and the disqualification rate in 3 subjects (civil, labor and criminal law) from 50 to 45%.

Accordingly, 1,289 or 22.91%, passed. This passing grade reduction is highly unusual, since it last happened in the 1981

exam when the passing grade was lowered to 72.5%. Prior to 1982, the passing mark jumped unpredictably from year to

year: 69.45 percent in 1946; 69 in 1947; 70 in 1948, 1963, 1972 and 1974; 71 in 1961; 71.5 in 1953, 1964 and 1965; 72 in

1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1967; 72.5 in 1954, 1962 and 1981; 73 in 1950, 1956, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978 and 1980;

73.5 in 1955 and 1979; 74 in 1949, 1951, 1952, 1966, 1971, 1973 and 1977; and 74.5 in 1976. In 1954, the Court lowered

the passing grade to 72.5%, even if the passing percentage was already at its highest at 75.17%. In 1999, moves to lower

the passing grade to 74% failed, after Justice Fidel Purisima, bar committee chairman failed to disclose that his nephew took

the examination. He was censured and hishonorariawas reduced to half. [19]

[edit]Bar topnotchers

Bar topnotchers are bar examinees who garnered the highest bar exam grades in a particular year. Every year, the

Supreme Court releases the bar top ten list. The list contains the names of bar examinees who obtained the ten highest

grades. It is possible for more than ten examinees to place in the top ten because numerical ties in the computation of

grades usually occur.[20]

From 1913 to 2011, schools which have produced bar topnotchers (1st placers) are as follows: [20]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceC-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-pdq1-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-pdq1-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_de_Davao_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_San_Carloshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arellano_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceC-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-pdq1-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_de_Davao_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_San_Carloshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arellano_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19


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University of the Philippines College of Law - forty-six (46) bar topnotchers

Ateneo de Manila Law School - twenty (20) bar topnotchers

San Beda College of Law - seven (7) bar topnotchers

Philippine Law School - five (5) bar topnotchers

University of Manila College of Law - four (4) bar topnotchers

Far Eastern University Institute of Law - four (4) bar topnotchers

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law - three (3) bar topnotchers

University of the Cordilleras (formerly Baguio Colleges Foundation) College of Law -

two (2) bar topnotchers

Manila Law College Foundation (formerly Escuela de Derecho de Manila) - one (1)

bar topnotcher

Manuel L. Quezon University College of Law - one (1) bar topnotcher

Holy Name University (formerly Divine Word College of Tagbilaran) - one (1) bar

topnotcher

University of the East College of Law - one (1) bar topnotcher

San Sebastian College - Recoletos - one (1) bar topnotcher

Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without officially graduating from any Philippine law school: [20]

Jose W. Diokno - former Senator of the Philippines; 1st placer, 1945 bar exams. Mr.

Diokno, who tied for Number One with Mr. Jovito Salonga in the 1945 Bar Exams,

would have graduated from the University of Santo Tomashad not World War II

supervened. Mr. Diokno's success in the bar exams is further underscored by the fact

that he was also under-age[21] and that he also placed number 1 in the 1940 CPA Board

exams which he took while in law school, after graduating summa cum laudefrom

thenDe La Salle Collegeat the age of 17. This double number 1 feat may never be

paralleled. The closest may have been Cesar L. Villanueva (from the Ateneo Law

School) who placed second in the 1981 Bar Exams and second again in the 1982 CPA

Board Exams.

Carolina C. Grio-Aquino - former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; 1st placer,

1950 bar exams. Ms. Aquino (who later became the wife of Mr. Ramon Aquino, 6th

placer in 1939 Bar Exams) was a special student of the UP College of Law, where she

finished her last two years of law school having taken her first two years of law school

at the Colegio de San Agustin in Iloilo. Ms. Aquino was advised to take her last two

years of law school in UP by Colegio de San Agustin Law Dean Felipe Ysmael.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manilahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Eastern_University_Institute_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Cordillerashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_L._Quezon_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Name_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_East_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Sebastian_College_-_Recoletoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://filipinoheritage.zxq.net/sikatpinoy/jose_diokno.htmhttp://filipinoheritage.zxq.net/sikatpinoy/jose_diokno.htmhttp://www.dlsu.edu.ph/http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_C._Gri%C3%B1o-Aquino&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manilahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Eastern_University_Institute_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Cordillerashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_L._Quezon_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Name_Universityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_East_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Sebastian_College_-_Recoletoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://filipinoheritage.zxq.net/sikatpinoy/jose_diokno.htmhttp://www.dlsu.edu.ph/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_C._Gri%C3%B1o-Aquino&action=edit&redlink=1


