Names of 2014 Bar Examination passers flashed on a TV monitor at the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The 1,126 new lawyers is led by San Beda’s Irene Mae Alcobilla with 85.50% grade. (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines – A law graduate of San Beda College-Manila took the top spot in the 2014 bar examinations.
Irene Mae Alcobilla got the highest overall rating of 85.50%.
Alcobilla hails from San Remegio, Antique and graduated magna cum laude in Political Science from West Visayas State University.
Christian Drilon, a nephew of Senate President Franklin Drilon and a graduate of Ateneo De Manila University placed second followed by Sandra Mae Magalang of the University of the Philippines (UP).
“Everybody is putting pressure on me, so I really prayed for it,” Christian Drilon said in a phone interview.
Of the 5,984 candidates that took the examination, only 1,126 passed.
The other top 10 passers in the 2014 bar examinations are the following:
Mark Leo Bejemino of the University of the Philippines, Gil Garcia, Ateneo De Davao University and Reginald Laco of De La Salle Lipa for the top 4; Michelle Liao – University of Cebu, Top 5; Jose Angelo David and Adrian Aumentado both of San Beda College Manila, Top 6 and 7 respectively; Rhey David Daway of UP and Fideliz Cardelie Diaz – Far Eastern University and DLSU for Top 8; Jamie Liz Yu of UP in Top 9 and Tristan Matthew Delgado of Ateneo De Manila University for Top 10.
Meanwhile, relatives, friends and classmates of the passers are overjoyed by the honor they brought to their families and universities.
“It adds to our motivation, because they are our older brothers,” said Fritz Sapon, a student of San Beda College.
“I’m sure the environment now in San Beda is very festive,” he added.
According to 2014 bar exams committee chairman Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, latest bar exams has a passing rate of 18.82% compared to 22.18% in 2013 and 17.76% in 2012.
The complete list of bar passers can be viewed at Supreme Court website: www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph.
The 113th bar exams was held at the University of Sto. Tomas last October.
The bar exams is considered the most prestigious professional licensure exam in the country due to its difficulty. This year’s bar exams is composed of 20% multiple choice questions and 80% essay type questions. (Joyce Balancio / UNTV News)