Provincial law grads dominate Bar

MANILA, Philippines - Last year’s Bar exams set a record as all law graduates in the top 10 came from law schools in the provinces.

It was the first time that no graduate from law schools in the National Capital Region – including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and San Beda law schools – made it to the list of topnotchers, according to the Supreme Court’s office of the Bar Confidant.

Karen Mae Calam of the University of San Carlos law school in Cebu City topped the 2016 Bar exams with an average of 89.05 percent.

“It’s like a dream; there are no words right now,” she said in a phone interview.

She admitted that she was not an achiever in law school but she graduated cum laude in college.

Calam said the keys to her success are her foundations in law school, reviews and maintaining a balanced life. 

“Some of the cases that went out in the Bar exams came from the things we studied at law school and reviews. If you read it and understand, it will be very handy to answer the bar exams,” she said. 

“I always make sure to balance everything. Self-learning, time management and surround yourself with people who love you are the keys. There is time for reading, time for other matters like if you want to chill out and time for prayers.”

Calam is a devout Catholic who prayed to the Sto. Niño of Cebu, patron saint of the province, to pass the Bar.

“I only prayed for top 10 or to pass the Bar exams. When I went home to Bukidnon, my father told me he prayed for me to be on the top. It started as a joke and I didn’t expect that it would come true and got more than what I wanted. When you pray, you got to have faith,” she said.

Calam works for SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. law firm. She said she plans to pursue private law practice and get married in August. 

Three others from the same law school also made it to the Top 10: Fiona Cristy Lao in third place with 88.80 percent, Anna Margaret Momongan in 7th place with 87.80 percent and Jefferson Gomez in 8th with 87.70 percent.

Alanna Gayle Ashley Khio of Silliman University in Dumaguete City placed second with an average of 88.95 percent. Two others from the same university also made it to the list: Marie Cielo Ybio in 9th place with 87.50 percent and Andrew Stephen Liu in 10th with 87.40 percent.

Athalia Liong of Andres Bonifacio College in Dipolog also placed third with 88.80 percent, while Allana Mae Babayen-on of University of San Agustin in Iloilo City placed fourth with 88.75 percent.

In 5th was Justin Ryan Morilla of Ateneo de Davao University with 88.40 percent; Mark Dace Camarao of Northwestern University in Laoag City placed 6th at 88.10 percent; and Nia Rachelle Gonzales of the University of Batangas placed 9th with 87.50 percent.  

University of San Carlos dean Joan Largo, said having four Bar topnotchers and all its 70 first-time takers passing the exams are a validation of the dedication and commitment of the faculty to give quality education to their students. 

Among the notable Bar passers this year is Ramil Comendador, a former janitor in the Commission on Elections.

“I was just a high school graduate and I really wanted to finish school so I decided to work as a janitor in Comelec to sustain my studies,” he told reporters in an interview in the SC compound.

The graduate of Unibersidad de Manila admitted that his wife, who is an engineer, motivated him to finish law school and pass the Bar.

A member of the Parañaque police station, PO2 Blen Pol Panahon, also passed the Bar.

Southern Police District Director Tomas Apolinario said the Parañaque police and family are proud of what he has achieved. 

A total of 3,747 law graduates passed the Bar examinations, constituting 59.06 percent of the total of 6,344 takers who completed the exams in November 2016.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., chair of the Supreme Court’s 2016 Bar committee, said it was the second highest passing rate in the history of Bar exams since 1954, when the passing rate was 75.17 percent. – With Charmie Joy Pagulong, Edith Regalado, Janvic Mateo, Alexis Romero, Robertson Ramirez, Artemio Dumlao, Grace Melanie Lacamiento/Freeman