Ateneo female grad tops Bar

MANILA, Philippines – Mercedita Ona, a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila law school, took the number one spot in the 2007 Bar examinations with a score of 83.55 percent.

Out of 5,626 candidates who took the Bar, only 22.9 percent or 1,289 passed, according to Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, chairman of the 2007 Bar exams.

Placing second was Jennifer Ong of the University of the Philippines, garnering a grade of 83.35 percent.

They were followed by Yvanna Maalat (Ateneo de Manila), 82.75 percent; Jennie Aclan (University of San Carlos), 82.10 percent; and John Michael Galauran (University of Nueva Caceres), 81.60 percent.

Ranking sixth was Karen Canullas (San Sebastian College) with 81.40 percent while tying for seventh place were Cecile Mejia (Ateneo de Manila) and Sheryl Ann Tizon (University of the Philippines) with a score of 81.35 percent.

In eighth place was Marforth Fua (San Beda College) with 81.20 percent, followed by Ruby Luy (Ateneo de Davao) with 81.15 percent, and Christian Llido (University of Cebu) and Vivian Tan (University of the Philippines) who were tied for 10th place with a score of 80.90 percent.

Also among the Bar passers is STAR business reporter Mary Ann Reyes.

Ona, 27, said she was “so happy” about the results.

She said this is her first attempt to take the Bar. She is a certified public accountant working for the Sycip law firm. 

She added that she is the only lawyer in the family.

“It (exam) was very difficult. I knew it when I left the examination room, that’s why I’m nervous and did not go to the Supreme Court in Manila and just decided to view the results online,” Ona said.

She said her preparations for the Bar exams were also very tough.

The Rules of Court provide that “a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject.”

In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights: Political and International Law, 15 percent; Labor and Social Legislation, 10 percent; Civil Law, 15 percent; Taxation, 10 percent; Mercantile Law, 15 percent; Criminal Law, 10 percent; Remedial Law, 20 percent; and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, five percent, for a total of 100 percent.

Azcuna said the Court decided to adjust the passing grade in the 2007 Bar exams to compensate for the “unusually strict” corrections of the exams, particularly in the subjects of Criminal Law, Civil Law, and Labor Law.

“If the passing grade was 75, only five percent would have passed. So we lowered it to 70. That is why 22.9 percent passed,” he said.

According to Azcuna, three justices – Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Conchita Carpio-Morales and Presbitero Velasco – inhibited themselves from the deliberations on the 2007 Bar exams because they have relatives who took the test.

Azcuna added that the results of the Bar exams, which was supposed to be released last Friday, was released only yesterday because the Court verified the names of the law schools.

“Because schools have been changing their names, we wanted to be sure. We wanted to be sure before we decoded,” said Azcuna.

In decoding, the number of the examinee as written on his exam papers is matched with his name.

In 2006, of the 6,345 Bar takers, only 1,893 hurdled the exams.

The Bar exams were first instituted in 1901 with only 13 examinees.

The 2007 Bar exams marked the third time the “five-strike” rule was implemented. This rule limits to five the maximum number of times a candidate may take what is said to be the most grueling government-administered test. 

The five-strike rule is pursuant to the Court’s resolution in Bar Matter No. 1161, Re: Proposed Reforms in the Bar Examinations, which provides, among others, that those who have taken the Bar exams five or more times – and still failed – shall no longer be eligible to take any future Bar exams. 

Bar Matter No. 1161 provides for the “(d)isqualification of a candidate after failing in three (3) examinations, provided, that he may take a fourth and fifth examination if he successfully completes a one (1) year refresher course for each examination; provided, further that upon the effectivity of this Resolution, those who have already failed in five (5) or more Bar examinations shall be allowed to take only one (1) more Bar examination after completing a one (1) year refresher course.”

The Court conducts the Bar exams pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that it shall have the power to promulgate rules governing the admission to the practice of law.