ADMU law grad tops 2018 bar; 1,800 of 8,155 hurdle the bar
Published May 3, 2019 07:08 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog
Sean James B. Borja of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) topped the 2018 bar examination with a passing rate of 89.3 percent, leading 1,800 successful examinees out of 8,155 applicants, the highest number of examinees in the history of the bar exams.
BAR BOYS – Ateneo de Manila University’s Sean James Borja is congratulated Friday by fellow lawyers at their law firm on Ortigas Center, Pasig City (top
photo). The University of San Carlos in Cebu City had topnotchers (photo below, from left) 10th placer Alan Joel Pita, second placer Marcey Natuel, third placer Mark Badayos, and ninth placer Jebb Lynus Cane. (Mark Balmores and Juan Carlo de Vela) “We wish to congratulate you all for the hard work you put in,” said Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo, chairman of the 2018 bar examination, during his announcement yesterday of the bar results. “Only 1,800 successfully hurdled the test which means only 22.7 percent emerged with flying colors,” the magistrate said. Two other Ateneo law graduates landed in the Top 10 -- Daniel John A. Fordan (4th place, 85.44 percent) and Katrina Monica C. Gaw (5th place, 85.42 percent). Completing the Top 10 list are: Marcley Augustus D. Natu-el (2nd place, 87.53 percent), University of San Carlos University (Cebu); Mark Lawrence C. Badayos (3rd place, 85.84 percent) , University of San Carlos; Nadaine P. Tongco (6th place, 85.03 percent), University of the Philippines; Patricia O. Sevilla (7th place, 84.859 percent), University of the Philippines; Kathrine T. Ting (8th place, 84.857 percent), De La Salle University; Jebb Lynus Q. Cane (9th place, 84.805 percent), University of San Carlos; and Alen Joel R. Pita (10th place, 84.69 percent), University of San Carlos. Del Castillo noted that out of the eight subjects legal ethics had the most passers. “The subject that had the least number of passers was in taxation. There were only around 18.7837 percent or 1,532 examinees passed,” he added. Bar passers were overjoyed and cried upon seeing their names on the LED wall of the SC at past noon yesterday. “Ang advise ko lang po siguro talagang dedication, lang, hard work (I advise it takes dedication and hardwork),” said Borja in an interview with GMA Network. “Stick to your goals, don’t let your insecurities get the best of you.” “I’m so overwhelmed,” said Adamson University law graduate Leo Acebedo, a first-time bar taker, told Manila Bulletin. “Happiest na po siguro ito (This is the happiest day of my life),” admitted the teary-eyed bar passer who is the first lawyer in his family. Acebedo admitted the bar examinations were hard, particularly, tax law. Because of this, he advised future bar examinees to be diligent in their law studies. “Kahit gaano ka kagaling kung wala kang sipag hindi mo maaano (even if you are talented but if you are not diligent you won’t make it),” said Acebedo who plans to work in government.
BAR BOYS – Ateneo de Manila University’s Sean James Borja is congratulated Friday by fellow lawyers at their law firm on Ortigas Center, Pasig City (topphoto). The University of San Carlos in Cebu City had topnotchers (photo below, from left) 10th placer Alan Joel Pita, second placer Marcey Natuel, third placer Mark Badayos, and ninth placer Jebb Lynus Cane. (Mark Balmores and Juan Carlo de Vela) “We wish to congratulate you all for the hard work you put in,” said Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo, chairman of the 2018 bar examination, during his announcement yesterday of the bar results. “Only 1,800 successfully hurdled the test which means only 22.7 percent emerged with flying colors,” the magistrate said. Two other Ateneo law graduates landed in the Top 10 -- Daniel John A. Fordan (4th place, 85.44 percent) and Katrina Monica C. Gaw (5th place, 85.42 percent). Completing the Top 10 list are: Marcley Augustus D. Natu-el (2nd place, 87.53 percent), University of San Carlos University (Cebu); Mark Lawrence C. Badayos (3rd place, 85.84 percent) , University of San Carlos; Nadaine P. Tongco (6th place, 85.03 percent), University of the Philippines; Patricia O. Sevilla (7th place, 84.859 percent), University of the Philippines; Kathrine T. Ting (8th place, 84.857 percent), De La Salle University; Jebb Lynus Q. Cane (9th place, 84.805 percent), University of San Carlos; and Alen Joel R. Pita (10th place, 84.69 percent), University of San Carlos. Del Castillo noted that out of the eight subjects legal ethics had the most passers. “The subject that had the least number of passers was in taxation. There were only around 18.7837 percent or 1,532 examinees passed,” he added. Bar passers were overjoyed and cried upon seeing their names on the LED wall of the SC at past noon yesterday. “Ang advise ko lang po siguro talagang dedication, lang, hard work (I advise it takes dedication and hardwork),” said Borja in an interview with GMA Network. “Stick to your goals, don’t let your insecurities get the best of you.” “I’m so overwhelmed,” said Adamson University law graduate Leo Acebedo, a first-time bar taker, told Manila Bulletin. “Happiest na po siguro ito (This is the happiest day of my life),” admitted the teary-eyed bar passer who is the first lawyer in his family. Acebedo admitted the bar examinations were hard, particularly, tax law. Because of this, he advised future bar examinees to be diligent in their law studies. “Kahit gaano ka kagaling kung wala kang sipag hindi mo maaano (even if you are talented but if you are not diligent you won’t make it),” said Acebedo who plans to work in government.