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Coincidentally, Mr. Ysmael (a UP Law graduate himself) placed number 1 in the 1917

Bar Exams. Since Ms. Aquino only took her last two years of law at UP, she can't be

certified as an official UP law graduate.[21]Both spouses Aquino (in addition to being

topnotchers) also served as Justices of the Supreme Court.[22]

In the past, non-law school graduates were allowed to take the bar. However, the Revised Rules of Court and Supreme

Court Circulars allow Filipino graduates of Philippine law schools (and subject to certain conditions, Filipino graduates of

foreign law schools) to take the bar, necessarily excluding non-law graduates and foreigners who have law degrees from

taking part in the exercise.[4]

While not a guarantee for topping the bar, academic excellence in law school is a good indicator of an examinee's fortune in

the bar exams. Ateneo Law School's only summa cum laude graduate, Claudio M. Teehankee, placed number one in the

1940 Bar Exams.[20]It is worth noting that Teehankee's son, Manuel Antonio, followed in his footsteps by graduating at the

top of his Ateneo Law School class (albeit, not as summa cum laude) and placing first in the 1983 bar exams. Claudio's

nephew, Enrique (a cum laude graduate from the UP College of Law), also placed number one in the 1976 bar exams.

Claudio eventually became Supreme Court Chief Justice, Manuel was formerly Department of Justice Undersecretary and

currently Philippine Special Envoy for International Trade as well Permanent Representative to the World Trade

Organization in Geneva, Switzerland while Enrique is a successful private practitioner.

This father-son-nephew feat has yet to (and, perhaps, may never) be equalled in the annals of Philippine Bar. For siblings,

the closest is when Manuel B. Zamora Jr. placed third in the 1961 Bar Exams and younger brother Ronaldo placed first in

the 1969 Bar Exams.

The UST Faculty of Civil Law'ssole summa cum laude graduate, Roberto B. Concepcion, placed first in the 1924 Bar

Exams.[20]He later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The San Beda Collegeof Law's sole magna cum laude graduate, Florenz Regalado[23], ranked 1st in the 1954 Bar exams

with a mark of 96.70%. The record is the highest average in the Philippine Bar Examinations, to date. Regalado later served

as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The UP College of Law(which has yet to produce a summa cum laude graduate) had five of its seventeen magna cum

laude graduates (the College of Law first conferred the honor to Rafael Dinglasan in 1925 and, to date, last conferred the

same honor to Dionne Marie Sanchez in 2007) place number one in their respective bar exams: Rafael Dinglasan in 1925,

Lorenzo Sumulong in 1929, Deogracias Eufemio in 1962, Roberto San Jose in 1966 and Ronaldo Zamora in 1969.

[20]Dinglasan became a Judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila, Sumulong became Senator of the Republic and a

renowned statesman, Eufemio and San Jose established their respective successful private law practices while Zamora

became Executive Secretary to then President Joseph Estrada and is currently the Minority Leader in the House of

Representatives.

[edit]Highest and lowest topnotcher grades
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceA-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/http://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceA-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Santo_Tomas_Faculty_of_Civil_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=13


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In the Philippine Bar's recorded history, the highest grade first recorded was the 92% garnered in 1913 by Manuel A. Roxas

of the UP College of Law. The following year, 1914, Atty. Roxas' feat was bested by the 93% obtained by first placer Manuel

C. Goyena (also from the UP College of Law). Atty. Goyena's top mark was tied by 1916-first placer Paulino Gullas (future

Congressman from Cebu), another alumnus of the UP College of Law.

Another standard was created in 1940, when Claudio Teehankee (future Supreme Court Chief Justice), from the Ateneo

Law School, got a grade of 94.35% when he topped the examinations. This record was obliterated four years later in 1944

when Jovito SalongaandJose W. Diokno tied with the highest score of 95.3%. This was the first time that first place ended

in a tie. When they took the 1944 Bar Exams, Atty. Salonga was an undergraduate at the UP College of Law while Atty.

