MANILA, Philippines — From the 8,155 2018 Bar finishers, only 1,800 passed the gruelling four-day exam. This yielded a passing rate of 22%.
A netizen quipped that the passing rate “decimated” more than what Marvel supervillain Thanos who was featured in the last two Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
Thanos “decimated” half of the universe with a snap of his fingers.
“1,800 out of 8,155 examinees passed #BarExam2018. That’s only 22%. Mas matindi pa kay Thanos mag-decimate. Paano pa kaya kapag si Justice @marvicleonen na ang Bar Chairman? Huhu,” a Twitter user quipped.
Leonen replied: “It will have a higher passing rate.”
It will have a higher passing rate.
— Marvic Leonen (@marvicleonen) May 3, 2019
The SC justice, however, stressed that the higher passing rate would not just be on him. "Study with passion. Study well," he replied to another Twitter user.
READ: 'Rise above the hate': Bullying didn't stop Ateneo grad from topping 2018 bar exams
Leonen, who is a formerly the dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, would not be this year’s Bar chair.
Associate Justice Estela Bernabe is set to be the 2019 Bar chairperson, said the Supreme Court Public Information Office Friday.
READ: FULL LIST: 2018 bar exam passers
Leonen also has this to say to the country's new lawyers: "Value the nobility of the profession. Serve the people. Do not betray your humanity. Be humble."
Congratulations to all those who passed this year’s bar examination. Value the nobility of the profession. Serve the people. Do not betray your humanity. Be humble.
— Marvic Leonen (@marvicleonen) May 3, 2019
The 2017 Bar Exams had a passing rate of 25.5%, with 1,724 successful bar examinees out of 6,748.
The 2016 Bar Exams had the highest passing rate. Three thousand seven hundred forty-seven hurdled the bar, out of the 6,344 Bar finishers. It posted a passing rate of 25.5%.