Half of Bar topnotchers are from Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines - The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) dominated the 2008 Bar Examination with five of its examinees making it to the coveted "Top 10." The ADMU was followed by the University of the Philippines (UP) with three graduates in the Top 10 while the San Beda College has two. Judy Lardizabal from San Sebastian College topped the exam with a score of 85.70 percent. Mylene Amerol-Macumbal from Mindanao State University is second with 85.65. Oliver Baclay Jr of the ADMU is third with 85.6. At fourth spot is Majesty Eve Jala of ADMU (85.50); Ma. Elizabeth Lizeralde of the University of the Philippines (85.40); and Michael Macapagal also of UP (84.15). Denisse Dy and April Love Regis both from ADMU are tied at seventh place (84.00), followed by Christine Joy Tan of ADMU (83.80). ADMU's domination in the 2008's Top 10 came a year after Ateneo's Mercedita Ona secured the top spot in the 2007 Bar Exams. Ona got a score of 83.55, lower than than that of Lardizabal's. This year's exam produced 1,310 lawyers or 20.58 percent of all the 6,363 bar takers. The test result was released at about 8 p.m., Friday. - GMANews.TV