Diokno (future Senator) was an undergraduate of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. After passing the bar,

Atty. Salonga (future Senate President) went back to UP to complete his bacholer's degree in law, earning it in 1946. The

only other instance of a tie at first place of the bar exams was when Edwin Enrile (salutatorian of his Ateneo Law School

class) and Florin Hilbay (an honor student of the UP College of Law) both garnered the same score in 1999. Atty. Enrile

served as Deputy Executive Secretary to President Gloria Arroyo and as a Professorial Lecturer at the Ateneo Law School

while Atty. Hilbay is a Professor of Law at the UP College of Law. [21]

After another four years, the "bar" was raised a few notches when Manuel G. Montecillo of the Far Eastern University

Institute of Law got a grade of 95.50% when he bested all the bar examinees of 1948. The following year, another record

was set when Anacleto C. Magaser, an alumnus of the Philippine Law School, got a grade of 95.85% when he topped the

1949 bar exams.

But the diamond standard (the highest general average ever obtained among all bar topnotchers in recorded history) was

set in 1954 whenFlorenz D. Regalado(future Supreme Court Associate Justice) of the San Beda College of Law scored

96.7% when he topped the 1954 Philippine Bar Examinations. To date, Atty. Regalado's feat remains unsurpassed and may

never be equalled (much less topped).[24]

The lowest grade was obtained byAteneo Law School's Mercedita L. Ona, 83.55%, 2008, which erased the prior record of

84.10%, obtained by Adolfo Brillantes of Escuela de Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law College Foundation) in 1920.[20]

[25]Atty. Ona was the just the latest of women first placers. In 1930, Tecla San Andres (an alumna of the UP College of Law

and future Senator) broke the proverbial "glass ceiling" when she became the first woman to top the bar with a grade of

89.4%. Ameurfina A. Melencio (also an alumna of the UP College of Law and who later became a Justice of the Supreme

Court) has the highest grade of all female bar topnotchers in recorded history, when she obtained a 93.85% rating in 1947.

Below is a listing of all 99 first-placers (from 1913 to 2011) ranked from highest to lowest in terms of rating obtained. It

should be noted however that bar ratings are not exactly comparable from year-to-year as the difficulty of the exams varies

through the years.

Rank Year Name School Rating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovito_Salongahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovito_Salongahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovito_Salongahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Manila_Times.2C_12_April_2008-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Beda_College_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateneo_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-ReferenceB-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-24


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1st 1954 Florenz D. Regalado San Beda College 96.700

2nd 1949 Anacleto C. Magaser Philippine Law School 95.850

3rd 1948 Manuel G. Montecillo Far Eastern University 95.500

4th (tie) 1944 Jose W. Diokno Special (University of Santo Tomas) 95.300

4th (tie) 1944 Jovito R. Salonga University of the Philippines 95.300

6th 1940 Claudio Teehankee Ateneo de Manila University 94.350

7th 1952 Pedro Samson C. Animas University of the Philippines 94.250

8th 1953 Leonardo A. Amores University of Manila 94.050

9th 1947 Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera University of the Philippines 93.850

10th 2001 Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada University of the Philippines 93.800

11th (tie) 1914 Manuel C. Goyena University of the Philippines 93.000

11th (tie) 1916 Paulino Gullas University of the Philippines 93.000

11th (tie) 1932 Hermenegildo Atienza University of the Philippines 93.000

14th 2002 Arlene M. Maneja University of Santo Tomas 92.900

15th 1984 Richard M. Chiu Ateneo de Manila University 92.850

16th 1937 Cecilia Muoz-Palma University of the Philippines 92.600
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovito_R._Salongahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Teehankeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameurfina_A._Melencio-Herrerahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Mu%C3%B1oz-Palmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_W._Dioknohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovito_R._Salongahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Teehankeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameurfina_A._Melencio-Herrerahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Mu%C3%B1oz-Palma


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17th 1929 Lorenzo S. Sumulong University of the Philippines 92.500

18th 1978 Cosme D. Rosell University of the Philippines 92.475

19th 1933 Lope C. Quimbo University of Manila 92.450

20th 1971 Henry R. Villarica University of the Philippines 92.400

21st 1939 Ferdinand E. Marcos University of the Philippines 92.350

22nd (tie) 1951 Vicente R. Acsay University of Manila 92.250

22nd (tie) Aug-1946 Gregoria T. Cruz University of the Philippines 92.250

24th 1950 Carolina C. Grio Special (Colegio de San Agustin,University of the Philippines) 92.050

