Philippine Bar Examination

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.
Contents

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Brief history
Admission requirements
Committee of Bar Examiners
Bar review programs
Venue and itinerary
Coverage
Grading system
o 7.1 Passing average vs. Passing rate
o 7.2 Passing Percentage (1978-2012)
o 7.3 Law school passing rates
o 7.4 Role of the Supreme Court, Criticisms
o 7.5 Bar topnotchers
7.5.1 Highest and lowest topnotcher
grades
7.5.2 Highest scores in specific bar
subjects
8 Increasing difficulty
9 Waiting period
10 Admission of successful bar examinees
11 Controversies
12 Bar Topnotchers List
o 12.1 Famous bar topnotchers

12.1.1
Presidents
and
VicePresidents
12.1.2 Supreme Court and Court of
Appeals Justices
12.1.3 Senators and Representatives
12.1.4 Appointees and career service
officials
12.1.5 Local officials
12.1.6 Academe
12.1.7 Private sector
1st place in the Philippine Bar Examinations
External links
See also
References

13
14
15
16

Brief history
The first Philippine Bar Exams was given in 1903 but
the results were released in 1905. Jose I. Quintos
obtained the highest rating of 96.33%, Sergio Osmena,
Sr. was second with 95.66%, F. Salas was third with
94.5% and Manuel L.Quezon fourth with 87.83%. The
first bar exam was held in 1903, 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]

Philippine Government d. present proof of completing

a separate bachelors degree

Admission requirements

Committee of Bar Examiners

A bar candidate
qualifications:

must

the

following

academic

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]

He or she should
requisites:[6]

meet

also

meet

certain

non-academic

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.

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

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 effort to conceal
their identities until the oath-taking of the
successful bar examinees, approximately six months
after the bar exam.[9]
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]

Venue and itinerary

In recent years, the examinations were held
during the four Sundays of September of every year at
the campus of De La Salle University-Manila along
Taft Avenue, Manila. Starting 2011, the exams will be
moved to November, and will be held at the University
of Santo Tomas' campus along Espaa Boulevard, in
Sampaloc, 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:
o Political and International Law, Labor and
Social Legislation (morning session)
o Taxation (afternoon session)
Second Sunday:
o Civil Law (morning session)
o Mercantile Law (afternoon session)
Third Sunday:
o Remedial
Law,
Legal
Ethics
(morning
session)
o Criminal Law (afternoon session)
Fourth Sunday:
o Trial Memorandum (morning session)
o Legal
Opinion
with
one
legal
form
(afternoon session)
Coverage
The
examination
covers
the
following
topics,
popularly known as the bar subjects:[12]

Labor and Social Legislation

o

Civil Law
o

o
o
o

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
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
o
o
o
o

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)

Political and Public International Law

o
o
o

o
o
o
o

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

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

o
o

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
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
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

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

o
o
o
o

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

o
o
o
o
o

Legal Ethics
Judicial Ethics
Code of Professional Responsibility
Grievance Procedures (Rules 139-B, Revised
Rules of Court)
Forms

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 Practical Exercises 5%
The passing average fixed by law is 75%, with
no grade falling below 50% in any bar subject.[14]

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 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]
Passing Percentage (1978-2012)
Year Passing Percentage
2012 17.76% (949 out of 5,343)
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)

Year Passing Percentage

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%
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)
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)
Law school passing rates
The Legal Education Board's ranking for top ten law
schools in the Philippines is based on the passing
rate from 2001 to 2010:[16]

Excellence in Legal Education (top five)

1. University of Batangas (89.03)
2. San Beda College of Law (85.74)
3. University of the Philippines College of Law
(79.84)
4. Ateneo de Davao College of Law (64.99)
5. University of San Carlos College of Law (61.23)
Outstanding Law Schools (rest of the top ten)
1. University of Batangas (90.22)
2. Arellano University Law Foundation (42.90)
3. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan College
of Law (38.90)
4. Far Eastern University Institute of Law (33.14)
5. University of San Agustin College of Law
(31.63)

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.[17]
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.[18]
From 1913 to 2013, schools which have produced bar
topnotchers (1st placers) are as follows:[18]

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

University of the Philippines College of Law forty-seven (47) bar topnotchers

Ateneo de Manila Law School - twenty-one (21)
bar topnotchers
San Beda College of Law - seven (7) bar
topnotchers
Philippine
Law
School
five
(5)
bar
topnotchers
Far Eastern University Institute of Law - four
(4) bar topnotchers
University of Manila College 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
New Era University - one (1) bar topnotcher

Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without

officially
graduating
from
any
Philippine
law
school:[18]

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 Tomas
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[19] and
that he also placed number 1 in the 1940 CPA
Board exams which he took while in law school,
after graduating summa cum laude from then De
La Salle College at 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 sixth place 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.
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.[19] Both spouses Aquino
(in addition to being topnotchers) also served
as Justices of the Supreme Court.[20]
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 nonlaw 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
Teehankee, placed number one in the 1940 Bar
Exams.[18] 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
Ambassador and 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's sole summa cum laude
graduate, Roberto B. Concepcion, placed first in the
1924 Bar Exams.[18] He later served as Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court.
The San Beda College of Law's sole magna cum laude
graduate, Florenz Regalado,[21] 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.[18] 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.
Highest and lowest topnotcher grades
A 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 Salonga and Jose
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.[19]
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.
Ferdinand
Marcos
(future
President
of
the
Philippines) of the UP College of Law scored 98.8%
when he topped the 1939 Philippine Bar Examinations.
But this result is disputed as the Supreme Court
officially recognizes Florenz D. Regalado's (San Beda
College) score of 96.7% in the 1954 Bar Examinations
as the highest score ever to be made in the
Philippine Bar. Marcos' official bar score is at
92.35%. [22]

The lowest grade was 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.[18][23] 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 100 first-placers (from
1913 to 2012) ranked from highest to lowest in terms
of rating obtained. It should be noted however that
bar ratings are not exactly comparable from year-toyear as the difficulty of the exams varies through
the years.
Rank

Yea
Name
r

1st

193 Ferdinand
9
E. Marcos

2nd

195 Florenz
4
Regalado

Rating

98.800
University of the
(92.35%
Philippines
Official)[24]
96.700
D.
San Beda College (Official)[25
]

Anacleto C. Philippine
Law
95.850
Magaser
School
Manuel
G. Far
Eastern
4th
95.500
Montecillo University
4th
Special
194 Jose
W.
(tie
(University
of 95.300
4
Diokno
)
Santo Tomas)
3rd

194
9
194
8

School

4th
194 Jovito
R. University of the
(tie
95.300
4
Salonga
Philippines
)
194 Claudio
Ateneo de Manila
6th
94.350
0
Teehankee
University
Pedro
195
University of the
7th
Samson
C.
94.250
2
Philippines
Animas
195 Leonardo A. University
of
8th
94.050
3
Amores
Manila
Ameurfina
194 A.
University of the
9th
93.850
7
MelencioPhilippines
Herrera
Rodolfo Ma.
200
University of the
10th
A.
93.800
1
Philippines
Ponferrada
11th
191 Manuel
C. University of the
(tie
93.000
4
Goyena
Philippines
)
11th
191 Paulino
University of the
(tie
93.000
6
Gullas
Philippines
)
11th
193 Hermenegild University of the
(tie
93.000
2
o Atienza
Philippines
)
200 Arlene
M. University
of
14th
92.900
2
Maneja
Santo Tomas
198 Richard
M. Ateneo de Manila
15th
92.850
4
Chiu
University
193 Cecilia
University of the
16th
92.600
7
Muoz-Palma Philippines
192 Lorenzo
S. University of the
17th
92.500
9
Sumulong
Philippines
197 Cosme
D. University of the
18th
92.475
8
Rosell
Philippines

193
3
197
20th
1
21st
195
(tie
1
)
Aug
22nd
(tie
194
)
6
19th

23rd

24th
(tie
)
24th
(tie
)
25th
(tie
)
25th
(tie
)
27th
(tie
)
27th
(tie
)
27th
(tie
)

Lope
C. University
of
92.450
Quimbo
Manila
Henry
R. University of the
92.400
Villarica
Philippines
Vicente
Acsay

R. University
Manila

of

Gregoria
Cruz

T. University of the
92.250
Philippines

195 Carolina
0
Grio

Special
(Colegio
de
San
C.
Agustin,Universit 92.050
y
of
the
Philippines)

