Lenvic Elicer R.

Lesigues Legal Bibliography

1-F (Evening) Prof. Tantuico

The Legacy of JBL Reyes

It is said that JBL Reyes is to be credited with the increase in difficulty of the bar examinations. From a
range of 56 to 72%, the passing rate dropped dramatically to 26.8% after his appointment as chairman
of the Bar Examinations Committee in 1955. This strict requirement may have been reflective of the high
standard that he expects of practitioners of law. A standard perhaps based on his own life experiences
and achievements. And what a life full of achievements it has been.

Jose Benedicto Luna Reyes was born August 19, 1902 in Manila to parents, Dr. Ricardo A. Reyes and
Marcia C. Luna. He had earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, at the Ateneo de Manila
University in 1917 at age 15. He earned his law degree in 1922 at the University of the Philippines and
passed the bar examinations that same year, placing 6
th
. He was 20 years old. Thus, he wasnt allowed to
join the Philippine Bar until his 21
st
birthday the following year.

In 1937, he, along with others, founded the Civil Liberties Union. His association with that group helped
foster his lifelong reputation as a civil libertarian and an ardent nationalist. And indeed Justice JBL Reyes
is recognized as one of the countrys eminent authorities in Civil Law. A fact the he showcases in the
several decisions penned by him during his time as Justice in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme
Court. Decisions like Tenchavez v. Escao, 122 Phil. 765 (1966), on the recognition of foreign divorces in
the Philippines; Republic v. Luzon Stevedoring, 128 Phil. 313 (1967), which defined force
majeure; and Medina v. Makabali, 137 Phil. 329 (1969), affirming the best interest of the child as the
paramount rule in custody cases, among others.

A one-page paper is not enough to list down all of his landmark jurisprudence, some of which are still
studied and remain relevant until today.

To add to his list of notable achievements: he served as a law professor in the University of the
Philippines, Far Eastern University, and Manuel L. Quezon University, also having founded the latter; he
was the youngest justice (at 52) appointed to the Supreme Court after having served 9 years in the Court
of Appeals; he was elected the first president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; he helped
organize the Anti-Bases Coalition, which sought the removal of the American military bases
in Clark and U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay; he served as Vice-Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights,
and many more.

He died in 1994 at age 92. But he has left a legacy of brilliance and excellence that many of us can only
hope to achieve. And if passing a more difficult bar examination will bring us even an inch closer to the
legacy and ideals of one JBL Reyes, then so be it.