Académique Documents
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The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional licensure examination for lawyers in the
Philippines.
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
Philippines through the Supreme Court Bar Examination Committee.
Brief History
The first bar exam was held in 1901, 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
passers -- 1,266 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]
Admission requirements
Holder of a professional degree in law from a recognized law school in the Philippines[4]
Holder of a bachelor's degree with academic credits in certain required subjects from a
recognized college or university in the Philippines or abroad.[5]
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).
No charges involving moral turpitude have been filed against the candidate or are pending in
any court in the Philippines.
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 the Integrated 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
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effort to conceal their identities until the oath-taking of the successful bar examinees, approximately
six months after the bar exam.[9]
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]
The examinations are held during the four Sundays of September of every year in the campus of De
La Salle University-Manila in Taft Avenue, Manila.
Examinations for the eight bar subjects follow a fixed schedule: [11]
First Sunday:
o Political and International Law (morning session)
o Labor and Social Legislation (afternoon session)
Second Sunday:
o Civil Law (morning session)
o Taxation (afternoon session)
Third Sunday:
o Mercantile Law (morning session)
o Criminal Law (afternoon session)
Fourth Sunday:
o Remedial Law (morning session)
o Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises (afternoon session)
Coverage
The examination covers the following topics, popularly known as the bar subjects:[12]
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o Labor Law (Labor Code of the Philippines, excluding the implementing rules and
regulations)
o Social Legislation
Social Security Law
Revised Government Service Insurance Act of 1977 (including Employees
Compensation Act of 1977)
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law
Civil Law
o 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)
o Family Code of the Philippines (including the Child and Youth Welfare Code)
o Property Registration Decree (excluding the Public Land Law)
o Conflict of Laws (Private International Law)
Taxation
o General principles of Taxation
o Republic Act No. 1125, creating the Court of Tax Appeals
o National Internal Revenue Code (including the Expanded Value Added Tax or
EVAT)
o Tariff and Customs Code (excluding Arrastre and Classification of Commodities)
Mercantile Law
o 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
o Insurance Code
o 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
o Corporation Law
Corporation Code
Securities Act
Banking Laws
Laws on Secrecy of Bank Deposits
Deposit Insurance Corporation
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
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o Revised Penal Code (Books I & II excluding penalties for specific felonies)
o Indeterminate Sentence Law
o Probation Law
o Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
o Anti-Fencing Law
o Bouncing Checks Law
o Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972
o Heinous Crimes Law (excluding penalties)
Remedial Law
o Revised Rules of Court
o 1991 Revised Rule on Summary Procedure
o Local Government Code on Conciliation Procedures (Chapter VII)
o 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)
Grading system
The eight bar subjects are separately graded. Each subject contributes to the general average in the
following proportion:[13]
The passing average fixed by law is 75%, with no grade falling below 50% in any bar subject. [14]
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 levels--the 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 the passing average to
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70% and lowered the disqualification rate in 3 subjects). In recent years, the annual national bar
passing rate ranges from 20% to 30%.[15]
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 his honoraria was reduced to half.[16]
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.[18]
Schools which have produced bar topnotchers (1st placers) include: [19]
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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
Divine Word College - one (1) bar topnotcher
University of the East College of Law - one (1) bar topnotcher
Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without graduating from any Philippine law school: [20]
Jose 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 Philippine Law School had 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]
Carolina C. Griño-Aquino - former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; 1st placer, 1950
bar exams (Ms. Aquino, wife of Mr. Ramon Aquino, 6th placer in 1939 Bar Exams, is officially
a graduate of the UP College of Law although she took her first two years of law school at the
Colegio de San Agustin)[22]
In the past, non-law school graduates were allowed to take the bar. However, the Revised Rules of
Court and Supreme Court Circulars only allow Philippine law graduates to take the bar, necessarily
excluding non-law graduates and foreign law graduates from taking part in the exercise. [23]
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
Teehankee, placed number one in the 1940 Bar Exams. [24] It is worth noting that Teehankee's son,
Manuel, 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 (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.
The UP College of Law (which has yet to produce a summa cum laude graduate) had three of its
thirteen magna cum laude graduates (the College of Law first conferred the honor to Enrique Ma.
Fernando in 1938 [25] and, to date, last conferred the same honor to Dionne Marie Sanchez in 2007)
place number one in their respective bar exams: Deogracias Eufemio in 1962, Roberto San Jose in 1966
and Ronaldo Zamora in 1969. [26] 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.
