3,992 of 9,183 examinees passed 2022 Bar Exams —SC

A total of 3,992 out of 9,183 examinees passed the 2022 Bar Examinations, the Supreme Court announced on Friday.

In a press conference, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the 2022 Bar exam chair, said this translates to a 43.47% passing rate.

[Click here for complete list of successful passers.]

Caguioa also announced the names of the examinees who obtained the 30 highest ratings. They are:

Caguioa said that of the top 30, 13 were from the University of the Philippines, while eight were from the Ateneo de Manila University.

According to the SC, Ateneo posted the highest passing rate (96.74%) among law schools with over a hundred candidates.

This was followed by San Beda University (96.67%), UP (94.27%), the University of San Carlos (91.43%), and the University of Santo Tomas (78.09%). 

The results were displayed on a big screen in the SC grounds after the press conference, where several examinees and their families had gathered.

Overcoming adversities 

Earvin James Atienza, a graduate of Arellano University, was overjoyed after finding out that he passed the Bar on his second try.

He advised those who did not pass to "take the time to believe." 

“Honestly, it’s hard eh. It’s hard to speak to someone who didn’t make it. Kasi I know that feeling. I didn’t make it. Iba-iba kami ng storya,” Atienza said.

“Sana sa mga hindi pinalad, of course, take time to believe. It’s important to believe. Madali kasi sabihin na, uy mag cheer up ka may next year pa naman. Pero importante na i-acknowledge yung feelings natin. And importante na sa proseso, maniwala tayo sa sarili natin,” he added.

Earvin Atienza, a second taker, advises those who did not pass to take the time to believe.

He said he was unable to concentrate after his dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2019. He lost both his parents in 2020 after his mom was diagnosed with COVID-19 @gmanews pic.twitter.com/xmFG9AIVCV

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) April 14, 2023

Atienza said he first took the exam in 2019, but he was unable to concentrate after his dad was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.

“So I wasn’t really able to concentrate on the exam itself. So nung 2019, ang nasa isip ko lang… gusto ko na umuwi, gusto ko na alagaan ‘yung daddy ko,” he said.

In 2020, he lost both of his parents, with his mother succumbing to COVID-19. 

“2020 nagka-COVID naman ‘yung mom ko. Sadly, she passed away and my dad also passed away,” he added.

Siblings Jessamine and Evan Valdez shed tears of joy, along with their mother Eden, after their names appeared on the list of passers.

Siblings Jessamine and Evan Valdez and their mother hugged it out at the SC courtyard after both passed the examinations @gmanews pic.twitter.com/rjUnNxYvAJ

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) April 14, 2023

Eden said she lost her husband while Jessamine and Evan were in their second year of law school in March 2020.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga anak ko kasi alam ko mababait sila, masunurin kaya pinagpala sila ng Panginoong Hesus,” Eden said.

“Very thankful ako na sila ang mga naging anak ko, naging kaagapay ko sila. Kasi ito ang hinihiling ko. Makabawi man lang kami sa kalungkutan sa dinanas naming hirap,” she added.

Eden Valdez could not help but cry tears of joy after the announcement. She said her husband passed away while the siblings were in their second year in law school @gmanews pic.twitter.com/7ZD9mV37Kj

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) April 14, 2023

Evan and Jessamine said they are considering entering government agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Public Attorney’s Office.

“Or wherever po na we believe na makakatulong po kami sa mga kababayan,” Evan said.

Meanwhile, Czar Matthew Dayday said he initially thought someone with the same last name had taken the top spot.

“Sinabi na ‘yung top 30 passers, tapos sinabi na ‘yung top 1 was Dayday. Una kong naisip na, oh meron palang ibang Dayday na nag take ng Bar. Tapos na realize ko na, oh my gosh, that’s my name. That’s me,” Dayday said in a Zoom interview.

Dayday said he plans to continue working as a legal assistant.

“Feel ko, I have so much more to learn, so much more to experience, so it’s really just me… growing to along my line of work and being open to different experiences so I can grow, I can develop the skills I need to be a good lawyer,” he said.

He also advised future Bar exam takers and law students to find a system that works for them.

“I also read a lot kung ano ‘yung mga ginawa nung mga previous Bar passers, Bar takers, etc. Tapos inisip ko talaga na parang, is this good for me or kahit ba nag work ito for them baka hindi siya gumana sa akin,” Dayday said.

“So it’s really a matter of knowing yourself, knowing what works for you, and what doesn’t. Kasi kung ano ‘yung ginawa ko, ano ‘yung ginawa nung other Bar passers, Bar topnotchers, may not be the same that would work for you personally,” he added.

In a statement, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. congratulated the Bar exam passers and asked them to serve the country with "integrity and compassion."

Caguioa said the oath-taking for the successful examinees will be on May 2, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center. —KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News