Metro Manila, Philippines – The 2025 Bar exam fulfilled dreams of a second chance, including that of an 11-time taker who persevered for three decades.
Eduardo Rivera Regio, 59, finally passed the Bar on Wednesday, Jan. 7, since his first try in 1993.
In an interview at the Supreme Court grounds in Manila, Regio said he watched the results in person for the first time, finding a window of opportunity after the court lifted the five-strike rule in 2013 to give more chances to repeaters. The policy was implemented in 2005.
“Nag-take ulit ako in 2015 but unluckily 72.93, sumunod ganun uli…so sabi ko bigyan ko ng last try,” he said, adding that he enrolled in a refresher course at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila.
[Translation: I took it again in 2015, unfortunately I got 72.93. The next time was the same again…so I said I’d give it one last try.]
A public servant at heart, Regio rose from the ranks as a village official to chief of staff at the Land Bank of the Philippines.
He said he still wants to practice his profession while knocking on the ranks of senior citizens.
“Sana naman, maging maayos na at magkaroon ng konsensya ang gumagawa ng ‘di maganda kasi ang nasa-sakriprisyo, taumbayan. Kaya katulad ko, kaya ako nagagalit minsan, ang laki ng tax na binawas sa’kin, mapupunta lang sa wala,” Regio said, when asked about his wish for the country.
[Translation: Hopefully, things will finally be fixed and those who do wrong will be conscience-stricken, because the people are bearing the sacrifice. That’s why, like me, I sometimes get angry – the taxes taken from me are huge, and they just end up going to nothing.]
Regio said his faith kept him on track, while advising aspiring lawyers to hope.
“Try lang. Hangga’t buhay may pagasa,” he said.
[Translation: Just try. While there’s life, there’s hope.]
Second, third time’s a charm
It also took years before Xyza Ortiz fulfilled her dreams.
A graduate of the Arellano University School of Law, she passed the bar after she failed in 2019.
“Nagpahinga ako for five years. Feeling ko first year ako ulit. Pero thank you talaga, pumasa ako sa exam,” she said.
[Translation: I took a break for five years. I felt like I was a freshman again. But thank you, I passed the exam.]
Ortiz said God’s calling and a sense of duty prompted her to try again.
Meanwhile, third-time taker Ezra Solano said her achievement goes beyond personal aspirations.
“Magsasaka po ang lolo ko, namatay po siya last year. Inalay ko po ang exam sa kanya, para sa mga magsasaka, para sa inyo po ito,” Solano said, as she broke down in tears.
[Translation: My grandfather was a farmer; he passed away last year. I dedicated the exam to him – for the farmers. This is for you.]
The Supreme Court set the oath taking for the 5,594 passers in February at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