191 Manuel
3
Roxas

A. University of the
92.000
Philippines

191 Felipe
7
Ysmael

University of the
92.000
Philippines
Manila

92.250

197 Virgilio
7
Gesmundo

B. Ateneo de
University

199 Janet
8
Abuel

B. Baguio
Colleges
91.800
Foundation

91.800

193 Miguel
4
Aragon

University of the
91.700
Philippines

196 Ismael
0
Andres

Manuel L.
University

Nov
Pedro
Yap
194

Quezon

91.700

L. University of the
91.700
Philippines

6
197 Arturo
D. Ateneo de Manila
31st
91.650
4
Brion
University
32nd
Gregorio M.
197
Ateneo de Manila
(tie
Batiller,
91.400
9
University
)
Jr.
32nd
Manuel
198
Ateneo de Manila
(tie
Antonio
J.
91.400
3
University
)
Teehankee
193 Emmanuel N. University
of
34th
91.300
8
Pelaez
Manila
199 Leonor
Y. University of the
35th
91.200
5
Dicdican
Philippines
192 Rafael
University of the
36th
91.100
5
Dinglasan
Philippines
37th
196 Avelino
V.
(tie
San Beda College 90.950
1
Cruz
)
37th
Irene
198
Ateneo de Manila
(tie
Ragodon90.950
1
University
)
Guevarra
37th
198 Ray
C. Ateneo de Manila
(tie
90.950
2
Espinosa
University
)
192 Roque
V. University of the
40th
90.900
3
Desquitado Philippines
41st
196 Deogracias University of the
(tie
90.800
2
G. Eufemio Philippines
)
41st
197 Enrique
Y. University of the
(tie
90.800
6
Teehankee
Philippines
)
43rd
196 Roberto
V. University of the
(tie
90.600
6
San Jose
Philippines
)
44th 199 Patricia
University of the 90.600

(tie 6
)

Ann
T. Philippines
Prodigalida
d

44th
200 Eliseo
M. University of the
(tie
90.600
0
Zuiga, Jr. Philippines
)
195 Tomas
P. Far
Eastern
47th
90.550
5
Matic, Jr. University
48th
192 Filomeno B. Philippine
Law
(tie
90.300
8
Pascual
School
)
48th
197 Vicente
R. Ateneo de Manila
(tie
90.300
3
Solis
University
)
50th
194 Emmet
P.D. University of the
(tie
90.200
1
Shea
Philippines
)
50th
195 Francisco
(tie
San Beda College 90.200
6
C. Catral
)
Ma. Cecilia
199
University of the
52nd
H.
90.025
7
Philippines
Fernandez
Francisco
191
University of the
53rd
Villanueva,
90.000
5
Philippines
Jr.
199 Joseph
P. Ateneo de Manila
54th
89.950
1
San Pedro
University
55th
193 Diosdado P. University
of
(tie
89.850
6
Macapagal
Santo Tomas
)
55th
Aquilino L.
199
University of the
(tie
Pimentel
89.850
0
Philippines
)
III
196 Victor
S.
57th
San Beda College 89.800
5
dela Serna
58th 198 Rafael
R. University of the 89.750

0
193
59th
4
196
60th
7
61st
193
(tie
0
)
61st
193
(tie
1
)
61st
198
(tie
5
)
195
64th
8
65th
195
(tie
9
)
65th
199
(tie
4
)
195
67th
7
68th
192
(tie
1
)
68th
192
(tie
2
)
68th
192
(tie
4
)

Lagos
Marciano
Catral
Rodolfo
Robles
Tecla
Andres

Philippines
P. Philippine
Law
89.700
School
D.
San Beda College 89.600
San University of the
89.400
Philippines

Jose
Leuterio
Janette
Susan
Pea
Manuel
Abello
Agustin
Benitez

University of the
89.400
Philippines
L.

University of the
89.400
Philippines

G. University of the
89.250
Philippines
O. Far
Eastern
89.200
University

Francisco
University of the
Noel
R.
89.200
Philippines
Fernandez
Gregorio R. University of the
89.150
Castillo
Philippines
Pablo
Payawal

University of the
89.100
Philippines

Amado
Velilla

L. University of the
89.100
Philippines

Roberto
B. University
Concepcion Santo Tomas

Cesareo
201 Antonio
71st
0
Singzon,
Jr.

