Bar exams backgrounder

Published April 3, 2007 3:33pm

The Supreme Court conducts the bar examinations pursuant to Article VIII, Sec. 5 of the Constitution which provides that it shall have the power to promulgate rules governing the admission to the practice of law.
The 2005 Bar exams marked the first time that the 'five-strike' rule, which limits to five the maximum number of times a candidate may take what is reputed to be the most grueling government-administered test, was implemented.
The 5,758 number of examinees in 2005 topped the record of 5,453 set in 1963.
The record-high passing rate was recorded at 43% in 1981.
The first bar exams were held in 1901, with 13 examinees.
The Rules of Court provide that â€œa candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75% in all subjects without falling below 50% in any subject."

In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights:

2005 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	De Venecia, Joan A.	University of the Philippines	87.20%
2	Nazareno, Jomini C.	Ateneo de Manila University	86.40%
3	Tanquilut, Sheryl May B.	Ateneo de Manila University	85.95%
4	Tualla, Nyerson Dexter Tito Q.	Manuel Luis Quezon University	85.45%
5	Lucila, Tamsin Rae N.	University of the Philippines	85.35%
6	Gervacio, Gladys V.	University of Perpetual Help-Rizal	85.30%
7	Orocio-Isorena, Claudine B.	University of the Philippines	85.20%
8	Bernardo, Pedro Jose F.	Ateneo de Manila University	85.05%
9	Dexter B. Calizar	Philippine Law School	84.70%
10	Johnson A.H. Ong	Far Eastern University	84.65%

2004 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Sanchez, January A.	University of the Philippines	87.45%
2	De Vera, Ronald P.	University of the Philippines	86.95%
3	Mendoza, Charlito Martin R.	San Beda College	86.75%
4	Larrobis, Ma. Cristina C.	University of San Carlos	86.30%
5	Dizon, Efren Vincent M.	San Beda College	86.10%
6	Martin, Michael Geronimo G.	Ateneo de Manila University	86.05%
7	Tan, Maria Melissa G.	San Beda College	85.55%
8	Perez, Joseph Joemer C.	University of the Philippines	85.45%
9	Silva, Neil Simon S.	University of the Philippines	85.40%
10	Jamero, Ma. Melissa D.	University of San Carlos	85.30%

2003 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Diaz, Aeneas Eli S.
2	Dychiao, Harvey Lawrence N.
3	Loyola, Saben C.
4	Karaan, Mark Oliver M.
5	Paner, Sabrina Kate D.
6	6. Dizon, Dorothy B.
7	PeÃ±a, Mani Thess Q.
8	Suarez, Melissa Romana P.
9	Francisco, Henry M.
10	Evan, Jose C.

2002 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Maneja, ArleneM	University of Santo Tomas	92.90%
2	Chu, Connie G.	Ateneo de Manila University	90.40%
3	Recalde, Eric R	San Beda College	90.30%
4	Chan-Gonzaga, Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Juan, Michelle Ann U.	Ateneo de Manila University Ateneo de Manila University	89.80% 89.80%
5	Uy,Dorothy A.	Ateneo de Manila University	89.50%
6	Gamez, Maria Gracia R.	University of the Philippines	89.40%
7	Gregorio, Joel Emerson J.	Ateneo de Manila University	89.10%
8	Austria Rex S.	San Beda College	89.05%
9	Ortha, II George O	San Beda College	89.00%
10	Sarmiento Joseph Lyle K	Ateneo de Manila University	88.75%

2001 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Ponferrada, Rodolfo Ma. A	University of the Philippines	93.80%
2	Protacio, Jesus Paolo U.	Ateneo de Manila University	90.05%
3	Gutierrez, Anthony Mark A.	Ateneo de Manila University	89.85%
4	Lumba, Solomon F.	University of the Philippines	88.55%
5	Monsod, Katrina Diane Noelle C.	Ateneo de Manila University	88.50%
6	Ballelos, Ma. Theresa U.	University of the Philippines	88.40%
7	Mascardo, Amabelle Grace G.	Silliman University	88.35%
8	Gabriel, Adonis V.	San Beda College	88.25%
9	Red, John Noah M.	Ateneo de Manila University	88.10%
10	Bravo, Dante R.	San Beda College	87.95%

2000 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	ZuÃ±iga, Eliseo M. Jr.	University of the Philippines	90.6%
2	Lopoz, Arvin Dexter M.	Ateneo de Davao University	90.55%
3	Pantaleon-Pallorina, Jean G.	Ateneo de Manila University	89.2%
4	Largo, Rogelio G.	Ateneo de Davao University	88.55%
5	Adaci, Joan D.	University of the Philippines	88.4%
6	Mercado, Michael Felipe A.	San Beda College	88.3%
7	Feria, Valerie C. Managuelod, Princess Lou D.	University of the Philippines University of the Philippines	88.15% 88.15%
8	Kasala,Prudence Angelita A.	University of Sto. Tomas	87.85%
9	Sese-Relucio, Andrea Antonette A.	Ateneo de Manila University	87.8%
10	Suralvo, Maria Cristina T.	University of the Philippines	87.45%

1999 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Enrile, Edwin R. Hilbay, Florin T.	Ateneo de Manila University University of the Philippines	88.50% 88.50%
2	Acusar, Dara C.	Ateneo de Manila University	87.70%
3	Ampil, Francis Joseph H.	Ateneo de Manila University	87.20%
4	Refran, Roel A.	Ateneo de Manila University	86.90%
5	Avila, Maritess B.	San Beda College	86.55%
6	Ceniza, Randy T.	Ateneo de Davao University	86.05%
7	Caparros, Karen B. Echavez-De Leon, Lourdes C.	University of the Philippines Ateneo de Manila University	85.90% 85.90%
8	Cagas, Riafe M.	University of the Philippines	85.75%
9	Tangkia, Fritzie P.	University of the Philippines	85.55%
10	Baysa-Pee, Grainoil U.	Ateneo de Manila University	85.50%

1998 BAR EXAMINATIONS TOP 10 EXAMINEES
1	Abuel, Janet B.	Baguio Colleges Foundation	91.80%
2	Patacsil, Norma Margarita B.	University of the Philippines	91.40%
3	Acosta, Maria Franchette M.	University of the Philippines	91.25%
4	Par, Benigno G. Jr.	Univesity of Santo Tomas	90.75%
5	Palacios, Andre C.	University of the Philippines	90.70%
6	Chua, Kenneth L.	AdeMU	89.70%
7	Cruz,Aaron Philip B.	AdeDU	89.65%
8	Diaz, Gregorio M.	USC	89.30%
9	Colinayo, Margie P.	AdeMU	89.15%
10	Cantada II, Ambrosio L.	AdeMU	89.10%