A graduate from Ateneo de Manila University led the 1,800 new lawyers who passed the 2018 Bar Examinations, the Supreme Court said Friday.
READ: RESULTS – November #Bar2018 Exam List of Passers
Associate Justice Mariano C. del Castillo, chairman of the 2018 SC Committee on the Bar Examinations, said Sean James B. Borja is the topnotcher of last year’s Bar exams with a 89.3-percent score.
Del Castillo announced the results of the 2018 Bar exams shortly after the Court held its special en banc session yesterday.
Marcley Augustus D. Natu-el and Mark Lawrence C. Badayos, both of the University of San Carlos, took the second and third places, with a rating of 87.53 percent and 85.84 percent, respectively.
Daniel John A. Fordan of Ateneo De Manila University grabbed the fourth place with 85.44 percent followed by Katrina Monica C. Gaw, also from Ateneo, with a rating of 85.42 percent.
Nadaine P. Tongco and Patricia O. Sevilla, both from the University of Philippines, took the sixth and seventh place, with 85.03 percent and 84.859 percent, respectively.
Katherine T. Ting of De La Salle University—Manila landed in eighth place with an average of 84.857 percent, while Jebb Lynus Q. Cane and Alen Joel R. Pita, both from University of San Carlos, settled for ninth and 10th, with 84.80 percent and 84.6 percent, respectively.
Borja, who is working at the Gulapa and Quicho Law Firm, admitted that taxation was the most difficult subject in the last Bar exams.
“Taxation, yes, was so difficult. After the exam a lot of examinees cried,” he said.
“My advise [to future Bar examinees] is to have pure dedication, hard work and to stick to their goals. Don’t let insecurities get the best of you,” Borja said.
Speaking at the quadrangle of the SC New Building, Del Castillo said that a total of 1,800 out of the 8,155 examinees who took the 2018 Bar examinations passed.
These Bar passers constitute 22.07 percent of the total examinees who completed the exams. The percentage is lower than the 25.5 percent who hurdled the 2017 Bar exams.
The oathtaking of the successful Bar examinees will be held on June 13, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center, Del Castillo said, adding that signing of the Rolls of
Attorney will start the following day, June 14.
He also named the Bar examiners as follows: Carlo L. Cruz for Political & Public International Law; Hans Leo J. Cacdac for Labor Law & Social Legislation; Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Chan-Gonzaga for Civil Law; Carlos G. Baniqued for Taxation; Dean Cesar L. Villanueva for Mercantile Law; Retired Court of Appeals Justice Edgardo P. Cruz for Criminal Law; Tranquil G.S. Salvador III for Remedial Law; and Regina P. Geraldez for Legal Ethics & Practical Exercises.
The Deputy Bar Confidant, Amor Entila also announced that the Bar passers may secure their clearances from the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) beginning May 7 until June 11.
Successful Bar passers are directed to prepare a total amount of P6,050 (P3,850 for oath fees and P2,200 for Integrated Bar of the Philippines dues, including building fund. For clearance, each is advised to bring three valid identification cards—one for security and the two others for presentation to the OBC.
The 2018 Bar Examinations are the 117th held in the Philippines. The exams were held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and were administered by the OBC headed by Deputy Bar Confidant Entila.
The complete list of successful examinees is posted and may be viewed at sc.judiciary.gov.ph, the official website of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, and its designated mirror sites.
The Bar Examinations are given only once every year at a designated venue under the supervision of the Supreme Court, which designates an incumbent Justice to chair a committee consisting of eight examiners, one for each Bar subject.
For the 2018 Bar examinations, there were a total number of 8,752 applicants. Of these, eight were denied, while 43 withdrew their applications, leaving a total of 8,701 applicants admitted to take the Bar by the Supreme Court En Banc. Of this number, 543 examinees did not show up on the First Sunday of the Bar, leaving 8,158 who actually took the exams on the first Sunday. After the fourth Sunday of the bar, only 8,155 examinees completed the examinations, i.e., showed up for all Sundays.
Of the 8,158 who took or showed up for at least one Sunday, 4,077 were new candidates, while 4,081 were repeaters, i.e., those who had taken the Bar examinations at least once previously. The total number of 2018 Bar examinees is the highest so far in the history of the Bar exams.
The Palace on Friday expressed optimism that incoming lawyers would consider joining the government.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo congratulated the bar exam passers as well as their parents.
“We hope that many of our country’s new lawyers consider pursuing a career in the government and help build a progressive and peaceful nation that will provide a comfortable life for all,” he said. With Nat Mariano
