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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 Brief history 2 Admission requirements 3 Committee of Bar Examiners 4 Bar review programs 5 Venue and itinerary 6 Coverage 7 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 Vice- Presidents 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 13 1st place in the Philippine Bar Examinations 14 External links 15 See also 16 References 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 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

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Page 1: Philippine Bar Examination 12.1 - docshare04.docshare.tipsdocshare04.docshare.tips/files/24869/248696140.pdf · Regulation Commission. ... The first Philippine Bar Exams was given

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 Brief history

2 Admission requirements

3 Committee of Bar Examiners

4 Bar review programs

5 Venue and itinerary

6 Coverage

7 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 Vice-

Presidents

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

13 1st place in the Philippine Bar Examinations

14 External links

15 See also

16 References

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 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

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disqualifies five-time flunkers from taking future

bar exams.[3]

Admission requirements

A bar candidate must meet the following academic

qualifications:

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 also meet certain non-academic

requisites:[6]

A Filipino citizen.

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

A resident of the Philippines.

Satisfactory evidence of good moral character

(usually a certificate from the dean of law

school or an immediate superior at work).

No charges involving moral turpitude have been

filed against the candidate or are pending in

any court in the Philippines.

In March 2010 the Philippine Supreme Court Issued Bar

Matter 1153 amending provisions in sec 5 and 6 of

rule 138 of the rules of court now allowing Filipino

foreign law school graduates to take the bar exam

provided that they comply with the following: a.

completion of all courses leading to a degree of

Bachelor of laws or its equivalent b. recognition or

accreditation of the law school by proper authority

c. completion of all fourth year subjects in a

program of a law school duly accredited by the

Philippine Government d. present proof of completing

a separate bachelors degree

Committee of Bar Examiners

The Supreme Court appoints memberships in the

Committee of Bar Examiners, the official task force

for formulating bar exam questions, instituting

policy directives, executing procedures, grading bar

examination papers, and releasing the results of the

annual bar examination.[7]

The committee is chaired by an incumbent Justice of

the Supreme Court, who is designated by the Supreme

Court to serve for a term of one year. The members of

the committee includes eight (8) members of 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]

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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 España 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]

Political and Public International Law

o Constitutional Law

o Political Law

o Administrative Law (only the basic

doctrines, excluding implementing rules

and regulations of government agencies)

o Law on Public Officers

o Public Corporations

o Suffrage

o Public International Law

Labor and Social Legislation

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

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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

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)

Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises

o Legal Ethics

o Judicial Ethics

o Code of Professional Responsibility

o Grievance Procedures (Rules 139-B, Revised

Rules of Court)

o 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]

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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 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 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]

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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)

Role of the Supreme Court, Criticisms

In 2007, only 5% (of the 5,626 who took the 2007

tests, or less than 300) got the passing grade of

75%. Thus, the Supreme Court adjusted the standard to

70% and the disqualification rate in 3 subjects

(civil, labor and criminal law) from 50 to 45%.

Accordingly, 1,289 or 22.91%, "passed." This passing

grade reduction is highly unusual, since it last

happened in the 1981 exam when the passing grade was

lowered to 72.5%. Prior to 1982, the passing mark

jumped unpredictably from year to year: 69.45 percent

in 1946; 69 in 1947; 70 in 1948, 1963, 1972 and 1974;

71 in 1961; 71.5 in 1953, 1964 and 1965; 72 in 1957,

1958, 1959, 1960 and 1967; 72.5 in 1954, 1962 and

1981; 73 in 1950, 1956, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978

and 1980; 73.5 in 1955 and 1979; 74 in 1949, 1951,

1952, 1966, 1971, 1973 and 1977; and 74.5 in 1976. In

1954, the Court lowered the passing grade to 72.5%,

even if the passing percentage was already at its

highest at 75.17%. In 1999, moves to lower the

passing grade to 74% failed, after Justice Fidel

Purisima, bar committee chairman failed to disclose

that his nephew took the examination. He was censured

and 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]

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

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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. Griño-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 non-

law graduates and foreigners who have law degrees

from taking part in the exercise.[4]

While not a guarantee for topping the bar, academic

excellence in law school is a good indicator of an

examinee's fortune in the bar exams. Ateneo Law

School's only summa cum laude graduate, Claudio

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

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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. Mañgaser, 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]

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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-to-

year as the difficulty of the exams varies through

the years.