25th (tie) 1913 Manuel A. Roxas University of the Philippines 92.000

25th (tie) 1917 Felipe Ysmael University of the Philippines 92.000

27th (tie) 1977 Virgilio B. Gesmundo Ateneo de Manila University 91.800

27th (tie) 1998 Janet B. Abuel Baguio Colleges Foundation 91.800

29th (tie) 1934 Miguel Aragon University of the Philippines 91.700

29th (tie) 1960 Ismael Andres Manuel L. Quezon University 91.700

29th (tie) Nov-1946 Pedro L. Yap University of the Philippines 91.700

32nd 1974 Arturo D. Brion Ateneo de Manila University 91.650
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_E._Marcoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_A._Roxashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_E._Marcoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_A._Roxas


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33rd (tie) 1979 Gregorio M. Batiller Jr. Ateneo de Manila University 91.400

33rd (tie) 1983 Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee Ateneo de Manila University 91.400

35th 1938 Emmanuel N. Pelaez University of Manila 91.300

36th 1995 Leonor Y. Dicdican University of the Philippines 91.200

37th 1925 Rafael Dinglasan University of the Philippines 91.100

38th (tie) 1961 Avelino V. Cruz San Beda College 90.950

38th (tie) 1981 Irene Ragodon-Guevarra Ateneo de Manila University 90.950

38th (tie) 1982 Ray C. Espinosa Ateneo de Manila University 90.950

41st 1923 Roque V. Desquitado University of the Philippines 90.900

42nd (tie) 1962 Deogracias G. Eufemio University of the Philippines 90.800

42nd (tie) 1976 Enrique Y. Teehankee University of the Philippines 90.800

44th (tie) 1966 Roberto V. San Jose University of the Philippines 90.600

44th (tie) 1996 Patricia Ann T. Prodigalidad University of the Philippines 90.600

44th (tie) 2000 Eliseo M. Zuiga Jr. University of the Philippines 90.600

47th 1955 Tomas P. Matic Jr. Far Eastern University 90.550

48th (tie) 1928 Filomeno B. Pascual Philippine Law School 90.300


17/48

48th (tie) 1973 Vicente R. Solis Ateneo de Manila University 90.300

50th (tie) 1941 Emmet P.D. Shea University of the Philippines 90.200

50th (tie) 1956 Francisco C. Catral San Beda College 90.200

52nd 1997 Ma. Cecilia H. Fernandez University of the Philippines 90.025

53rd 1915 Francisco Villanueva Jr. University of the Philippines 90.000

54th 1991 Joseph P. San Pedro Ateneo de Manila University 89.950

55th (tie) 1936 Diosdado P. Macapagal University of Santo Tomas 89.850

55th (tie) 1990 Aquilino L. Pimentel III University of the Philippines 89.850

57th 1965 Victor S. Dela Serna San Beda College 89.800

58th 1980 Rafael R. Lagos University of the Philippines 89.750

59th 1934 Marciano P. Catral Philippine Law School 89.700

60th 1967 Rodolfo D. Robles San Beda College 89.600

61st (tie) 1930 Tecla San Andres University of the Philippines 89.400

61st (tie) 1931 Jose Leuterio University of the Philippines 89.400

61st (tie) 1985 Janette Susan L. Pea University of the Philippines 89.400

64th 1958 Manuel G. Abello University of the Philippines 89.250
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_P._Macapagalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_P._Macapagal


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65th (tie) 1959 Agustin O. Benitez Far Eastern University 89.200

65th (tie) 1994 Francisco Noel R. Fernandez University of the Philippines 89.200

67th 1957 Gregorio R. Castillo University of the Philippines 89.150

68th (tie) 1921 Pablo Payawal University of the Philippines 89.100

68th (tie) 1922 Amado L. Velilla University of the Philippines 89.100

68th (tie) 1924 Roberto B. Concepcion University of Santo Tomas 89.100

71st 2010 Cesareo Antonio S. Singzon Jr. Ateneo de Manila University 89.000

72nd 1986 Laurence L. Go Ateneo de Manila University 88.600

73rd 1987 Mario P. Victoriano Ateneo de Manila University 88.550

74th 2003 Aeneas Eli S. Diaz Ateneo de Manila University 88.530

75th (tie) 1999 Edwin R. Enrile Ateneo de Manila University 88.500

75th (tie) 1999 Florin T. Hilbay University of the Philippines 88.500

77th 1964 Jesus P. Castelo San Beda College 88.400

78th 1993 Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castaeda Ateneo de Manila University 88.325