S. Ateneo de
University

of

Manila

89.100

89.000

198
6
198
73rd
7
200
74th
3
75th
199
(tie
9
)
75th
199
(tie
9
)
196
77th
4
72nd

78th

199
3

79th

198
8

192
6
192
81st
7
200
82nd
6
197
83rd
0
84th
196
(tie
8
)
84th
200
(tie
4
)
196
86th
9
80th

Laurence L. Ateneo de
Go
University
Mario
P. Ateneo de
Victoriano University
Aeneas
Eli Ateneo de
S. Diaz
University

Manila

Edwin
Enrile

R. Ateneo de
University

Manila

Florin
Hilbay

T. University of the
88.500
Philippines

Manila
Manila

88.600
88.550
88.530
88.500

Jesus
P.
San Beda College 88.400
Castelo
Anna
Leah
Ateneo de Manila
Fidelis
T.
88.325
University
Castaeda
Maria
University of the
Yvette
O.
88.120
Philippines
Navarro
Eugeniano
Philippine
Law
88.100
Perez
School
Cesar
University of the
87.700
Kintanar
Philippines
Noel
Neil University of the
87.600
Q. Malimban Cordilleras
Romulo
D. Far
Eastern
87.500
[26]
San Juan
University
Divine
World
Oscar
B.
College
of 87.450
Glovasa
Tagbilaran
January
Sanchez

A. University of the
87.450
Philippines

Ronaldo
Zamora

B. University of the
87.300
Philippines

200
5
197
88th
2
89th
191
(tie
8
)
89th
191
(tie
9
)
89th
199
(tie
2
)
87th

Joan
de University of the
87.200
Venecia
Philippines
Januario B. Ateneo de Manila
87.130
Soller, Jr. University
Alejo
Labrador

University of the
87.000
Philippines

Gregorio
Anonas

Philippine
School

Law

Jayme A. Sy Ateneo de
Jr.
University

Manila

87.000

87.000

Nicanor
B.
197
University of the
92nd
Padilla,
86.700
5
East
Jr.
196 Cornelio C. Ateneo de Manila
93rd
86.350
3
Gison
University
Gilberto C.
198
University of the
94th
Teodoro,
86.185
9
Philippines
Jr.
201 Nielson
G. University of the
95th
85.800
3
Pangan
Philippines
200 Judy
A. San
Sebastian
96th
85.700
8
Lardizabal College
Ignatius
201
Ateneo de Manila
97th
Michael
D.
85.640
2
University
Ingles
Raoul
201
Ateneo de Manila
98th
Angelo
D.
85.536
1
University
Atadero
Reinier
200
99th
Paul
R. San Beda College 84.800
9
Yebra
100t 192 Adolfo
Escuela
de
84.100
h
0
Brillantes Derecho

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.

Legal Ethics[citation
topnotcher.[18]

needed]

and emerged as the year's bar

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[28] and placed 11th in the bar exams of that
year.[28]

In 2001, Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada, that year's

valedictorian of the University 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 valedictorian of the Ateneo 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 the San Beda
College of Law, Adonis V. Gabriel, obtained a perfect
score of 100% in Political Law[citation needed] and placed
8th (88.25%).[18][30] 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 1955, Raul Gonzales (future Congressman, Secretary

of Justice and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel) of
the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
earned 99% in Remedial Law[citation needed] and 95% in
International Law.[citation needed] However, he did not
place in the top ten.[18]

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.[18]

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.[29]

Increasing difficulty

In 1930, Tecla San Andres-Ziga (future Senator) of

the University of the Philippines got a grade of 99%
in Remedial Law.[27] 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.[18] Magaser's bar rating
remains the second highest of all time.

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

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.[31]
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.[32]
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.[33]
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.[34]

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.[35]
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.[36]
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.[37]
Candidates shall take an Oath of Office and sign
their names in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme
Court.[38] 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]
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 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 barexamination 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.[39]
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".[40]
Bar Topnotchers List
The Office of the Bar Confidant releases an official
Bar Topnotchers list list together with the list of
names of all successful bar examinees. The Bar
Topnotchers list contains the names of the candidates
who garnered the 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.[41]
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.[41]
Famous bar topnotchers
Prominent
lawyers
who
made
the
include:[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]

bar

top

ten

Presidents and Vice-Presidents

Manuel A. Roxas - fifth President of the

Philippines; 1st placer (92%), 1913 Bar Exams
(UP)
Diosdado P. Macapagal - ninth President of the
Philippines; 1st placer (89.85%), 1936 Bar
Exams (UST)

Ferdinand E. Marcos - tenth President of the

Philippines; 1st placer (98.80%), 1939 Bar
Exams (UP)
Jos P. Laurel - third President of the
Philippines; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams (UP)
Elpidio C. Quirino - sixth President of the
Philippines; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams (UP)
Sergio S. Osmea - fifth President of the
Philippines; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams (UST)
Manuel L. Quezon - second President of the
Philippines; 4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams (UST)
Carlos P. Garca - eighth President of the
Philippines; 7th placer, 1923 Bar Exams (PLS)
Emmanuel N. Pelaez - former Vice-President of
the Philippines; 1st placer, 1938 Bar Exams
(UM)
Arturo M. Tolentino - former Vice-President of
the Philippines; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
(UP)