Rank Yea

r Name School Rating

1st 193

9

Ferdinand

E. Marcos

University of the

Philippines

98.800

(92.35%

Official)[24]

2nd 195

4

Florenz D.

Regalado

San Beda College

96.700

(Official)[25

]

3rd 194

9

Anacleto C.

Mañgaser

Philippine Law

School 95.850

4th 194

8

Manuel G.

Montecillo

Far Eastern

University 95.500

4th

(tie

)

194

4

Jose W.

Diokno

Special

(University of

Santo Tomas)

95.300

4th

(tie

)

194

4

Jovito R.

Salonga

University of the

Philippines 95.300

6th 194

0

Claudio

Teehankee

Ateneo de Manila

University 94.350

7th 195

2

Pedro

Samson C.

Animas

University of the

Philippines 94.250

8th 195

3

Leonardo A.

Amores

University of

Manila 94.050

9th 194

7

Ameurfina

A.

Melencio-

Herrera

University of the

Philippines 93.850

10th 200

1

Rodolfo Ma.

A.

Ponferrada

University of the

Philippines 93.800

11th

(tie

)

191

4

Manuel C.

Goyena

University of the

Philippines 93.000

11th

(tie

)

191

6

Paulino

Gullas

University of the

Philippines 93.000

11th

(tie

)

193

2

Hermenegild

o Atienza

University of the

Philippines 93.000

14th 200

2

Arlene M.

Maneja

University of

Santo Tomas 92.900

15th 198

4

Richard M.

Chiu

Ateneo de Manila

University 92.850

16th 193

7

Cecilia

Muñoz-Palma

University of the

Philippines 92.600

17th 192

9

Lorenzo S.

Sumulong

University of the

Philippines 92.500

18th 197

8

Cosme D.

Rosell

University of the

Philippines 92.475

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19th 193

3

Lope C.

Quimbo

University of

Manila 92.450

20th 197

1

Henry R.

Villarica

University of the

Philippines 92.400

21st

(tie

)

195

1

Vicente R.

Acsay

University of

Manila 92.250

22nd

(tie

)

Aug

-

194

6

Gregoria T.

Cruz

University of the

Philippines 92.250

23rd 195

0

Carolina C.

Griño

Special (Colegio

de San

Agustin,Universit

y of the

Philippines)

92.050

24th

(tie

)

191

3

Manuel A.

Roxas

University of the

Philippines 92.000

24th

(tie

)

191

7

Felipe

Ysmael

University of the

Philippines 92.000

25th

(tie

)

197

7

Virgilio B.

Gesmundo

Ateneo de Manila

University 91.800

25th

(tie

)

199

8

Janet B.

Abuel

Baguio Colleges

Foundation 91.800

27th

(tie

)

193

4

Miguel

Aragon

University of the

Philippines 91.700

27th

(tie

)

196

0

Ismael

Andres

Manuel L. Quezon

University 91.700

27th

(tie

)

Nov

-

194

Pedro L.

Yap

University of the

Philippines 91.700

6

31st 197

4

Arturo D.

Brion

Ateneo de Manila

University 91.650

32nd

(tie

)

197

9

Gregorio M.

Batiller,

Jr.

Ateneo de Manila

University 91.400

32nd

(tie

)

198

3

Manuel

Antonio J.

Teehankee

Ateneo de Manila

University 91.400

34th 193

8

Emmanuel N.