79th 1988 Maria Yvette O. Navarro University of the Philippines 88.120

80th 1926 Eugeniano Perez Philippine Law School 88.100


19/48

81st 1927 Cesar Kintanar University of the Philippines 87.700

82nd 2006 Noel Neil Q. Malimban University of the Cordilleras 87.600

83rd 1970 Romulo D. San Juan Far Eastern University[26] 87.500

84th (tie) 1968 Oscar B. Glovasa Divine World College of Tagbilaran 87.450

84th (tie) 2004 January A. Sanchez University of the Philippines 87.450

86th 1969 Ronaldo B. Zamora University of the Philippines 87.300

87th 2005 Joan de Venecia University of the Philippines 87.200

88th 1972 Januario B. Soller Jr. Ateneo de Manila University 87.130

89th (tie) 1918 Alejo Labrador University of the Philippines 87.000

89th (tie) 1919 Gregorio Anonas Philippine Law School 87.000

89th (tie) 1992 Jayme A. Sy Jr. Ateneo de Manila University 87.000

92nd 1975 Nicanor B. Padilla Jr. University of the East 86.700

93rd 1963 Cornelio C. Gison Ateneo de Manila University 86.350

94th 1989 Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. University of the Philippines 86.185

95th 2008 Judy A. Lardizabal San Sebastian College 85.700

96th 2011 Raoul Angelo D. Atadero Ateneo de Manila University 85.536
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97th 2009 Reinier Paul R. Yebra San Beda College 84.800

98th 1920 Adolfo Brillantes Escuela de Derecho 84.100

99th 2007 Mercedita L. Ona Ateneo de Manila University 83.550

A famous (almost anecdotal) incident in the history of the Philippine bar examinations supposedly happened in 1939 when

Ferdinand Marcos topped the examinations with almost perfect score of 98.5%. However, after some deliberation on his

grade (and after undergoing an oral examination before the supreme court, the result of which is impressive), the supreme

court justices decide to prune down his grade to 92.35% to mitigate the effect of insinuations that he cheated on the said

examinations.[27]

[edit]Highest scores in specific bar subjects

While no bar examinee has ever reached a 100% general average, several bar examinees have garnered perfect and near-

perfect grades in specific bar subjects.

In 1930, Tecla San Andres-Ziga (future Senator) of the University of the Philippines got a grade of 99% in Remedial Law [28].

She also placed number one in the bar exams of the same year.

In 1949, Anacleto C. Magaser of the Philippine Law School earned 100% in Mercantile Law, and placed 1st in the bar

exams of that year. His average of 95.85% broke all prior records before it was bested by Florenz Regalado in 1954.

[20]Magaser's bar rating remains the second highest of all time.

In 1953, Juan Ponce Enrile (future Defense Minister and Senate President) of the University of the Philippines College of

Law, where he graduated salutatorian and cum laude, earned 100% in Mercantile Law[29]and placed 11th in the bar exams

of that year.[30]

In 1955, Raul Gonzales (future Congressman, Secretary of Justice and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel) of theUniversity

of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Lawearned 99% in Remedial Law [citation needed] and 95% in International Law. [citation

needed] However, he did not place in the top ten.[20]

In 1973, Renato Franciso (Executive Judge of RTC Malolos, Bulacan) of the Ateneo de Manila Law School obtained a

perfect score of 100% in Criminal Law.[31]

In 1997, Maria Celia H. Fernandez of the University of the Philippines College of Law, where she graduated salutatorian and

cum laude, earned 100% in Legal Ethics [citation needed] and emerged as the year's bar topnotcher.[20]

In 2001, Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada, that year's valedictorian of theUniversity of the Philippines College of Law, obtained a

perfect score of 100% in Remedial Law[citation needed], the highest weighted of the bar subjects. The difference (3.75%) between

his final bar examination score (93.80%) and that of the second-placer, Jesus Paolo U. Protacio (90.05%), that year's
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valedictorian of theAteneo de Manila Law School and who got a perfect score of 100% in Criminal Law,[citation needed] is the

highest of all time. Notably, that year's valedictorian of theSan Beda College of Law, Adonis V. Gabriel, obtained a perfect

score of 100% in Political Law[citation needed] and placed 8th (88.25%).[20][32]The 3.75% difference between No. 1 and No. 2

eclipsed the previous highest difference of 2.10% registered in 1966 when Roberto V. San Jose (valedictorian of the UP

College of Law) garnered a grade of 90.6% versus the 88.5% of the tied second placers, Ruben F. Balane (salutatorian of

the UP College of Law) and Pablo S. Trillana III (valedictorian of the San Beda College of Law).