Among all bar topnotchers, the highest general average is 96.7%, attained by Florenz D. Regalado
(future Supreme Court Associate Justice) in 1954, but it was former senator Tecla San Andres-Ziga
who became the first woman to top the bar, scoring 89.4 percent in 1930. In 1913, pre-war record was
made by Manuel Roxas with 92%, but in 1914, Manuel Goyena beat the record at 93%. Senator San
Andres-Ziga (1963-1969) record was broken in 1937 by Cecilia Munoz-Palma with 92.6%. In 1936,
Diosdado Macapagal, the 9th president, topped the bar exams with a mark of 89.85%. In 1939,
Ferdinand Marcos got the highest score of 92.35 %. In 1944, Jovito Salonga and Jose W. Diokno tied
the highest score of 95.3%.[27] 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. [28] Enrile is now Deputy Executive
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Secretary to President Gloria Arroyo and a Professorial Lecturer at the Ateneo Law School while
Hilbay is a Professor of Law at the UP College of Law. [29]
The lowest is obtained by Ateneo 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.[30][31]
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 1949, Anacleto C. Mañgaser 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.[32]
In 1953, Juan Ponce Enrile (future Senator) of the University of the Philippines College of Law earned
100% in Taxation Law and placed 11th in the bar exams of that year.[33]
In 1955, Raul Gonzales (future Secretary of Justice) of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil
Law earned 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in International Law. However, he did not place in the
top ten.[34]
In 1997, Maria Celia H. Fernandez of the University of the Philippines College of Law earned 100% in
Legal Ethics and emerged as the year's bar topnotcher.[35]
In 2001, Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada, that year's valedictorian of the University of the Philippines
College of Law obtained perfect scores of 100% in Remedial Law, the highest weighted of the bar
subjects, as well as Criminal Law. 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 valedictorian of
the Ateneo de Manila Law School, is the highest of all time. That year's valedictorian of the San Beda
College of Law, Adonis V. Gabriel, placed 8th (88.25%).[36] [37] This 3.75% difference 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 100% in two bar
subjects--Legal Ethics and Labor Law. She placed 6th in the bar exams of that year.[38]
Increasing difficulty
The difficulty of the recent bar examinations, compared to exams of the past, can be attributed to the
following factors:[39]
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.[40]
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.[41]
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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.[42]
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. [43]
The four-year bachelor's degree is required before admission to law school. Hence, every bar
examinee has to hold at least two degrees--one in law and one in another field. In the past,
law schools readily admit high school graduates and two-year Associate in Arts degree
holders.[44]
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, after Associate Justice J.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.[45]
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. [46]
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.[47]
Candidates shall take an Oath of Office and sign their names in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme
Court.[48] 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. [49]
Controversies
In the 1930s, a distant relative of Imelda Romualdez Marcos who 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
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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 Marcos accepted the resignations and appointed 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. [50] 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-eyed Associate
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". [51] Since the 1982 "Ericta
Scandal", it was only in 2008 that the Court relaxed the fixed rules on passing grades amid the
inhibitions of 5 Justices whose relatives took the exams.
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.[52]
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.
