Metro Manila, Philippines – Nearly half of the 2025 Bar examinees passed, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
Associate Justice Amy Lazaro Javier, Bar chairperson, said 5,594 of the 11,420 aspiring lawyers obtained the 75 percent and above passing score.
The passing grade was retained. It was lowered by a point in 2024. The passing rate was higher than the 37.84 percent in the prior year.
Jhenronriel Rhey Timola from the University of the Philippines was the topnotcher with a score of 92.7 percent.
Spinel Albert Declaro from the University of Santo Tomas and Alaiza Agatep Adviento – both from the University of Santo Tomas – followed with 92.46 percent and 91.91 percent, respectively.
Angelica de Castro Mitra from De La Salle Lipa ranked fourth with 91.68%, while Marc Angelo Santo Galvez from UST was fifth with 91.58 percent.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said the Ateneo de Manila University was the top law school for institutions with over 100 examinees, garnering a 96.52 percent passing rate. The UP and UST were next.
Ateneo de Davao University topped the schools with 51 to 100 examinees, West Visayas State University for schools with 11 to 50 examinees, and North Eastern Mindanao State University for those with 10 or fewer takers.
In her speech, Javier reminded passers about the significance of their career.
“The court welcomes you into the legal profession with high hopes that you will bear the privilege of this calling with humility, the weight of its responsibility with resolve, and the trust of the public with unwavering integrity,” she said.
The full list of passers can be accessed here.
The court set the oath taking and roll signing for Feb. 26 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
The exams were held on Sept. 7, 10, and 14.
