Topnotcher from Cebu: Visayas schools rule Bar

CEBU, Philippines - For the first time in the history of the Bar examinations in the Philippines, no examinee from the schools in Metro Manila made it to the top 10.

Instead, 10 of the 12 who made it to the list come from schools in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Making history for the University of San Carlos in Cebu is Karen Mae Calam, the topnotcher in the November 2016 exams with a score of 89.05 percent.

Three others from USC also made the list: Fiona Cristy Lao, 3rd place, with a score of 88.8 percent; Anne Margaret Momongan, 7th place, with a score of 87.8 percent; and Jefferson Gomez, 8th place, with a score of 87.7 percent.

All 70 examinees from USC passed the exams. Their dean, Joan Largo, said the results are a validation of the kind of education, dedication, and commitment the law school gives its students.

Meanwhile, three examinees from Silliman University in neighboring Dumaguete City also topped, including Alanna Gayle Ashley Khio who placed second with a score of 88.95 percent; Marie Chielo Ybio who placed 9th with a score of 87.5 percent; and Andrew Stephen Liu who placed 10th with a score of 87.45 percent.

The rest in the top 10 are Athalia Liong from Andres Bonifacio College who tied with Lao in 3rd place; Allana Mae Babayen-on from University of San Agustin, 4th place, with a score of 88.75 percent; Justin Ryan Morilla from Ateneo de Davao University, 5th place, with a score of 88.4 percent; Mark Dave Camarao from Northwestern University, 6th place, with a score of 88.1 percent; and Nia Rachelle Gonzales from University of Batangas who tied with Ybio in 9th place.

Historically, the top 10 is dominated by examinees from top tier law schools like the University of the Philippines - Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and San Beda College.

Of the 6,344 who took the exams in November 2016, only 3,747 passed with an average rate of 59.06 percent, the highest since 2000.

Hard work, faith

Still overwhelmed when she faced the press yesterday, Calam, 30, said she attributes her achievement to hard work and faith.

A native of Bukidnon in Mindanao, she is a devotee of the Santo Niño and admitted hearing Mass every day for a month before the Supreme Court announced the results yesterday. 

“We were taught to always aim to top, but if not, at least we pass,” she said, adding, “but it wasn’t enough to pray. You have to claim it.”

A product of the public school system in elementary and high school, Calam shared praying for a spot in the top 10 so she can use it to inspire those from public schools to aim high.

“It’s really not impossible for you to have as big as this. Never doubt yourself. Surround yourself with people who support you. Even others will doubt you - their opinions do not matter,” she said.

Albeit finishing cum laude in college, she did not receive Latin honors in law school. Her strategy was balancing her time for her commitments especially that she also works at an auditing firm.

“I’m really not the person who studies always. There is a time for reading, a time for prayer, and a time for chilling out,” she said.

Calam says she has not made any plans yet and will be staying with the accounting firm

Friendship goals

What could be sweeter than sharing victory with friends? And it seems faith is what held their friendship together.

“Kaming tanan kay… like si Karen kay magkuan man gyud ni Santo Niño, si Fiona pud ug si John pud kay maka-share mi kay puros man sad mi devotee ni Mother of Perpetual Help. I think, at the end of the day, kay murag kahibaw mi na nagtuon mi pero since wala naman mi mabuhat kay mana naman ang exam so we just turned to prayer,” Momongan said.

Momongan and Calam, in fact, work in the same firm, SGV &Co.

“I met her (Calam) kay tungod maguwang man na nako sya ug one year. I met her kay while we work here in SGV so kuyog mi tanan-tanan, nya hangtod nagka-close gyud. Unya, when we were assigned in Manila to work for SGV there, kuyog sad mi. Funny thing is, ang among condo - siya, ako ug katong si Mandy nga ni-top last year, so kami na kuyuga,” Momongan said. 

Aside from hard work and prayer, Momongan said her parents have also been her inspiration.

“When I'm studying, passing the Bar exam isn't just for me... I have my parents to think of also kay only child man gud ko so murag I want to be successful, I want to make it kay I want to make my parents proud. Wala na sila'y laing saligan but me so sila sad akong force,” she said.

Gomez, like Calam and Momongan, is an accountant, and never expected to be in the top 10.

“My first reaction is shock,” he said.

He said being a lawyer was his dream and he is thankful his family has been supportive of his plans. 

Other Cebu schools

Lawyer Valdemero Estenzo, dean of the University of Cebu College of Law, said 45 examinees from the school passed the 2016 Bar.

“There is no more reason to take up law in Manila,” he said.

Elaine Bathan, assistant dean of the University of San Jose - Recoletos College of Law, said 96 of 136 passed the Bar. Of the 136 examinees, 59 graduated in March last year. Of the 59 graduates, 46 passed the exams.

Retired Court of Appeals Justice Portia Hormachuelos, dean of the University of the Visayas College of Law, said the school has produced seven new lawyers.

Like Estenzo, Hormachuelos said the performance of schools here proves it is no longer a better option to study in Manila.

She said there is a need to renew calls to regionalize the Bar exams to make preparations easier for graduates outside of Metro Manila. (FREEMAN)