[53]
Prominent lawyers who made the bar top ten include:[54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63]
Manuel Roxas - former Philippine President; 1st placer, 1913 Bar Exams
Diosdado Macapagal - former Philippine President; 1st placer, 1936 Bar Exams
Ferdinand Marcos - former Philippine President; 1st placer, 1939 Bar Exams
Jose P. Laurel - former Philippine President; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams
Sergio Osmeña - former Philippine President; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams
Manuel L. Quezon - former Philippine President; 4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams
Carlos P. Garcia - former Philippine President; 7th placer, 1923 Bar Exams
Emmanuel Pelaez - former Philippine Vice President; 1st placer, 1938 Bar Exams
Arturo Tolentino - former Philippine Vice President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
Roberto Concepcion - former Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams
Claudio Teehankee - former Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1940 Bar Exams
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Pedro Yap - former Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1946 Bar Exams
Ricardo Paras - former Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
Andres Narvasa - former Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1951 Bar Exams
Jose Yulo - former Philippine Chief Justice; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
Artemio Panganiban - former Philippine Chief Justice; 6th placer, 1960 Bar Exams
Ramon Aquino - former Philippine Chief Justice; 9th placer, 1939 Bar Exams
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 Muñoz 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. Griño-Aquino - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1950 Bar
Exams
Isagani A. Cruz - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 8th placer, 1951 Bar Exams
Florentino Feliciano - former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 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
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. Sempio-Dy - former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 5th placer, 1950 Bar Exams
Oscar M. Herrera - former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 8th placer, 1953 Bar Exams
Demetrio Demetria - former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 2nd placer, 1964 Bar Exams
Mario Guariña III - former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 2nd placer, 1967 Bar Exams
Lucas Bersamin - Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 9th placer, 1973 Bar Exams
Celia Librea-Leagogo - Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 5th placer, 1981 Bar Exams
Manuel Roxas - former Philippine Senate President and Speaker of the House of
Representatives; 1st placer, 1913 Bar Exams
Manuel L. Quezon - former Philippine Senate President; 4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams
Arturo Tolentino - former Philippine Senate President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
Ferdinand Marcos - former Philippine Senate President; 1st placer, 1939 Bar Exams
Jovito Salonga - former Philippine Senate President; 1st placer, 1944 Bar Exams
Neptali Gonzales - former Philippine Senate President; 9th placer, 1949 Bar Exams
Ernesto M. Maceda - former Philippine Senate President; 10th placer, 1956 Bar Exams
Franklin Drilon - former Philippine Senate President; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
Lorenzo Sumulong - former Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
Jose Diokno - former Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1944 Bar Exams
Renato V. Saguisag (Rene Saguisag) - former Philippine Senator; 6th placer, 1963 Bar Exams
Sergio Osmeña - former Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams
Jose Yulo - former Speaker of the House of Representatives; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
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Aguedo F. Agbayani - former Pangasinan Representative; 5th placer, 1947 Bar Exams
Antonio Eduardo Nachura - former Samar Representative; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
Ronaldo B. Zamora - San Juan Representative; 1st placer, 1969 Bar Exams
Prospero Nograles - Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2nd placer, 1971 Bar Exams
Arturo D. Brion - Assemblyman, Philippine National Assembly; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. - former Tarlac Representative; 1st placer, 1989 Bar
Exams
Roberto Concepcion - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams
Lorenzo Sumulong - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; 1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
Arturo Tolentino - Member, Philippine Civil Code Commission; former Minister of Foreign
Affairs; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
Ambrosio Padilla - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; 3rd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
Diosdado Macapagal - President, Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971; 1st placer,
1936 Bar Exams
Cecilia Muñoz-Palma - President, Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986;
Chairperson, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; 1st placer, 1937 Bar Exams
Jovito Salonga - former Chairman, Presidential Commission on Good Government; 1st
placer, 1944 Bar Exams
Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera - Chancellor, Philippine Judicial Academy; Chairperson, Legal
Publications Committee, Supreme Court Centenary Celebrations; 1st placer, 1947 Bar Exams
Alicia V. Sempio-Dy - Member, Philippine Civil Code Revision Committee; former
Commissioner, National Commission on Women; 5th placer, 1950 Bar Exams
Andres Narvasa - Chairman, Preparatory Commission for Constitutional Reform; 2nd placer,
1951 Bar Exams
Gabriel Singson - former Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines; 2nd placer, 1952
Bar Exams
Florentino Feliciano - Chairman, Feliciano Commission investigating the Oakwood Mutiny;
6th placer, 1952 Bar Exams