Incidentally, each President who happened to be a

lawyer
was
also
a
bar
placer. In
the
2010
presidential elections, candidate Gilberto Teodoro
(an alumnus of the University of the Philippines)
placed first in the 1989 Bar Exams, with a grade of
86.185%. He however was fourth in the elections,
losing to Benigno S. Aquino III. A lawyer, Jejomar C.
Binay (also from UP), won the Vice-presidency when he
bested former Senator Manuel A. Roxas II (a grandson
of the first bar topnotcher, President Manuel A.
Roxas).
Two other topnotchers have sought previously failed
to secure the presidency. Vice-President Pelaez (1938
Bar
Topnotcher)
lost
the
Nacionalista
Party
nomination to President Marcos (1939 Bar Topnotcher)
in the 1965 presidential elections, while Senate
President Jovito Salonga (1944 Bar Topnotcher) of the

Liberal Party lost to President Ramos of Lakas-NUCD

in the 1992 presidential elections.[52]
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices

Jos 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)
Csar 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)
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)
Jos 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
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-Diy - 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 Guaria 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

Only eleven of the 22 jurists who rose to become

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court were bar placers,
starting with Jos Yulo (3rd in 1913), followed by
Ricardo Paras (2nd in 1913), then by Csar Bengzon
(2nd in 1919), then by Roberto Concepcion (1st in
1924), then by Querube Makalintal (7th in 1933) then
by Enrique Fernando (13th in 1938), then by Ramon
Aquino (6th in 1939), then by Claudio Teehankee, Sr.
(1st in 1940), then by Pedro Yap (1st in November
1946), then by Andres Narvasa (2nd in 1951) and
finally by Artemio Panganiban (6th in 1960). However,
the first four chief magistrates (Cayetano Arellano,
Victorino Mapa, Manuel Araullo and Ramn Avancea)
became lawyers (all after graduating from the UST
Faculty of Civil Law) before the establishment of the
Bar Exams in 1901 while the fifth head of the
judiciary (Jose Abad Santos) graduated from a foreign
law school and was admitted to the Philippine bar in
1911. Six Chief Justices did not place in the Bar
Exams: Manuel Moran (the father of Philippine
remedial law), Fred Ruiz Castro (the father of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines), Felix Makasiar,
Marcelo Fernan, Hilario Davide and the incumbent
Reynato Puno).
Of the candidates to become the next Chief Justice
(to replace the retiring Reynato Puno) only two were
bar placers: Antonio Carpio (6th in 1975) of the UP

College of Law and Arturo Brion (1st in 1974) of the

Ateneo Law School. Both Carpio and Brion graduated
valedictorian of their respective law classes.
However, neither topnotcher made it to the apex of
the judicial summit, as Atenean Renato C. Corona was
appointed the chief magistrate.
Senators and Representatives

Manuel A. 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 M. Tolentino - former Philippine Senate
President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
Ferdinand E. 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
Rodolfo Ganzon - former Philippine Senator and
Iloilo City Mayor; 2nd Placer, 1950 Bar Exams
Ernesto M. Maceda - former Philippine Senate
President; 10th placer, 1956 Bar Exams
Franklin M. Drilon - former Philippine Senate
President; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
Lorenzo Sumulong - former Philippine Senator;
1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
Jose W. Diokno - former Philippine Senator; 1st
placer, 1944 Bar Exams
Renato V. Saguisag (Rene Saguisag) - former
Philippine Senator; 6th placer, 1963 Bar Exams
Aquilino
Pimentel
III
(Koko
Pimentel)
Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1990 Bar Exams
Sergio S. Osmea - former Speaker of the House
of Representatives; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams

Jose Y. Yulo - former Speaker of the House of

Representatives; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
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
Jos P. Laurel- former Senator; 2nd Placer 1915
Xavier
Jesus
Romualdoincumbent
Camiguin
Representative, 4th placer, 2012 Bar Exams