In 2005, Gladys V. Gervacio of the University of Perpetual Help-Rizal earned a perfect 100% in two bar subjectsLegal

Ethics[citation needed]and Labor Law[citation needed]. She placed 6th in the bar exams of that year. In 2011, she passed the California

State Bar examinations.[20]

[edit]Increasing difficulty

The difficulty of the recent bar examinations, compared to exams of the past, can be attributed to the following factors: [15]

The growing volume of Philippine case and statutory laws is unprecedented. Laws,

jurisprudence, and legal doctrines of the past constitute only a small fraction of

contemporary Philippine legal materials, which are increasing on a daily basis.[33]

The 75% passing average with no grade lower than 50% in any subject is already

fixed by law. Actual candidates who scored 74.99% in the general average were not

admitted to the practice of law, unless they retake the bar exams.[15]

The Three-Failure Rule is now in place. Candidates who have failed the bar exams

for three times are not permitted to take another bar exam until they re-enroll and pass

regular fourth-year review classes and attend a pre-bar review course in an approved

law school.[34]

The Five-Strike Rule is implemented since 2005. The rule limits to five the number of

times a candidate may take the Bar exams. The rule disqualifies a candidate after

failing in three examinations. However, he is permitted to take fourth and fifth

examinations if he successfully completes a one year refresher course for each

examination.[35]

The four-year bachelor's degree is required before admission to law school. Hence,

every bar examinee has to hold at least two degreesone in law and one in another

field. In the past, law schools readily admit high school graduates and two-

yearAssociate in Artsdegree holders.[36]
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After the end of the Second World War, the passing rate in the succeeding years was remarkably high, ranging from 56 to

72% percent. However, afterAssociate JusticeJ.B.L. Reyes, a noted scholar, was appointed Chairman of the 1955 Bar

Examinations, the passing rate for that year dropped dramatically to 26.8%, with a mortality rate of 73.2%. That ratio has

been invariably maintained in the 50+ years since.[37]

[edit]Waiting period

The largely essay-type exams are manually checked by members of the Committee of Bar Examiners. Candidates have to

wait from the last Sunday of the bar exams in September up to the date of the release of results, which traditionally happens

before or during the Holy Week (the last week of March or the first week of April) of the following year.

During this period, candidates (who already hold law and bachelor's degrees) may opt to work in law firms and courts as

legal researchers, teach in liberal arts and business colleges, function in companies and organizations using their pre-law

degrees (i.e. Communication Arts, Accounting, Economics, Journalism, etc.), help run the family business, or take a long

vacation.[38]

[edit]Admission of Successful Bar Examinees

The Office of the Bar Confidant of the Philippine Supreme Court releases the Official List of Successful Bar

Examinees, usually during the last week of March or the first week of April of every year. Candidates whose names appear

in the list are required to take and subscribe before the Supreme Court the corresponding Oath of Office. [39]

Candidates shall take an Oath of Office and sign their names in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court.[40] The oath-

taking is usually held in May at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) with a formal program where all

Justices of the Supreme Court, sitting en banc, formally approve the applications of the successful bar candidates. The eight

bar examiners are officially introduced to the public. A message to the newly inducted lawyers is delivered by one of the

justices. Candidates who made the bar top ten list are also introduced and honored. The deans of all Philippine law schools

are requested to attend the ceremony and grace the front seats of the plenary hall. [12]

[edit]Controversies

In the 1930s, a distant relative ofImelda Romualdez Marcoswho was a Justice in the High Court resigned after a

controversy involving the bar examinations. Justice Ramon Fernandez was forced to protect his name and honor when he

resigned because of a bar examination scandal.[1]

On November 23, 1979, the High Court, per Justice Pacifico de Castro ordered new examinations in labor and social

legislation and taxation.