Pelaez

University of

Manila 91.300

35th 199

5

Leonor Y.

Dicdican

University of the

Philippines 91.200

36th 192

5

Rafael

Dinglasan

University of the

Philippines 91.100

37th

(tie

)

196

1

Avelino V.

Cruz San Beda College 90.950

37th

(tie

)

198

1

Irene

Ragodon-

Guevarra

Ateneo de Manila

University 90.950

37th

(tie

)

198

2

Ray C.

Espinosa

Ateneo de Manila

University 90.950

40th 192

3

Roque V.

Desquitado

University of the

Philippines 90.900

41st

(tie

)

196

2

Deogracias

G. Eufemio

University of the

Philippines 90.800

41st

(tie

)

197

6

Enrique Y.

Teehankee

University of the

Philippines 90.800

43rd

(tie

)

196

6

Roberto V.

San Jose

University of the

Philippines 90.600

44th 199 Patricia University of the 90.600

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(tie

)

6 Ann T.

Prodigalida

d

Philippines

44th

(tie

)

200

0

Eliseo M.

Zuñiga, Jr.

University of the

Philippines 90.600

47th 195

5

Tomas P.

Matic, Jr.

Far Eastern

University 90.550

48th

(tie

)

192

8

Filomeno B.

Pascual

Philippine Law

School 90.300

48th

(tie

)

197

3

Vicente R.

Solis

Ateneo de Manila

University 90.300

50th

(tie

)

194

1

Emmet P.D.

Shea

University of the

Philippines 90.200

50th

(tie

)

195

6

Francisco

C. Catral San Beda College 90.200

52nd 199

7

Ma. Cecilia

H.

Fernandez

University of the

Philippines 90.025

53rd 191

5

Francisco

Villanueva,

Jr.

University of the

Philippines 90.000

54th 199

1

Joseph P.

San Pedro

Ateneo de Manila

University 89.950

55th

(tie

)

193

6

Diosdado P.

Macapagal

University of

Santo Tomas 89.850

55th

(tie

)

199

0

Aquilino L.

Pimentel

III

University of the

Philippines 89.850

57th 196

5

Victor S.

dela Serna San Beda College 89.800

58th 198 Rafael R. University of the 89.750

0 Lagos Philippines

59th 193

4

Marciano P.

Catral

Philippine Law

School 89.700

60th 196

7

Rodolfo D.

Robles San Beda College 89.600

61st

(tie

)

193

0

Tecla San

Andres

University of the

Philippines 89.400

61st

(tie

)

193

1

Jose

Leuterio

University of the

Philippines 89.400

61st

(tie

)

198

5

Janette

Susan L.

Peña

University of the

Philippines 89.400

64th 195

8

Manuel G.

Abello

University of the

Philippines 89.250

65th

(tie

)

195

9

Agustin O.

Benitez

Far Eastern

University 89.200

65th

(tie

)

199

4

Francisco

Noel R.

Fernandez

University of the

Philippines 89.200

67th 195

7

Gregorio R.

Castillo

University of the

Philippines 89.150

68th

(tie

)

192

1

Pablo

Payawal

University of the

Philippines 89.100

68th

(tie

)

192

2

Amado L.

Velilla

University of the

Philippines 89.100

68th

(tie

)

192

4

Roberto B.

Concepcion

University of

Santo Tomas 89.100

71st 201

0

Cesareo

Antonio S.

Singzon,

Jr.

Ateneo de Manila

University 89.000

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72nd 198

6

Laurence L.

Go

Ateneo de Manila

University 88.600

73rd 198

7

Mario P.

Victoriano

Ateneo de Manila

University 88.550

74th 200

3

Aeneas Eli

S. Diaz

Ateneo de Manila

University 88.530

75th

(tie

)

199

9

Edwin R.

Enrile

Ateneo de Manila

University 88.500

75th

(tie

)

199

9

Florin T.

Hilbay

University of the

Philippines 88.500

77th 196

4

Jesus P.

