Five new lawyers in the Philippines who made it to the Top 20 in the 2025 Bar Examinations are from the regions.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines announced on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 that the new lawyers from the regions are Angelica de Castro Mitra of De La Salle - Lipa in Batangas who ranked 4th with a score of 91.68 percent; Jeowy Loyloy Ompad of the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City who ranked 6th with a score of 91.25 percent; Lucas Richmond Bulan of the University of La Salette, Inc. in Santiago City, Isabela who ranked 9th (90.45%), Gerilin Ano-os Gascon of Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay who ranked 14th (89.79%), and Mae Angela Damaso Locsin of the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi (Aquinas) in Albay who ranked 16th (89.42%).

The other Bar Exam topnotchers are the following:

Rank 1 - Sanchez, Jhenroniel Rhey Timola (University of the Philippines) - 92.70%;

Rank 2 - Declaro, Spinel Albert Allauigan (University of Santo Tomas-Manila) - 92.46%;

Rank 3 - Agatep, Alaiza Adviento (University of Santo Tomas-Manila) - 91.91%;

Rank 5 - Galvez, Marc Angelo Santos (University of Santo Tomas -Manila) - 91.58%;

Rank 6 - Paguia, Enrico Gabriel Reyes (Ateneo de Manila University) - 91.25%;

Rank 7 - Gata, Johan Raphael Silapan (University of Santo Tomas-Manila) - 90.90%;

Rank 8 - Sarmiento, Marie Shantelle Atienza (University of the Philippines) - 90.87%;

Rank 10 - Yap, Jusmin Teriann Afable (University of the Philippines) - 90.36%;

Rank 11 - Paran, Allan Leo Tabuco (Arellano University) - 90.20%;

Rank 12 - Navarro, Patric Kiel Quiroz (University of the East) - 89.93%;

Rank 13 - Cabungcal, Alfrancis Bagadiong (University of the Philippines) - 89.80%;

Rank 15 - Villarreal, Ignacio Lorenzo dela Cruz (University of the Philippines) - 89.70%;

Rank 17 - Pabilane, Randall Lipnica (Arellano University) - 89.41%;

Rank 18 - Abisana, Mikaella Franchesca Nuarin (Ateneo de Manila University) - 89.38%;

Rank 19 - Viernes, Chinzen Tañada (University of the Philippines) - 89.35%; and

Rank 20 - Gonzales, Ronald Vincent Ofrecio (University of the East) - 89.31%.