Florenz D. Regalado - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; 1st placer, 1954 Bar Exams
Jose Nolledo - Delegate, 1971 Constitutional Convention & Member, 1986 Constitutional
Commission; 3rd placer, 1958 Bar Exams
Haydee Yorac - former Chairperson, Presidential Commission on Good Government; former
Commissioner, Commission on Elections; 8th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
Adolfo Azcuna - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; 4th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
Joaquin G. Bernas - Member, 1986 Constitutional Commission; Member, Feliciano
Commission investigating the Oakwood mutiny; 9th placer, 1962 Bar Exam
Pablo S. Trillana III - former Chairman and Executive Director, National Historical Institute;
2nd placer, 1966 Bar Exam
Anacleto C. Mañgaser (var. Mangaser) - former Chairman, Reparations Commission; 1st
placer, 1949 Bar Exams
Sergio A. Apostol - Chief Presidential Legal Counsel; 7th placer, 1958 Bar Exams
Ismael G. Khan Jr. - former Spokesperson, Philippine Supreme Court; 6th placer, 1959 Bar
Exams
Antonio Eduardo Nachura - former Solicitor General; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr. - former Executive Secretary; 9th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
Jose Mario Buñag - former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner; 2nd placer, 1968 Bar
Exams
Ronaldo B. Zamora - former Executive Secretary; 1st placer, 1969 Bar Exams
Franklin Drilon - former Secretary of Labor and Employment; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
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Jess Dureza - Mindanao Super Region In-charge; 10th placer, 1973 Bar Exams
Arturo D. Brion - Secretary of Labor and Employment; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
Antonio Carpio - former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel; 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams
Avelino Cruz, Jr. - former Secretary of National Defense; 7th placer, 1977 Bar Exams
Simeon Marcelo - former Philippine Ombudsman; 5th placer, 1979 Bar Exams
Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee - former Undersecretary of Justice; Ambassador to the World
Trade Organization; 1st placer, 1983 Bar Exams
Antonio M. Bernardo - former Bureau of Customs Commissioner; 2nd placer, 1988 Bar Exams
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. - Secretary of National Defense; 1st placer, 1989 Bar
Exams
Persida V. Rueda-Acosta - Chief Public Attorney of the Philippines; 5th placer, 1989 Bar
Exams
Ruben Carranza, Jr. - Commissioner, Presidential Commission on Good Government; 8th
placer, 1990 Bar Exams
Maria Celia H. Fernandez - former Chief, Presidential Management Staff; 1st placer, 1997 Bar
Exams
Janet T. Abuel - Regional Director, Department of Budget and Management; 1st placer, 1998
Bar Exams
Edwin R. Enrile - former Assistant Executive Secretary, Office of the President; Deputy
Executive Secretary, Office of the President; 1st placer, 1999 Bar Exams
Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - former Assistant Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice President;
Director, Social Housing Finance Corporation; 1st placer, 2001 Bar Exams
Local officials
Pablo P. Garcia - former Governor of Cebu; 3rd placer, 1951 Bar Exams
Aguedo F. Agbayani - former Governor of Pangasinan; 5th placer, 1947 Bar Exams
Isidoro E. Real, Jr. - former Governor / Congressman of Zamboanga del Sur; 7th placer, 1961
Bar Exams
Roldan Dalman - former Governor of Zamboanga del Norte;former Presidential Assistant for
Regional Concerns,Western Mindanao 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams
Academe
Joaquin G. Bernas - former President, Ateneo de Manila University; Dean Emeritus, Ateneo
Law School; 9th placer, 1962 Bar Exam
Virgilio B. Jara - Dean, San Beda College of Law ;; 5th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
Jovito Salonga - former Dean, Far Eastern University Institute of Law; 1st placer, 1944 Bar
Exams
Neptali Gonzales - former Dean, Far Eastern University Institute of Law; 9th placer, 1949 Bar
Exams
Andres Narvasa - former Dean, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law; 2nd placer,
1951 Bar Exams
Norberto S. Gonzales - Dean, Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law; 5th placer, 1958
Bar Exams
Custodio O. Parlade - President Emeritus, Philippine Dispute Resolution Centre; Lecturer
and Bar Reviewer; 4th placer, 1959 Bar Exams
Agustin O. Benitez - former Dean, University of the East College of Law; 1st placer, 1959 bar
Exams
Virgilio B. Jara - Dean, San Beda College of Law 5th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
Cesar L. Villanueva - Dean, Ateneo Law School; 2nd placer, 1981 Bar Exams
12
Jose Jesus G. Laurel - former Dean, Lyceum of the Philippines College of Law; 6th placer,
1981 Bar Exams
Roy Joseph M. Rafols - former Dean, Palawan State University College of Law; 2nd placer,
1984 Bar Exams
Pacifico N. Castro - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 8th placer, 1954 Bar Exams
Manuel T. Muro - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer, former Trial Court Judge; 6th placer,
1955 Bar Exams
Roberto San Jose - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 1st placer, 1966 Bar Exams
Ruben F. Balane - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 2nd placer, 1966 Bar Exams
Hildegardo F. Iñigo - former Dean, Ateneo de Davao University College of Law and Bar
Reviewer, 8th placer, 1966 Bar Exams
Jacinto D. Jimenez (Jack Jimenez) - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 3rd placer, 1968 Bar
Exams
Arturo de Castro - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 3rd placer, 1970 Bar Exams
Rene Gorospe - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 2nd placer, 1979 Bar Exams
Manuel J. Laserna, Jr. - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer (Far Eastern University, Manila,
1985-2006); 3rd placer, 1984 Bar Exams (90.95%); trial lawyer; Bar leader; founder of the Las
Pinas City Bar Association (2001); and managing partner of the Laserna Cueva-Mercader &
Associates Law Offices (LCM Law, Las Pinas City).