Castelo San Beda College 88.400

78th 199

3

Anna Leah

Fidelis T.

Castañeda

Ateneo de Manila

University 88.325

79th 198

8

Maria

Yvette O.

Navarro

University of the

Philippines 88.120

80th 192

6

Eugeniano

Perez

Philippine Law

School 88.100

81st 192

7

Cesar

Kintanar

University of the

Philippines 87.700

82nd 200

6

Noel Neil

Q. Malimban

University of the

Cordilleras 87.600

83rd 197

0

Romulo D.

San Juan

Far Eastern

University[26]

87.500

84th

(tie

)

196

8

Oscar B.

Glovasa

Divine World

College of

Tagbilaran

87.450

84th

(tie

)

200

4

January A.

Sanchez

University of the

Philippines 87.450

86th 196

9

Ronaldo B.

Zamora

University of the

Philippines 87.300

87th 200

5

Joan de

Venecia

University of the

Philippines 87.200

88th 197

2

Januario B.

Soller, Jr.

Ateneo de Manila

University 87.130

89th

(tie

)

191

8

Alejo

Labrador

University of the

Philippines 87.000

89th

(tie

)

191

9

Gregorio

Anonas

Philippine Law

School 87.000

89th

(tie

)

199

2

Jayme A. Sy

Jr.

Ateneo de Manila

University 87.000

92nd 197

5

Nicanor B.

Padilla,

Jr.

University of the

East 86.700

93rd 196

3

Cornelio C.

Gison

Ateneo de Manila

University 86.350

94th 198

9

Gilberto C.

Teodoro,

Jr.

University of the

Philippines 86.185

95th 201

3

Nielson G.

Pangan

University of the

Philippines 85.800

96th 200

8

Judy A.

Lardizabal

San Sebastian

College 85.700

97th 201

2

Ignatius

Michael D.

Ingles

Ateneo de Manila

University 85.640

98th 201

1

Raoul

Angelo D.

Atadero

Ateneo de Manila

University 85.536

99th 200

9

Reinier

Paul R.

Yebra

San Beda College 84.800

100t

h

192

0

Adolfo

Brillantes

Escuela de

Derecho 84.100

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Highest scores in specific bar subjects

While no bar examinee has ever reached a 100% general

average, several bar examinees have garnered perfect

and near-perfect grades in specific bar subjects.

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

the University of the Philippines got a grade of 99%

in Remedial Law.[27]

She also placed number one in the

bar exams of the same year.

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.[18]

Mañgaser's bar rating

remains the second highest of all time.

In 1953, Juan Ponce Enrile (future Defense Minister

and Senate President) of the University of the

Philippines College of Law, where he graduated

salutatorian and cum laude, earned 100% in Mercantile

Law[28]

and placed 11th in the bar exams of that

year.[28]

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 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]

In 1997, Maria Celia H. Fernandez of the University

of the Philippines College of Law, where she

graduated salutatorian and cum laude, earned 100% in

Legal Ethics[citation needed]

and emerged as the year's bar

topnotcher.[18]

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 2005, Gladys V. Gervacio of the University of

Perpetual Help-Rizal earned a perfect 100% in two bar

subjects—Legal 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]

Increasing difficulty

The difficulty of the recent bar examinations,

compared to exams of the past, can be attributed to

the following factors:[15]

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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

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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 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.[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 bar top ten

include:[42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]

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)

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Ferdinand E. Marcos - tenth President of the

Philippines; 1st placer (98.80%), 1939 Bar

Exams (UP)

José 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. Osmeña - 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. García - 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

José 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)

César 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)

José 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

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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

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 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

Only eleven of the 22 jurists who rose to become

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court were bar placers,

starting with José Yulo (3rd in 1913), followed by

Ricardo Paras (2nd in 1913), then by César 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 Ramón Avanceña)

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

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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. Osmeña - 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

