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Bar topnotchers in the Philippines

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Bar topnotchers in the Philippines are bar examinees who garnered the highest bar exam grades in a particular year. Every year, the Supreme Court releases the bar top ten list. The list contains the names of bar examinees who obtained the ten highest grades. It is possible for more than ten examinees to place in the top ten because numerical ties in the computation of grades usually occur.[1]

Overview

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From 1913 to 2019, schools which have produced bar topnotchers (1st placers) are as follows:[1]

Number of Bar Topnotchers
Law School No. of Bar Topnotchers
University of the Philippines College of Law
 
 49
Ateneo de Manila Law School
 
 23
San Beda College of Law
 
 8
University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
 
 5
Philippine Law School
 
 5
Far Eastern University Institute of Law
 
 4
University of Manila College of Law
 
 4
San Beda College Alabang School of Law
 
 3
University of the Cordilleras College of Law
 
 2
Other Law Schools
 
 1

Two bar examinees topped the bar exams without officially graduating from any Philippine law school:[1]

  • Jose W. Diokno – former Senator of the Philippines; 1st placer, 1945 bar exams. Diokno Sr., who tied for Number One with former Senate President Jovito Salonga in the 1945 Bar Exams, would have graduated from the University of Santo Tomas had not World War II supervened. Mr. Diokno's success in the bar exams is further underscored by the fact that he was also under-age[2] and that he also placed number 1 in the 1940 CPA Board exams which he took while in law school, summa cum laude[3] after graduating from then De La Salle College[4] at the age of 17. This double number 1 feat may never be paralleled. The closest may have been Cesar L. Villanueva (from the Ateneo Law School) who placed second in the 1981 Bar Exams and sixth place in the 1982 CPA Board Exams and Reginald Laco (from the De La Salle Lipa Law School) who placed fourth in the 2015 Bar Exams and second in the 2009 CPA Board Exams.[5]
  • Carolina C. Griño-Aquino – former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; 1st placer, 1950 bar exams. Ms. Aquino (who later became the wife of Mr. Ramon Aquino, 6th placer in 1939 Bar Exams) was a special student of the UP College of Law, where she finished her last two years of law school having taken her first two years of law school at the Colegio de San Agustin in Iloilo. Ms. Aquino was advised to take her last two years of law school in UP by Colegio de San Agustin Law Dean Felipe Ysmael. Coincidentally, Mr. Ysmael (a UP Law graduate himself) placed number 1 in the 1917 Bar Exams. Since Ms. Aquino only took her last two years of law at UP, she can't be certified as an official UP law graduate.[2] Both spouses Aquino (in addition to being topnotchers) also served as Justices of the Supreme Court.[6]

In the past, non-law school graduates were allowed to take the bar. However, the Revised Rules of Court and Supreme Court Circulars allow Filipino graduates of Philippine law schools (and subject to certain conditions, Filipino graduates of foreign law schools) to take the bar, necessarily excluding non-law graduates and foreigners who have law degrees from taking part in the exercise.[7]

While not a guarantee for topping the bar, academic excellence in law school is a good indicator of an examinee's fortune in the bar exams. Ateneo Law School's only summa cum laude graduate, Claudio Teehankee, placed number one in the 1940 Bar Exams.[1] It is worth noting that Teehankee's son, Manuel Antonio, followed in his footsteps by graduating at the top of his Ateneo Law School class (albeit, not as summa cum laude) and placing first in the 1983 bar exams. Claudio's nephew, Enrique (a cum laude graduate from the UP College of Law), also placed number one in the 1976 bar exams. Claudio eventually became Supreme Court Chief Justice, Manuel was formerly Department of Justice Undersecretary and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland while Enrique is a successful private practitioner.

This father-son-nephew feat has yet to (and, perhaps, may never) be equalled in the annals of Philippine Bar. For siblings, the closest is when Manuel B. Zamora, Jr. placed third in the 1961 Bar Exams and younger brother Ronaldo placed first in the 1969 Bar Exams.