Of the lawyers who became President of the Senate,

only the following were bar placers: Manuel Quezon
(4th in 1903), Manuel Roxas (1st in 1913), Ferdinand
Marcos (1st in 1939), Arturo Tolentino (2nd in 1934),
Jovito Salonga (1st in 1944), Neptali Gonzales (9th
in 1949), Ernesto Maceda (10th in 1956), Franklin
Drilon (3rd in 1969) and Juan Ponce Enrile (11th in
1953). Of the incumbent senators with terms expiring
in 2013, five are lawyers (Ateneo Law School's Alan
Peter Cayetano as well as Edgardo Angara, Joker
Arroyo, Francis Escudero, and Francis Pangilinan of
the UP College of Law) and none of whom were previous
bar placers. Curiously, Aquilino Pimentel III of the
UP College of Law (who is contesting the seat
occupied by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri) placed 1st in
the 1990 Bar Exams.
On the other hand, of those who became Speaker of the
House of Representatives, only the following were bar
placers: Sergio Osmena, Sr. (2nd in 1903), Manuel

Roxas (1st in 1913), Jos Yulo (3rd in 1913) Querube

Makalintal (7th in 1933) and Prospero Nograles (2nd
in 1971). Of the chamber's other officers, only
Ronaldo Zamora was a former bar topnotcher (1st in
1969).
Curiously, the incumbent heads of both houses of
Congress were previous bar placers: Ateneo Law
School's Nograles for the lower house and UP College
of Law's Ponce Enrile for the upper house. After the
2010 elections, former Rep. Nograles (who did not run
for re-election) was replaced by lawyer Feliciano R.
Belmonte, Jr. (from Lyceum of the Philippines) as
Speaker. Sen. Enrile retained his post as Senate
President.

Appointees and career service officials

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 Muoz-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
Anacleto C. Magaser (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 Buag - former Bureau of Internal
Revenue Commissioner; 2nd placer, 1968 Bar
Exams
Ronaldo B. Zamora - former Executive Secretary;
1st placer, 1969 Bar Exams
Gregorio Cabantac - former Undersecretary,
Department
of
Environment
and
Natural
Resources, 5th Placer, 1995 Bar Exams
Franklin Drilon - former Secretary of Labor and
Employment; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
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
Rabbi Elamparo Deloso - former Chief of Staff,
Philippine Senate, 16th Placer, 2000 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 B. Abuel - Asst.Secretary Dept. 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;
1st placer, 2001 Bar Exams
Leila de Lima - current Secretary of Justice;
former
Commission
on
Human
Rights
(CHR)
Chairperson; 8th placer, 1985 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
Douglas RA. Cagas - incumbent Governor / former
Congressman of Davao del Sur; 4th placer 1967
Bar Exams

Academe

Joaquin G. Bernas - former President, Ateneo de

Manila University; Dean Emeritus, Ateneo Law
School; 9th placer, 1962 Bar Exam
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
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
Antonio H. Abad, Jr. - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; former Dean of the FEU Institute of
Law
and
presently
Dean
of
the
Adamson

University College of Law; 10th Placer, 1963

Bar Examinations
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. Iigo - 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 (FEU, 1985-2006); 3rd placer, 1984 Bar
Examinations (90.95%)
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. Hofilea - Law Professor and Bar
Reviewer; 10th placer, 1987 Bar Exams
Michael G. Aguinaldo - Law Professor; 7th
placer, 1992 Bar Exams
Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castaeda - Law Professor;
1st placer, 1993 Bar Exams
Shirley F. Alinea UP Law (6th Place, 1996 Bar
Exams) - Law Professor (UE, Lyceum, San
Sebastian)
Rabbi Elamparo Deloso - Law Professor, FEU
Institute of Law, University of Bristol School
of Law Lecturer; 16th placer, 2000 Bar Exams
Maria Socorro Z. Manguiat - Law Professor; 10th
placer, 1993 Bar Exams

Ralph A. Sarmiento - Dean, University of St. La

Salle College of Law; International Law Bar
Reviewer; 10th placer, 1997 Bar Exams
Shennan A. Sy - Law Professor; 6th placer, 1995
Bar Exams
Arnold De Vera - Law Professor; 8th placer,
1987 Bar Exams
Rhett Emmanuel C. Serfino - Practicing Lawyer;
Professor
and
Bar
Reviewer
(MLQU,
PUP,
Universidad De Manila); 3rd placer, 1997 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); AuthorPhilippine 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
Nyerson Dexter Tito Q. Tualla - Corporate
Attorney, TransCo; Civil Law Lecturer, Manuel
L. Quezon University; 4th placer, 2005 Bar
Exams
Pedro Jose F. Bernardo - Professor (Ateneo,
FEU-DLSU, PLP), 8th Place, 2005 Bar Exams
Noel Neil Q. Malimban - Business Law Lecturer
and Reviewer, University of the Cordilleras;
1st placer, 2006 Bar Exams