On May 7, 1982, 12 of the Supreme Court's 14 justices resigned amid expose "that the court fixed the bar-examination score

of a member's son so that he would pass." Justice Vicente Ericta was accused to have personally approached the bar

chairman to inquire whether his (Ericta's) son passed the bar.Ferdinand Marcosaccepted the resignations and appointed
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the new Justices. Chief Justice Enrique Fernando wept at a news conference as he accepted responsibility for rechecking

and changing the exam score of Gustavo Ericta, son of Justice Vicente Ericta. [41]

Associate Justice Fidel Purisima, chairman of the bar committee, did not disclose that he had a nephew who was taking the

bar examination in that year. He was merely censured and his honoraria as bar examiner were forfeited.

On September 24, 2003, the Supreme Court, per a bleary-eyedAssociate Justice Jose Vitug, annulled the tests results on

mercantile law after "confirmation of what could be the most widespread case of cheating in the 104-year-old bar exams". [42]

[edit]Bar Top Ten List

The Office of the Bar Confidant releases an official Bar Top Ten list together with the list of names of all successful bar

examinees. The Bar Top Ten contains the names of the candidates who garnered the ten highest general averages in the

bar exam for that year. The highest ranking candidate in the list is known as the bar topnotcher. The list has always been

the subject of much media attention and public speculation.[43]

Making a place in the list is widely regarded as an important life achievement, an attractive professional qualification, and a

necessary improvement in a lawyer's professional and social status. [43]

[edit]Famous bar top ten placers

Prominent lawyers who made the bar top ten include:[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

[edit]Presidents and Vice Presidents

Manuel A. Roxas - 1st President (3rd Philippine Republic); 1st placer (92%), 1913 Bar

Exams (UP)

Diosdado P. Macapagal - 5th President (3rd Philippine Republic); 1st placer (89.85%),

1936 Bar Exams (UST)

Ferdinand E. Marcos - 6th President (3rd Philippine Republic); 1st placer (92.35%),

1939 Bar Exams (UP)

Jose P. Laurel - President (2nd Philippine Republic); 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams

(UP)

Elpidio C. Quirino - 2nd President (3rd Philippine Republic); 2nd placer, 1915 Bar

Exams (UP)

Sergio S. Osmea - 2nd President (Philippine Commonwealth); 2nd placer, 1903 Bar

Exams (UST)

Manuel L. Quezon - 1st President (Philippine Commonwealth); 4th placer, 1903 Bar

Exams (UST)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Philippine_Bar_Exams_2006-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Philippine_Bar_Exams_2006-42http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=20http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=21http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_A._Roxashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_P._Macapagalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_P._Macapagalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_E._Marcoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elpidio_C._Quirino&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_S._Osme%C3%B1ahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_L._Quezonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-41http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Philippine_Bar_Exams_2006-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-Philippine_Bar_Exams_2006-42http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_A._Roxashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_P._Macapagalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_E._Marcoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elpidio_C._Quirino&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_S._Osme%C3%B1ahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_L._Quezon


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Carlos P. Garcia - 4th President (3rd Philippine Republic); 7th placer, 1923 Bar

Exams (PLS)

Emmanuel N. Pelaez - former Philippine Vice President; 1st placer, 1938 Bar Exams

(UM)

Arturo M. Tolentino - former Philippine Vice President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams

(UP)

Curiously, each President of the Philippines who happened to be a lawyer was always a bar placer. The other Presidents

(i.e., Emilio F. Aguinaldo, Ramon F. Magsaysay, Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada and Gloria M.

Arroyo) were all non-lawyers (and hence could not have been bar placers). For the 2010 presidential elections, among those

who have declared their intention of seeking the highest post of the land is Gilberto Teodoro. Aside from being a Secretary

of Defense (like former Presidents Magsaysay and Ramos), Secretary Teodoro (a lawyer from the University of the

Philippines) placed first in the 1989 Bar Exams with a grade of 86.185%. Topnotcher Teodoro placed fourth in the elections

behind incumbent President Benigno S. Aquino III (an economics major), President Joseph E. Estrada (who took up

engineering) and Sen. Manuel B. Villar (a business major). A lawyer, Jejomar C. Binay (from UP), captured the vice

presidency when he bested former Sen. Manuel A. Roxas II (an economist and grandson of the first bar topnotcher,

President Manuel A. Roxas).

