Atenean who topped 2007 bar just wants to pass exam

MANILA, Philippines - MANILA, Philippines - Mercedita Ona, 27, who topped the 2007 bar, said she just wanted to pass the examinations and never imagined she would finish on top. “Basta gusto ko lang pumasa. Sobrang hirap yung six months preparation. Mahirap 'yong buong bar experience," she said. She said she will now become an associate in her office after successfully passing the examinations. She earlier said that she would not go the Supreme Court to check the result. “Nakakakaba kasi e. Baka yung family ko pumunta," she said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. According to data from the high court's Office of the Bar Confidant, 5,626 out of 5,799 law graduates from 109 law schools nationwide completed the four-Saturday examination at the De La Salle University on Taft Avenue, Manila. The first bar exam was held in 1901, with 13 examinees, while the 2008 bar examination was the 107th. The 2001 bar exam had the highest number of passers - 1,266 out of 3,849 examinees, or 32.89%, while the 2006 exam had the highest examinees - 6,187.- Amita Legaspi, GAMNews.TV