59-year-old examinee passes the 2025 Bar Exams on 11th try

After 11 attempts, 59-year-old Eduardo Rivera Regio on Wednesday achieved his dream and finally passed the Bar Examinations.

“Sa mga iba diyan. Try lang. Hangga't buhay may pag asa,” he said.

(To others out there. Just try. As long as we're alive, there is hope.)

Regio first took the Bar in 1993 when he was in his 20s. Decades later, he resolved to make his final attempt and participated in the 2025 examinations.

“1993, kumuha lang ako for the sake of taking. Then until 2005 nung na five strike, ‘yun ‘yung huling kuha ko. Nag take ulit ako in 2015, but unluckily, 72.93%. Then sumunod, ganoon ulit, nag try ako 2023, but 73.940 something,” he said.

(In 1993, I only took it in for the sake of taking it. Then until 2005 when I got five strikes, that was my last take. I took it again in 2015, but unluckily, 72.93%. Then after that, the same thing again, I tried in 2023, but 73.940 something.)

“Sabi ko bigyan ko ng last try. Kasi sabi ko kahit papaano, hindi ako masyadong nakapaghanda noon. Tinuloy ko nagrequest ako sa PUP, nagreview ako doon. Then pinagkatiwala ko na sa Diyos. Kung ibibigay mo, ibibigay mo. Pag hindi wala na akong magagawa,” he added.

(I said I would give it one last try. Because I said at least back then I wasn’t able to prepare that much. I went ahead and requested PUP, I reviewed there. Then I entrusted it to God. If You will give it, You will give it. If not, there is nothing more I can do.)

Hoping for the best, Regio returned to the SC headquarters for the first time in a long while to wait for the results of the examination.

Now, he is one of the 5,594 takers who passed this year’s examinations.

LIST: 2025 Bar Exam passers

Asked what inspired him to keep trying for the Bar, Regio said he was thinking about his five children and whether they may be inspired to follow in his footsteps.

“Ang mensahe ko lang, pagpatuloy ninyo lang ‘yung pakikipaglaban sa buhay. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa. 'Wag tayo mawawalan ng ano— magtiwala lang tayo sa Diyos,” he said.

(My only message is, just continue fighting in life. As long as we're alive, there is hope. Let us not lose— just trust in God.)

Regio also stressed that public officials must have discipline.

“Kailangan talaga ultimo ang public servant magkaroon ng disiplina. Hindi ‘yung puro— kasi ang pagiging makasarili ng mga namumuno sa atin nawawala na ‘yung ano eh. I am a former public servant, matagal ako naging opisyal,” he said.

(Even public servants really need to have discipline. Not just— because the selfishness of those leading us makes that disappear. I am a former public servant, I served as an official for a long time.)

He said he served as a barangay kagawad and a barangay chairman. He is currently an employee at the Land Bank of the Philippines. —AOL, GMA Integrated News