In Philippine political history, two bar topnotchers sought the presidency but failed. Vice President Pelaez (1938 Bar

Topnotcher) lost the Nacionalista Party nomination to President Marcos (1939 Bar Topnotcher) for the 1965 presidential

elections. Senate President Jovito Salonga (1944 Bar Topnotcher) of the Liberal Party lost to President Ramos of Lakas-

NUCD in the 1992 presidential elections.[54]

[edit]Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices

Jose Yulo - 6th Philippine Chief Justice; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams (UP College of

Law)

Ricardo Paras - 8th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1913 Bar Exams (UP College

of Law)

Cesar Bengzon - 9th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1919 Bar Exams (UP

College of Law)

Roberto Concepcion - 10th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams (UST

Faculty of Civil Law)

Querube Makalintal - 11th Philippine Chief Justice; 7th placer, 1933 Bar Exams (UP

College of Civil Law)

Enrique Ma. Fernando - 13th Philippine Chief Justice; 13th placer, 1938 Bar Exams

(UP College of Law)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_P._Garciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emmanuel_N._Pelaez&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_M._Tolentinohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Teodorohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=22http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Yulohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Parashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Bengzonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Concepcionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Querube_Makalintalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Querube_Makalintalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enrique_Ma._Fernando&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_P._Garciahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emmanuel_N._Pelaez&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_M._Tolentinohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Teodorohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Bar_Examination#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Philippine_Bar_Examination&action=edit&section=22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Yulohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Parashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Bengzonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Concepcionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Querube_Makalintalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enrique_Ma._Fernando&action=edit&redlink=1


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Ramon Aquino - 15th Philippine Chief Justice; 9th placer, 1939 Bar Exams (UP

College of Law)

Claudio Teehankee - 16th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1940 Bar Exams

(Ateneo Law School)

Pedro Yap - 17th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1946 Bar Exams (UP College of

Law)

Andres Narvasa - 19th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1951 Bar Exams (UST

Faculty of Civil Law)

Artemio Panganiban - 21st Philippine Chief Justice; 6th placer, 1960 Bar Exams (FEU

Institute of Law)

Jose P. Laurel - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar

Exams

J.B.L. Reyes - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1922 Bar Exams

Cecilia Muoz Palma - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1937 Bar

Exams

Ambrosio Padilla - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 3rd placer, 1934 Bar

Exams

Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer,

1947 Bar Exams

Irene Cortes - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 9th placer, 1948 Bar Exams

Carolina A. Grio-Aquino - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1950

Bar Exams

Isagani A. Cruz - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 8th placer, 1951 Bar

Exams

Rafael C. Climaco - former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 5th placer, 1939 Bar

Exams ( Ferdinand Marcos placed 1st )

Florentino Feliciano - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice and Chair, WTO

Appellate Tribunal; 6th placer, 1952 Bar Exams

Florenz D. Regalado - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1954 Bar

Exams

Adolfo Azcuna - Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 4th placer, 1962 Bar Exams

Antonio Eduardo Nachura - Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 7th placer, 1967 Bar

Exams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Aquinohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Teehankeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Yaphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andres_Narvasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemio_Panganibanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.B.L._Reyeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Mu%C3%B1oz_Palmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosio_Padillahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameurfina_Melencio-Herrerahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Corteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_A._Gri%C3%B1o-Aquino&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isagani_A._Cruz&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafael_C._Climaco&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florentino_Feliciano&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Azcunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Eduardo_Nachurahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Aquinohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Teehankeehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Yaphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andres_Narvasahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemio_Panganibanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_P._Laurelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.B.L._Reyeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecilia_Mu%C3%B1oz_Palmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosio_Padillahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ameurfina_Melencio-Herrerahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Corteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carolina_A._Gri%C3%B1o-Aquino&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Isagani_A._Cruz&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafael_C._Climaco&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Florentino_Feliciano&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florenz_D._Regaladohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Azcunahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Eduardo_Nachura


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Presbitero Velasco, Jr. - Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1971 Bar

Exams

Antonio Carpio - Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams

Arturo D. Brion - Philippine Supreme Court Justice; former Philippine Court of Appeals

Justice; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams

Bienvenido V. Reyes - former Philippine Court of Appeals Presiding Justice; 5th

placer, 1954 Bar Exams

Salome A. Montoya - former Philippine Court of Appeals Presiding Justice; 6th placer,

1954 Bar Exams

Alicia V. Sempi

Documents

Bar Exams History