Abelardo T. Domondon - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 4th placer, 1985 Bar Exams,
graduate of Adamson University College of Law
Roberto A. Gana - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 5th placer, 1986 Bar Exams
Jose Maria G. Hofileña - Law Professor and Bar Reviewer; 10th placer, 1987 Bar Exams
Michael G. Aguinaldo - Law Professor; 7th placer, 1992 Bar Exams
Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castañeda - Law Professor; 1st placer, 1993 Bar Exams
Maria Socorro Z. Manguiat - Law Professor; 10th placer, 1993 Bar Exams
Maria Paz Romana S. Angeles - Law Professor; 10 placer, 1994 Bar Exams
Carla E. Santamaria-Seña - Law Professor; 5th placer, 1995 Bar Exams
Shennan A. Sy - Law Professor; 6th placer, 1995 Bar Exams
Arnold De Vera - Law Professor; 8th placer, 1987 Bar Exams
Florin T. Hilbay - Law Professor; 1st placer, 1999 Bar Exams
Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - Professor of Law (UP and Ateneo); 1st placer, 2001 Bar Exams
Solomon F. Lumba - Professor of Law (UP); 4th placer, 2001 Bar Exams
Adonis V. Gabriel - Professor of Law (SBC); 8th placer, 2001 Bar Exams
Samson S. Alcantara - Practicing Lawyer; Professor and Bar Reviewer (MLQU); Author-
Philippine Labor and Social Legislation; 3rd placer, Bar Exams
Connie Chu - Professor(Ateneo), 2nd Place, 2002 Bar Exams
Ma. Ngina Chan-Gonzaga - Professor(Ateneo), 4th Place, 2002 Bar Exams
Michelle Juan - Professor(Ateneo, FEU-DLSU, PLM), 4th Place, 2002 Bar Exams
Pedro Jose F. Bernardo - Professor (Ateneo, FEU-DLSU, PLP), 8th Place, 2005 Bar Exams
Private sector
Manuel Montecillo - Name Partner, Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako (oldest law firm);
1st placer, 1948 Bar Exams
Manuel S. Abello - Founding Partner, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz
(ACCRALAW) ; 1st placer, 1958 Bar Exams
13
Nelly Favis-Villafuerte - Editor, Manila Bulletin; 7th placer, 1959 Bar Exams
Avelino V. Cruz - Founding Partner, ACCRALAW; youngest to top the bar, 1st placer, 1962
Bar Exams
Mercedita V. Santiago-Nolledo - Corporate Secretary, Ayala Corporation; 2nd placer, 1965
Bar Exams
Rodolfo D. Robles - General practitioner; 1st placer, 1967 Bar Exams
Januario B. Soller Jr. - Co-founder, Soller Chain of Pawnshops; 1st placer, 1972 Bar Exams
Jesus M. Manalastas - Name Partner, PECABAR Law Firm; 2nd placer, 1972 Bar Exams
Victor P. Lazatin - Senior Partner, ACCRALAW; 3rd placer, 1972 Bar Exams
Barbara Anne Migallos - Name Partner, Roco Buñag Kapunan Migallos Law Firm; Co-
founder, Migallos & Luna Law Office; 3rd placer, 1979 Bar Exams
Mario Luz Bautista - Co-founder, Poblador Bautista Reyes Law Firm; 6th placer, 1979 Bar
Exams
Arthur Lim - former National President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines; 3rd placer, 1981
Bar Exams
Ray C. Espinosa - Partner, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; Executive Director,
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company; President and CEO, ePLDT; Vice Chairman,
Philweb Corporation; 1st placer, 1982 Bar Exams
Menardo L. Guevarra - Co-founder, Serapio Guevarra Medialdea Law Firm; 2nd placer, 1985
Bar Exams
Marlon Manuel - Director, SALIGAN (non-profit legal assistance group); 5th placer, 1994 Bar
Exams
Patricia-ann T. Prodigalidad - Partner, ACCRALAW; 1st placer, 1996 Bar Exams
Maria Celia H. Fernandez - In-house counsel, Yuchengco group of companies; 1st placer,
1997 Bar Exams
Jose Raulito E. Paras - Partner, Andres Marcelo Padernal Guerrero & Paras; 5th placer, 1997
Bar Exams
Eliseo M. Zuñiga Jr. - Associate, Quisumbing Torres Law Firm; 1st placer, 2000 Bar Exams
Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada - Associate, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; 1st placer,
2001 Bar Exams
Ma. Theresa U. Ballelos - Associate, Quisumbing Torres Law Firm; 6th placer, 2001 Bar
Exams
Arlene Maneja - Associate, Siguion Reyna Montecillo & Ongsiako; 1st placer, 2002 Bar Exams
Aeneas Eli S. Diaz - Associate, Villaraza & Angangco (the firm servicing President Arroyo's
family); 1st placer, 2003 Bar Exams