José P. Laurel- former Senator; 2nd Placer 1915

Xavier Jesus Romualdo- incumbent 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

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Roxas (1st in 1913), José 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 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

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

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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

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

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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. 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 (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. 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

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

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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); 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

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

Buñag Kapunan Migallos Law Firm; Co-founder,

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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. Zuñiga, 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 Hometown

Epifanio de los

Santos y

Cristobal [53]

1898 University of

Santo Tomas

Malabon,

Rizal

1899

1900

1901

1902

1903

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1904

1905

1906

1907

1908

1909

1910

1911

1912

Manuel Roxas 1913 University of the

Philippines

Roxas City,

Capiz

Manuel Goyena 1914 University of the

Philippines

Francisco

Villanueva

1915 University of the

Philippines

Paulino Gullas 1916 University of the

Philippines

Felipe Ismael 1917 University of the

Philippines

Alejo Labrador 1918 University of the

Philippines

San Narciso,

Zambales

Gregorio Anonas 1919 Philippine Law

School

Adolfo

Brillantes

1920 Escuela de Derecha

Pablo C.

Payawal

1921 University of the

Philippines

Amando L.

Velila

1922 University of the

Philippines

Roque

Desquitado

1923 University of the

Philippines

Roberto

Concepcion

1924 University of

Santo Tomas

Manila

Rafael

Dinglasan

1925 University of the

Philippines

Eugeniano Perez 1926 Philippine Law

School

Cesar Kintanar 1927 University of the

Philippines

Filomeno B.

Pascual

1928 Philippine Law

School

Lorenzo

Sumulong

1929 University of the

Philippines

Antipolo City

Tecla San

Andres

1930 University of the

Philippines

Jose Leuterio 1931 University of the

Philippines

Hermenegildo

Atienza

1932 University of the

Philippines

Lope C. Quimbo 1933 University of

Manila

Catbalogan,

Samar

Marciano Catral 1934 Philippine Law

School

Enrique

Estrellado

1935 University of the

Philippines

Diosdado

Macapagal

1936 University of

Santo Tomas

Lubao,

Pampanga

Cecilia Muñoz-

Palma

1937 University of the

Philippines

Bauan,

Batangas

Emmanuel Pelaez 1938 University of

Manila

Medina,

Misamis

Oriental

Ferdinand

Marcos

1939 University of the

Philippines

Sarrat,

Ilocos Norte

Claudio

Teehankee

1940 Ateneo de Manila

University

Manila

Emmet P.D. Shea 1941 University of the

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Philippines

1942

1943

Jovito Salonga

1944

University of the

Philippines

Pasig, Rizal

Jose Diokno

Special

(University of

Santo Tomas)

Gregoria Cruz 1945 University of the

Philippines

Pedro Yap 1946 University of the

Philippines

San Isidro,

Leyte

Ameurfina

Melencio-

Herrera

1947 University of the

Philippines

Manuel

Montecillo

1948 Far Eastern

University

Candelaria,

Quezon

Anacleto C.

Mañgaser

1949 Philippine Law

School

Caba, La

Union

Carolina A.

Griño-Aquino

1950

Special (Colegio

de San Agustin,

University of the

Philippines)

Capiz

Vicente R.

Acsay

1951 University of

Manila

Pedro Samson C.

Animas

1952 University of the

Philippines

Leonardo A.

Amores

1953 University of

Manila

Florenz D.

Regalado

1954 San Beda College

Concepcion,

Iloilo

Tomas P. Matic,

Jr.

1955 Far Eastern

University

Francisco C. 1956 San Beda College

Catral

Gregorio R.

Castillo

1957 University of the

Philippines

Manuel G.

Abello

1958 University of the

Philippines

Agustin O.

Benitez

1959 Far Eastern

University

Ismael Andres 1960 Manuel L. Quezon

University

Avelino V. Cruz 1961 San Beda College

Deogracias G.

