MANILA, Philippines — The University of San Carlos in Cebu once again produced four topnotchers in the 2018 Bar Examinations.
Four USC alumni were in the top 10, while the rest of the topnotchers came from schools based in Metro Manila.
Marcley Augustus Natu-el placed second with a rating of 87.5300%, few points behind the highest score of 89.3060% obtained by Sean James Borja of Ateneo de Manila University.
Natu-el said he dedicates his success to his family, especially his “supportive” parents.
“They didn’t pressure me to achieve, they didn’t push me to do anything. But they just supported what I wanted to do and give me what I needed,” he said in a press briefing Friday afternoon after the release of the exam results.
Mark Lawrence Badayos ranked third with a score of 85.8420%, Jebb Lynus Cane placed ninth with 84.8050% and Alen Joel Pita landed in 10th place with a rating of 84.6930%.
Last year, three graduates from USC figured in the top 10.
In 2016, USC also produced four topnotchers with Karen Mae Calam clinching the top spot.
Of the 8,158 examinees who took the grueling test during the four Sundays of November 2018, only 22.07% or 1,800 passed.
Dedication
Joan Largo, dean of the USC College of Law, said the performance of Carolinians in the recent bar exams says a lot about the hard work of faculty members and students.
“It says a lot about the hard work that every faculty member in the College of Law puts in. It says a lot about the hard work of every law student in USC does,” Largo said.
She added: “If you mix hardworking students with hardworking faculty, I think if hard work pays then this would really be the proof of that.”
Natu-el, the Bar second placer, commended the dedication of USC faculty members.
“All of them really want us to top the bar exams. They even sacrificed their own Sundays. We even have classes on Sundays just to make sure we finish our entire coverage. They don’t really settle,” he said. — Gaea Katreena Cabico