Guillermo A. Villasor, Jr. - former Dean,

University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos
School of Law; 10th placer,1979 Bar Exams
Marforth T. Fua - Law Professor (SBC, PLP), 8th
place, 2007 Bar Exams
Reinier Paul R. Yebra - Professor, San Beda
College of Law; 1st placer, 2009 Bar Exams
Teodoro Almase - Dean, University of the
Visayas, 4th place

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
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
Leonor Dicdican - Associate, Gordon & Reese Law
Firm, California; 1st placer, 1996 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
Buag 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; President and CEO,
Associated
Broadcasting
Corporation;
Vice
Chairman, Philweb Corporation; 1st placer, 1982
Bar Exams
Agerico T. Paras - Founding Partner and
Managing Partner, Paras and Manlapaz Lawyers;
6th placer, 1983 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. Zuiga, Jr. - Partner, Quisumbing
Torres Law Firm; 1st placer, 2000 Bar Exams
Valerie Feria Amante- Legal Division Head,
Jollibee Group of Companies; 7th 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; 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 - Associate, Castillo
Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose; 1st placer,
2006 Bar Exams
Reinier Paul R. Yebra - Associate, ACCRALAW;
1st placer, 2009 Bar Exams
Cesareo Antonio S. Singzon Jr. - Associate,
ACCRALAW; 1st placer, 2010 Bar Exams
Filemon Ray L. Javier - Associate, ACCRALAW;
2nd placer, 2010 Bar Exams

1st place in the Philippine Bar Examinations

Name

Year School

Epifanio de los
University
Santos
y 1898
Santo Tomas
Cristobal [53]
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903

Hometown
of Malabon,
Rizal

1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
Manuel Roxas

1913

Manuel Goyena

1914

Francisco
Villanueva

1915

Paulino Gullas

1916

Felipe Ismael

1917

Alejo Labrador

1918

Gregorio Anonas 1919

Adolfo
Brillantes
Pablo
Payawal
Amando
Velila
Roque
Desquitado
Roberto
Concepcion

Rafael
Dinglasan

Eugeniano Perez 1926

Cesar Kintanar

University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
Philippine
School

of the Roxas
Capiz
of the

City,

Filomeno
Pascual
Lorenzo
Sumulong
Tecla
Andres

B.

1927
1928
1929

San

1930

Jose Leuterio

1931

of the

Hermenegildo
Atienza

1932

of the

Lope C. Quimbo

1933

of the

Marciano Catral 1934

of the San
Narciso,
Zambales
Law

Enrique
1935
Estrellado
Diosdado
1936
Macapagal
Cecilia Muoz1937
Palma

1920 Escuela de Derecha

C.

1925

University of the
Philippines
L.
University of the
1922
Philippines
University of the
1923
Philippines

University
Philippines
Philippine
School
University
Philippines
Philippine
School
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Manila
Philippine
School
University
Philippines
University
Santo Tomas
University
Philippines
University
Manila

of the
Law
of the
Law
of the
of the
of the
of the
of Catbalogan,
Samar
Law
of the
of Lubao,
Pampanga
of the Bauan,
Batangas
Medina,
of
Misamis
Oriental
of the Sarrat,
Ilocos Norte
Manila
Manila

1921

Emmanuel Pelaez 1938

1924

Ferdinand
University
1939
Marcos
Philippines
Claudio
Ateneo de
1940
Teehankee
University
Emmet P.D. Shea 1941 University of the

University
Santo Tomas

of

Manila

Antipolo City

Philippines
1942
1943
Jovito Salonga
Jose Diokno
Gregoria Cruz
Pedro Yap
Ameurfina
MelencioHerrera
Manuel
Montecillo
Anacleto
Magaser

University of the
Pasig, Rizal
Philippines
1944 Special
(University
of
Santo Tomas)
University of the
1945
Philippines
University of the San
Isidro,
1946
Philippines
Leyte
1947
1948

C.

1949

Carolina
A.
1950
Grio-Aquino
Vicente
R.
Acsay
Pedro Samson C.
Animas
Leonardo
A.
Amores
Florenz
D.
Regalado
Tomas P. Matic,
Jr.
Francisco
C.