The UST Faculty of Civil Law's sole summa cum laude graduate, Roberto B. Concepcion, placed first in the 1924 Bar Exams.[1] He later served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The San Beda College[8] of Law's sole magna cum laude graduate, Florenz Regalado,[9][10] ranked 1st in the 1954 Bar exams with a mark of 96.70%. The record is the highest average in the Philippine Bar Examinations, to date. Regalado later served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The UP College of Law (which has yet to produce a summa cum laude graduate) had five of its seventeen magna cum laude graduates (the College of Law first conferred the honor to Rafael Dinglasan in 1925 and, to date, last conferred the same honor to Dionne Marie Sanchez in 2007) place number one in their respective bar exams: Rafael Dinglasan in 1925, Lorenzo Sumulong in 1929, Deogracias Eufemio in 1962, Roberto San Jose in 1966 and Ronaldo Zamora in 1969.[1] Dinglasan became a Judge of the Court of First Instance of Manila, Sumulong became Senator of the Republic and a renowned statesman, Eufemio and San Jose established their respective successful private law practices while Zamora became Executive Secretary to then President Joseph Estrada and became Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

Bar Topnotchers List

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The Office of the Bar Confidant releases an official Bar Topnotchers list together with the list of names of all successful bar examinees. The Bar Topnotchers list contains the names of the candidates who garnered the highest general averages in the bar exam for that year. The highest ranking candidate in the list is known as the bar topnotcher. The list has always been the subject of much media attention and public speculation.[11]

Making a place in the list is widely regarded as an important life achievement, an attractive professional qualification, and a necessary improvement in a lawyer's professional and social status.[11]

Below is a listing of all 106 first-placers (from 1913 to 2019) and can be rearranged from highest to lowest in terms of rating obtained. Bar ratings are not exactly comparable from year-to-year as the difficulty of the exams varies through the years. Two bar examinations took place in 1946, first in August to cover the absence of the examination the previous year and in November for the present year. There was a tie in first place in two occasions – in 1944 and in 1999.