January A. Sanchez - Consultant, Asian Development Bank; 1st placer, 2004 Bar Exams
Joan A. De Venecia - Associate, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; 1st placer, 2005 Bar
Exams
Noel Neil Q. Malimban - Business Law Lecturer and Reviewer, University of the Cordilleras;
1st placer, 2006 Bar Exams
14
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
15
Paulino Gullas 1916 University of the Philippines
16
Jose Leuterio 1931 University of the Philippines
Medina, Misamis
Emmanuel Pelaez 1938 University of Manila
Oriental
1942
1943
17
Gregoria Cruz 1945 University of the Philippines
Ameurfina Melencio-
1947 University of the Philippines
Herrera
18
Ismael Andres 1960 Manuel L. Quezon University
19
Nicanor B. Padilla, Jr. 1975 University of the East
Manuel Antonio J.
1983 Ateneo de Manila University
Teehankee
20
Cagayan de Oro
Aquilino L. Pimentel III 1990 University of the Philippines
City
21
Joan A. De Venecia 2005 University of the Philippines
External links
See also
References
22
20. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
21. ^ Manila Times, 12 April 2008
22. ^ Manila Times, 12 April 2008
23. ^ Section 5, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
24. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
25. ^ Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. III, p. 27
26. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
27. ^ Inquirer.net, Regalado’s 96.7% remains unsurpassed in RP bar exams history
28. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
29. ^ Manila Times, 12 April 2008
30. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
31. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Women outshine men in RP bar exams
32. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
33. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
34. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
35. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
36. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
37. ^ Business Mirror, 1 April 2008
38. ^ List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of
the Philippines.
39. ^ Bar Passing Percentage from 1946-2003. The Practice: Business & Leisure Magazine for Lawyers.
August-September 2004 Issue.
40. ^ Rufus B. Rodriguez. Legal Research. Rex Bookstore, 2002.
41. ^ Bar Passing Percentage from 1946-2003. The Practice: Business & Leisure Magazine for Lawyers.
August-September 2004 Issue.
42. ^ Section 6, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
43. ^ Supreme Court resolution in Bar Matter No. 1161. 2005.
44. ^ Section 6, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
45. ^ JBL: Selected Speeches and Essays in Honor of Justice Jose B.L. Reyes, p. 57-58
46. ^ Ricardo B. Teruel. Practical Lawyering in the Philippines. Revised Edition. Central
Professional Books, 1999.
47. ^ Section 17, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
48. ^ Section 19, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
49. ^ Rufus B. Rodriguez. Slaying the Bar Exams Dragon. Rex Bookstore, 2002.
50. ^ query.nytimes.com, AROUND THE WORLD; 12 Philippine Justices Resign in Scandal
51. ^ sun star, Bar leakage extends exams by one Sunday
52. ^ "Results of the Philippine Bar Exams." TV Patrol World, ABS-CBN, March 2006.
53. ^ "Results of the Philippine Bar Exams." TV Patrol World, ABS-CBN, March 2006.
54. ^ Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court, June 2007.
55. ^ Faculty and alumni list, Ateneo School of Law, June 2007.
56. ^ Faculty and alumni list, FEU Institute of Law, June 2007.
57. ^ Faculty and alumni list, Lyceum of the Philippines College of Law, June 2007.
58. ^ Faculty and alumni list, MLQU College of Law, June 2007.
59. ^ Faculty and alumni list, San Beda College of Law, June 2007.
23
60. ^ Faculty and alumni list, San Sebastian College-Recoletos College of Law, June 2007.
61. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UE College of Law, June 2007.
62. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UP College of Law, June 2007.
63. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UST Faculty of Civil Law, June 2007.
24