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6,080 take bar exams
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:42:00 09/06/2009
Filed Under: Board Exams, Education, Laws
MANILA, Philippines�A total of 6,080 law graduates trooped to De La Salle University (DLSU) today in Manila to take the 2009 bar examinations.
This year�s bar which is set for four Sundays of the month (September 6, 13, 20, and 27) marks the first time that two examiners have been designated in each of the eight bar examination subjects. Thus, every bar subject would be divided into two parts, with each designated examiner assigned a specific scope. This year's Bar Examination Committee is chaired by Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura.
The two-examiner policy was adopted by the high court after the Committee on Legal Education and Bar Matters approved the proposal of Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant lawyer Ma. Cristina B. Layusa to designate two examiners per bar subject, pursuant to Paragraph 4, Part B of Bar Matter No. 1161.
Records from the Office of the Bar Confidant showed that there was a total of 6,121 petitions to take the bar exams but some petitions have been denied and withdrawn.
Layusa said the Supreme Court has tasked more than 1,372 personnel, including building coordinators, superintendents, supervisors, head watchers, watchers, bar assistants, and special assistants�also a record number�to help ensure the successful conduct of the exams.
Operatives of the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Western Police District Office from its traffic, area security, bomb disposal, and mobile units, as well as medical and dental personnel, have been and will be deployed in the area during all four Sundays.
A total of 147 rooms distributed in seven buildings inside DLSU�St. La Salle Hall, Yuchengco Hall, St. Joseph Hall, St. Miguel Hall, Gokongwei Hall, Velasco Hall, and Multi-Purpose Hall�will be used in the four-Sunday exams.
Last April 3, a total of 1,310 out of the 6,364 examinees, representing 20.58 percent of the total number of examinees from 108 law schools nationwide, passed the 2008 bar examinations held on September 7, 14, 21, and 28 last year also at the DLSU.
The Court conducts the bar examinations pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that it shall have the power to promulgate rules governing the admission to the practice of law.
The Rules of Court provide that �a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject.�
In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights: Political and International Law, 15 percent; Labor and Social Legislation, 10 percent; Civil Law, 15 percent; Taxation, 10 percent; Mercantile Law, 15 percent; Criminal Law, 10 percent; Remedial Law, 20 percent; and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, 5 percent, for a total of 100 percent.
Bar results are intimately linked with Philippine politics since the time of the first bar examinations in 1901 under American rule when 13 examinees took the test.
The high court's earliest records for pre-war bar results and lists of bar top notcher placed Manuel Roxas as having made history in 1913 scoring an average of 92 percent in the exams. A year later, this was beaten by Manuel Goyena, who scored 93 percent.
In 1930, Tecla San Andres-Ziga who later become senator became the first woman to top the bar scoring 89.4 percent, a feat which remain unrepeated until 1937 when Cecilia Munoz-Palma, who later on became a Supreme Court magistrate, placed first scoring 92.6 percent.
A year before that (1936), it was Diosdado Macapagal, who later on became President, who placed first with a mark of 89.85 percent.
In 1939, it was Ferdinand Marcos who topped the bar scoring 92.35 percent. Marcos reviewed for the exams while facing indictments for the murder of a political enemy of his father. He would later run on an anti-corruption platform and defeat Macapagal.
Among those who has placed first were former Senate President Jovito R. Salonga (1944, 95.3 percent average), who tied with former Senator Jose W. Diokno for the distinction.
The all-time high grade however was obtained by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado averaging 96.7 percent in the 1954 bar exam.
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:42:00 09/06/2009
Filed Under: Board Exams, Education, Laws
MANILA, Philippines�A total of 6,080 law graduates trooped to De La Salle University (DLSU) today in Manila to take the 2009 bar examinations.
This year�s bar which is set for four Sundays of the month (September 6, 13, 20, and 27) marks the first time that two examiners have been designated in each of the eight bar examination subjects. Thus, every bar subject would be divided into two parts, with each designated examiner assigned a specific scope. This year's Bar Examination Committee is chaired by Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura.
The two-examiner policy was adopted by the high court after the Committee on Legal Education and Bar Matters approved the proposal of Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant lawyer Ma. Cristina B. Layusa to designate two examiners per bar subject, pursuant to Paragraph 4, Part B of Bar Matter No. 1161.
Records from the Office of the Bar Confidant showed that there was a total of 6,121 petitions to take the bar exams but some petitions have been denied and withdrawn.
Layusa said the Supreme Court has tasked more than 1,372 personnel, including building coordinators, superintendents, supervisors, head watchers, watchers, bar assistants, and special assistants�also a record number�to help ensure the successful conduct of the exams.
Operatives of the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Western Police District Office from its traffic, area security, bomb disposal, and mobile units, as well as medical and dental personnel, have been and will be deployed in the area during all four Sundays.
A total of 147 rooms distributed in seven buildings inside DLSU�St. La Salle Hall, Yuchengco Hall, St. Joseph Hall, St. Miguel Hall, Gokongwei Hall, Velasco Hall, and Multi-Purpose Hall�will be used in the four-Sunday exams.
Last April 3, a total of 1,310 out of the 6,364 examinees, representing 20.58 percent of the total number of examinees from 108 law schools nationwide, passed the 2008 bar examinations held on September 7, 14, 21, and 28 last year also at the DLSU.
The Court conducts the bar examinations pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that it shall have the power to promulgate rules governing the admission to the practice of law.
The Rules of Court provide that �a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination successfully if he has obtained a general average of 75 percent in all subjects without falling below 50 percent in any subject.�
In determining the average, subjects in the examinations are given the following relative weights: Political and International Law, 15 percent; Labor and Social Legislation, 10 percent; Civil Law, 15 percent; Taxation, 10 percent; Mercantile Law, 15 percent; Criminal Law, 10 percent; Remedial Law, 20 percent; and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises, 5 percent, for a total of 100 percent.
Bar results are intimately linked with Philippine politics since the time of the first bar examinations in 1901 under American rule when 13 examinees took the test.
The high court's earliest records for pre-war bar results and lists of bar top notcher placed Manuel Roxas as having made history in 1913 scoring an average of 92 percent in the exams. A year later, this was beaten by Manuel Goyena, who scored 93 percent.
In 1930, Tecla San Andres-Ziga who later become senator became the first woman to top the bar scoring 89.4 percent, a feat which remain unrepeated until 1937 when Cecilia Munoz-Palma, who later on became a Supreme Court magistrate, placed first scoring 92.6 percent.
A year before that (1936), it was Diosdado Macapagal, who later on became President, who placed first with a mark of 89.85 percent.
In 1939, it was Ferdinand Marcos who topped the bar scoring 92.35 percent. Marcos reviewed for the exams while facing indictments for the murder of a political enemy of his father. He would later run on an anti-corruption platform and defeat Macapagal.
Among those who has placed first were former Senate President Jovito R. Salonga (1944, 95.3 percent average), who tied with former Senator Jose W. Diokno for the distinction.
The all-time high grade however was obtained by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado averaging 96.7 percent in the 1954 bar exam.
