UP grad is 2025 Bar topnotcher; UST dominates Top 10

A graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) emerged as the best of the best among the 11,420 examinees of 2025 Bar Examinations, while the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Manila took the most spots among schools in the Top 10.

Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez from the University of the Philippines (UP) earned the highest score of 92.70% in the last Bar exams, the Supreme Court (SC) announced Wednesday.

Sanchez was joined in the Top 10 by two fellow UP law grads, namely Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento at 8th place with 90.87, and Jusmin Teriann Afable Yap at 10th place with 90.36%

UST Manila, meanwhile, had more examinees in the Top 10 with four, led by Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro at 2nd place with 92.46%, and Alaiza Agatep Adviento at 3rd place with 91.91%

Also from UST Manila are Marc Angelo Galvez Santos at 5th place at 91.58%, and Johan Raphael Silapan Gata at 7th place with 90.90%

As for UP, it had the most passers in the Top 20 with six. The State U also repeats as the school with the Bar topnotcher, following up on the success of 2024's best, Kyle Christian Tutor. 

Ateneo de Manila, meanwhile, had the best passing rate (98.11%) among universities with more than 100 examinees.

Leading the Ateneans were Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia at 6th with 91.25% and Mikaella Franchesca Nuarin Abisana at 18th place with 89.38%

Here's the list of the Top 10 passers of the 2025 Bar Examinations:

1. Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez, University of the Philippines - 92.70%
2. Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro, University of Santo Tomas-Manila - 92.46%
3. Alaiza Agatep Adviento, University of Santo Tomas-Manila - 91.91%
4. Angelica de Castro Mitra, De La Salle-Lipa - 91.68%
5. Marc Angelo Galvez Santos, University of Santo Tomas-Manila - 91.58%
6. Jeowy Loyloy Ompad, University of San Jose-Recoletos - 91.25%
    Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia, Ateneo de Manila University - 91.25%
7. Johan Raphael Silapan Gata, University of Santo Tomas-Manila - 90.90%
8. Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento, University of the Philippines - 90.87
9. Richmond Bulan Lucas, University of La Salette, Inc - 90.45%
10. Jusmin Teriann Afable Yap, University of the Philippines - 90.36%

A total of 5,594 out of 11,420 examinees passed the Bar Examinations.

Meanwhile, also earning spots in the Top 20 are: 

11. Allan Leo Tabuco of Arellano University with 90.20%
12. Patric Kiel Quiroz Navarro of the University of the East (UE) with 89.93%
13. Alfrancis Bagadiong Cabungcal of UP with 89.80%
14. Gerilin Ano-Os Gascon of the Bukidnon State University with 89.71%
15. Ignacio Lorenzo Dela Cruz Villareal of UP with 89.70%
16. Mae Angela Damaso Locsin of UST-Legazpi with 89.42%
17. Randall Lipnica Pabilane of Arellano University with 89.41%
18. Mikaella Franchesca Nuarin ABisana of Ateneo with 89.38%
19. Chinzen Tañada Viernes of UP with 89.35%
20. Ronald Vincent Ofrecio Gonzales of UE with 89.31%

Answered prayers

Gata and Viernes were both present at the SC courtyard when Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier made the announcement.

They were both called to the stage.

"I'm lost for words kasi hindi ko po in-expect. Ang dasal ko lang po pumasa lang talaga. Thank you po at pinagpala po na umabot sa Top 7," Gata said in an ambush interview. 

(I'm lost for words because I really did not expect it. My only prayer was that I just pass. Thank you and I am blessed that I reached the top 7.)

The UST grad said he was inspired by his family to study law. 

"Sa mga future takers, tiwala lang. Dasal at 'wag mawalan ng confidence," Gata said.

(For future takers, just believe. Pray and don't lose confidence.)

2025 Bar Exam topnotcher Chinzen Tañada Viernes shares her view on the essence of being a lawyer: Justice is for everyone. For the poor, for the uneducated, for those unemployed, for our senior citizens, for our PWDs, for everyone @gmanews pic.twitter.com/mTT5u5ceTi

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) January 7, 2026

'Justice is for everyone'

Meanwhile, Viernes said that to be a lawyer is to bring justice to the most underprivileged and marginalized.

"It's trying to create a justice system where equality matters, where your privilege will not play a role, where nepotism will not play a role, where your last name will not play a role. Justice is for everyone. For the poor, for the uneducated, for those unemployed, for our senior citizens, for our PWDs, for everyone," she said.

The UP alumna said she had a humble life and her mother was a teenager when she was born. She said her stepfather taught her that there is more to life than wealth. 

"This is her dream as much as it is mine. She dreamt of becoming a lawyer but she never got the chance to go to law school, so I did this for her. I did this for myself, I did this for myself, I did this for my family. And I hope she's very proud of me," she said. 

She also advised future takers to keep believing in themselves.

"In law school, you will meet a lot of people who will downplay your efforts, who will look down on you. And it's very important that you don't believe them. You know, your track record in high school, in grade school, it doesn't matter," she said.

"Law school is a whole different playing field and the Bar examinations is another different playing field and you have to believe in yourself," she added.

Top performing schools

Meanwhile, according to the SC, the universities that have more than 100 examinees with the highest passing percentages are: 

• Ateneo de Manila University with 96.52%
• University of the Philippines with 94.63%
• University of Santo Tomas-Manila with 87.16%
• Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation with 64.88%
• Far Eastern University with 59.22%

For law schools with 51 to 100 examinees:

• Ateneo de Davao University with 100%
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines with 89.89%
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with 83.56%
• Saint Louis University with 83.33%
• De La Salle University-Manila with 82.89%

For law schools with 11 to 50 examinees: 

• West Visayas State University with 100%
• San Beda University with 97.78%
• University of Makati with 95.65%
• Notre Dame of Marbel University with 91.67%
• University of Southeastern Philippines with 89.29%

For law schools with 1 to 10 examinees:

• North Eastern Mindanao State University Polytechnic College of La Union with 100%
• Saint Columban College with 75%
• Fernandez College of Arts and Technology with 66.67%
• Tomas Claudio College, Abra Valley Colleges, St. Ferdinand College with 50%
• Harvardian Colleges with 30%

Meanwhile, the following are law schools with more than 100 first-time candidates that have the highest passing percentages:

• Ateneo de Manila with 98.11%
• University of the Philippines with 96.83%
• University of Santo Tomas-Manila with 96.30%
• Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation with 80.19%
• San Beda College-Alabang with 69.91%

For law schools with 51 to 100 examinees:

• Ateneo de Davao University with 100%
• De La Salle University-Manila with 94.34%
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines with 94.20%
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with 85%
• University of San Jose-Recoletos with 68.48%

For law schools with 11 to 50 examinees:

• University of Makati, Bulacan State University, San Beda University, Palawan State University School of law, West Visayas State University with 100%
• Saint Louis University with 97.14%
• Father Saturnino Urios University with 93.33%
• Western Leyte College of Ormoc City with 92.86%
• Jose Maria College with 92.59%

For law schools with 1 to 10 examinees:

• Notre Dame of Marbel University St. Thomas More School of Law and Business, North Eastern Mindanao State University, and Ateneo de Naga University with 100%
• Leyte Colleges with 77.78%
• Saint Columban College with 75%
• The College of Maasin with 71.43%
• Tomas Claudio College with 60%

— VDV, GMA Integrated News