1951
1952
1953

University of the
Philippines
Far
Eastern
University
Philippine
Law
School
Special
(Colegio
de
San
Agustin,
University of the
Philippines)
University
of
Manila
University of the
Philippines
University
of
Manila

1954 San Beda College

Far
Eastern
University
1956 San Beda College
1955

Candelaria,
Quezon
Caba,
La
Union
Capiz

Catral
Gregorio
Castillo
Manuel
Abello
Agustin
Benitez

G.
O.

1957
1958
1959

Ismael Andres

1960

Avelino V. Cruz
Deogracias
G.
Eufemio
Cornelio
C.
Gison
Jesus
P.
Castelo
Victor S. de la
Serna
Roberto
San
Jose
Rodolfo
D.
Robles

1961

Oscar
Glovasa

Concepcion,
Iloilo

R.

B.

Ronaldo
B.
Zamora
Romulo D. San
Juan
Henry
R.
Villarica
Januario
B.
Soller, Jr.
Vicente
R.

1962
1963

University of the
Philippines
University of the
Philippines
Far
Eastern
University
Manuel L. Quezon
University
San Beda College
University of the
Philippines
Ateneo de Manila
University

1964 San Beda College

1965 San Beda College
1966

Tagbilaran
City, Bohol

University of the
Philippines

1967 San Beda College

Divine
1968 College
Tagbilaran
University
1969
Philippines
University
1970
Philippines
University
1971
Philippines
Ateneo de
1972
University
1973 Ateneo de

Word
Tagbilaran
of
City, Bohol
of the
of the
of the
Manila
Manila Zamboanga

Solis
Arturo D. Brion 1974
Nicanor
B.
1975
Padilla, Jr.
Enrique
1976
Teehankee
Virgilio
B.
1977
Gesmundo
Cosme D. Rosell 1978
Gregorio
M.
1979
Batiller, Jr.
Rafael R. Lagos 1980
Irene Ragodon1981
Guevarra
Ray C. Espinosa 1982
Manuel Antonio
1983
J. Teehankee
Richard M. Chiu 1984
Janette
L. Pea

Susan

Laurence L. Go

1985
1986

Mario
P.
1987
Victoriano
Maria Yvette O.
1988
Navarro
Gilberto
1989
Teodoro, Jr.

University
Ateneo de
University
University
East
University
Philippines
Ateneo de
University
University
Philippines
Ateneo de
University
University
Philippines
Ateneo de
University
Ateneo de
University
Ateneo de
University

City
Manila

Manila

of the
of the
Manila
of the
Manila
of the
Manila

Aquilino
Pimentel III
Joseph P. San
Pedro
Jayme
A.
Sy,
Jr.
Anna
Leah
Fidelis
T.
Castaeda
Francisco Noel
R. Fernandez
Leonor
Y.
Dicdican
Patrcia-ann T.
Progalidad
Ma. Cecilia H.
Fernandez

Manila

Janet B. Abuel

Manila

Florin Hilbay

Dumaguete
Ateneo de Manila
City,
Negros
University
Oriental
University of the
Philippines
Ateneo de Manila
University
Ateneo de Manila
University
University of the
Philippines
University of the
Philippines

University of the Cagayan

Philippines
Oro City
Ateneo de Manila
1991
University
Ateneo de Manila
1992
University
1990

1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998

1999
Edwin R. Enrile
Eliseo
M.
2000
Zuiga, Jr.
Rodolfo Ma. A.
2001
Ponferrada
Arlene Maneja
Aeneas Eli
Diaz
January
Sanchez
Joan
A.

2002
S.
A.

2003
2004

De 2005

Ateneo de
University

Manila

University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Cordilleras
University
Philippines
Ateneo de
University
University
Philippines
University
Philippines
University
Santo Tomas
Ateneo de
University
University
Philippines
University

of the
of the

de

Cebu City
Cebu City

of the
of the
of the
of the
Manila Naga
City,
Camarines Sur
of the
of the
of
Manila
of the
of the

Venecia
Noel
Neil
Malimban
Mercedita
Ona

Philippines
Q.
University of the
2006
Cordilleras
L.
Ateneo de Manila
2007
University
San
Sebastian
Judy
A.
2008 College
- Imus, Cavite
Lardizabal
Recoletos
Reinier
Paul
2009 San Beda College
Yebra
Cesareo Antonio
Ateneo de Manila Catbalogan,
2010
Singzon, Jr.
University
Samar
Raoul
Angelo
Ateneo de Manila Meycauayan
2011
Atadero
University
City, Bulacan
Ignatius
Ateneo de Manila
Michaeal
D. 2012
University
Ingles
Nielson
G.
University of the
2013
Pangan
Philippines