Eufemio

1962 University of the

Philippines

Cornelio C.

Gison

1963 Ateneo de Manila

University

Jesus P.

Castelo

1964 San Beda College

Victor S. de la

Serna

1965 San Beda College

Tagbilaran

City, Bohol

Roberto San

Jose

1966 University of the

Philippines

Rodolfo D.

Robles

1967 San Beda College

Oscar B.

Glovasa

1968

Divine Word

College of

Tagbilaran

Tagbilaran

City, Bohol

Ronaldo B.

Zamora

1969 University of the

Philippines

Romulo D. San

Juan

1970 University of the

Philippines

Henry R.

Villarica

1971 University of the

Philippines

Januario B.

Soller, Jr.

1972 Ateneo de Manila

University

Vicente R. 1973 Ateneo de Manila Zamboanga

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Solis University City

Arturo D. Brion 1974 Ateneo de Manila

University

Manila

Nicanor B.

Padilla, Jr.

1975 University of the

East

Enrique

Teehankee

1976 University of the

Philippines

Virgilio B.

Gesmundo

1977 Ateneo de Manila

University

Cosme D. Rosell 1978 University of the

Philippines

Gregorio M.

Batiller, Jr.

1979 Ateneo de Manila

University

Rafael R. Lagos 1980 University of the

Philippines

Irene Ragodon-

Guevarra

1981 Ateneo de Manila

University

Ray C. Espinosa 1982 Ateneo de Manila

University

Manuel Antonio

J. Teehankee

1983 Ateneo de Manila

University

Richard M. Chiu 1984 Ateneo de Manila

University

Dumaguete

City, Negros

Oriental

Janette Susan

L. Peña

1985 University of the

Philippines

Laurence L. Go 1986 Ateneo de Manila

University

Mario P.

Victoriano

1987 Ateneo de Manila

University

Maria Yvette O.

Navarro

1988 University of the

Philippines

Gilberto

Teodoro, Jr.

1989 University of the

Philippines

Aquilino

Pimentel III

1990 University of the

Philippines

Cagayan de

Oro City

Joseph P. San

Pedro

1991 Ateneo de Manila

University

Jayme A. Sy,

Jr.

1992 Ateneo de Manila

University

Anna Leah

Fidelis T.

Castañeda

1993 Ateneo de Manila

University

Francisco Noel

R. Fernandez

1994 University of the

Philippines

Cebu City

Leonor Y.

Dicdican

1995 University of the

Philippines

Cebu City

Patrcia-ann T.

Progalidad

1996 University of the

Philippines

Ma. Cecilia H.

Fernandez

1997 University of the

Philippines

Janet B. Abuel 1998 University of the

Cordilleras

Florin Hilbay

1999

University of the

Philippines

Edwin R. Enrile

Ateneo de Manila

University

Naga City,

Camarines Sur

Eliseo M.

Zuñiga, Jr.

2000 University of the

Philippines

Rodolfo Ma. A.

Ponferrada

2001 University of the

Philippines

Arlene Maneja 2002 University of

Santo Tomas

Aeneas Eli S.

Diaz

2003 Ateneo de Manila

University

January A.

Sanchez

2004 University of the

Philippines

Joan A. De 2005 University of the

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Venecia Philippines

Noel Neil Q.

Malimban

2006 University of the

Cordilleras

Mercedita L.

Ona

2007 Ateneo de Manila

University

Judy A.

Lardizabal

2008

San Sebastian

College -

Recoletos

Imus, Cavite

Reinier Paul

Yebra

2009 San Beda College

Cesareo Antonio

Singzon, Jr.

2010 Ateneo de Manila

University

Catbalogan,

Samar

Raoul Angelo

Atadero

2011 Ateneo de Manila

University

Meycauayan

City, Bulacan

Ignatius

Michaeal D.

Ingles

2012 Ateneo de Manila

University

Nielson G.

Pangan 2013

University of the

Philippines