Year Name Average School Hometown Passing Percentage[12]
1901
1902
1903 Jose L. Quintos 96.33 Escuela de Derecho/Manila Law College Baliwag, Bulacan 30.76% (4 out of 13)[13]
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911 Jose Hontiveros 98 University of Santo Tomas Tangalan, Capiz
1912
1913 Manuel A. Roxas 92 University of the Philippines Roxas City, Capiz
1914 Manuel C. Goyena 93 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila
1915 Francisco Villanueva, Jr. 90 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila
1916 Paulino Gullas 93 University of the Philippines Cebu City, Cebu
1917 Felipe Ysmael 92 University of the Philippines Iloilo City, Iloilo
1918 Alejo Labrador 87 University of the Philippines San Narciso, Zambales
1919 Gregorio Anonas 87 Philippine Law School Iba, Zambales
1920 Adolfo Brillantes 84.1 Escuela de Derecho/ Manila Law College Bangued, Abra
1921 Pablo C. Payawal 89.1 University of the Philippines San Miguel, Bulacan
1922 Amando L. Velilla 89.1 University of the Philippines Balasan, Iloilo
1923 Roque V. Desquitado 90.9 University of the Philippines Bantayan, Cebu
1924 Roberto R. Concepcion 89.1 University of Santo Tomas Manila, Metro Manila
1925 Rafael Dinglasan 91.1 University of the Philippines Roxas City, Capiz
1926 Eugeniano Perez 88.1 Philippine Law School Mandaue, Cebu
1927 Cesar Kintanar 87.7 University of the Philippines Argao, Cebu
1928 Filomeno B. Pascual 90.3 Philippine Law School Sagay, Negros Occidental
1929 Lorenzo S. Sumulong 92.5 University of the Philippines Antipolo, Rizal
1930 Tecla San Andres 89.4 University of the Philippines Naga, Camarines Sur
1931 Jose N. Leuterio 89.4 University of the Philippines Boac, Marinduque
1932 Hermenegildo Atienza 93 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila
1933 Lope C. Quimbo 92.45 University of Manila Calbiga, Samar
1934 Marciano P. Catral 89.7 Philippine Law School Luna, Isabela
1935 Enrique Estrellado 91.7 University of the Philippines San Pablo, Laguna
1936 Diosdado P. Macapagal 89.85 University of Santo Tomas Lubao, Pampanga
1937 Cecilia Muñoz-Palma 92.6 University of the Philippines Bauan, Batangas
1938 Emmanuel Pelaez 91.3 University of Manila Medina, Misamis Oriental
1939 Ferdinand Marcos 92.35 University of the Philippines Batac, Ilocos Norte
1940 Claudio Teehankee 94.35 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila
1941 Emmet P.D. Shea 90.2 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila
1942-1943 Cancelled due to World War II
1944 Jovito R. Salonga 95.3 University of the Philippines Pasig, Metro Manila
Jose W. Diokno Special Dispensation (non-degree holder) (University of Santo Tomas undergraduate) Manila, Metro Manila
1945 Cancelled due to Post-war Rehabilitation
1946 Gregoria T. Cruz – (August 1946) 92.25 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 46.63% (97 out of 208)
Pedro L. Yap – (November 1946) 91.7 University of the Philippines San Isidro, Leyte 56.69% (271 out of 478)
1947 Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera 93.85 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 59.87% (428 out of 755)
1948 Manuel G. Montecillo 95.5 Far Eastern University Liliw, Laguna 62.26% (561 out of 901)
1949 Anacleto C. Mañgaser 95.85 Philippine Law School Caba, La Union 56.14% (686 out of 1,222)
1950 Carolina C. Griño 92.05 Special (Colegio de San Agustin and University of the Philippines) Leganes, Iloilo 31.92% (423 out of 1,325)
1951 Vicente R. Acsay 92.25 University of Manila Bugasong, Antique 57.19% (1.189 out of 2,079)
1952 Pedro Samson C. Animas 94.25 University of the Philippines Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental 62.02% (1,705 out of 2,749)
1953 Leonardo A. Amores 94.05 University of Manila Roxas City, Capiz 72.42% (1,851 out of 2,556)
1954 Florenz D. Regalado 96.7 San Beda College Concepcion, Iloilo 75.17% (2,409 out of 3,206)
1955 Tomas P. Matic, Jr. 90.55 Far Eastern University Concepcion, Tarlac 27.29% (815 out of 2,987)
1956 Francisco C. Catral 90.2 San Beda College Lal-lo, Cagayan 62.60% (2,283 out of 3,647)
1957 Gregorio R. Castillo 89.15 University of the Philippines Buhi, Camarines Sur 19.77% (615 out of 3,110)
1958 Manuel G. Abello 89.25 University of the Philippines Isabela, Negros Occidental 21.97% (868 out of 3,951)
1959 Agustin O. Benitez 89.2 Far Eastern University Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte 21.21% (796 out of 3,754)
1960 Ismael Andres 91.7 Manuel L. Quezon University Looc, Romblon 39.9% (1,667 out of 4,178)
1961 Avelino V. Cruz 90.95 San Beda College Pasig, Metro Manila 19.34 (845 out of 4,370)
1962 Deogracias G. Eufemio 90.8 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 19.4% (899 out of 4,635)
1963 Cornelio C. Gison 86.35 Ateneo de Manila University Arevalo, Iloilo City 22.26% (1,213 out of 5,453)
1964 Jesus P. Castelo 88.4 San Beda College San Isidro, Nueva Ecija 25.09% (902 out of 3,596)
1965 Victor S. de la Serna 89.8 San Beda College Tagbilaran, Bohol 32.66% (642 out of 1,965)
1966 Roberto V. San Jose 90.6 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 36.71% (715 out of 1,947)
1967 Rodolfo D. Robles 89.6 San Beda College Tiaong, Quezon 22.8% (411 out of 1,803)
1968 Oscar B. Glovasa 87.45 Divine Word College of Tagbilaran Cogon, Tagbilaran, Bohol 21.11% (347 out of 1,643)
1969 Ronaldo B. Zamora 87.3 University of the Philippines Calumpit, Bulacan 28.6 (495 out of 1,731)
1970 Romulo D. San Juan 87.5 Far Eastern University San Jacinto, Masbate 27.9% (491 out of 1,761)
1971 Henry R. Villarica 92.4 University of the Philippines Meycauayan, Bulacan 33.84% (621 out of 1,835)
1972 Januario B. Soller, Jr. 87.13 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila 26.68% (509 out of 1,907)
1973 Vicente R. Solis 90.3 Ateneo de Manila University Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur 37.4% (610 out of 1,631)
1974 Arturo D. Brion 91.65 Ateneo de Manila University San Pablo, Laguna 35.02% (685 out of 1,956)
1975 Nicanor B. Padilla, Jr. 86.7 University of the East Cebu City, Cebu 35.18% (686 out of 1,950)
1976 Enrique Y. Teehankee 90.8 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 49.77% (926 out of 1,979)
1977 Virgilio B. Gesmundo 91.8 Ateneo de Manila University San Pablo, Laguna 60.56% (1,038 out of 1,714)
1978 Cosme D. Rosell 92.475 University of the Philippines Daanbantayan, Cebu 56.93% (1,076 out of 1,890)
1979 Gregorio M. Batiller, Jr. 91.4 Ateneo de Manila University Davao City, Davao del Sur 49.51% (903 out of 1,824)
1980 Rafael R. Lagos 89.75 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 33.61% (605 out of 1,800)
1981 Irene Ragodon-Guevarra 90.95 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila 43.71% (787 out of 1,800)
1982 Ray C. Espinosa 90.95 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila 20.5% (432 out of 2,112)
1983 Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee 91.4 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila 21.3% (523 out of 2,455)
1984 Richard M. Chiu 92.85 Ateneo de Manila University Dumaguete, Negros Oriental 25.55% (638 out of 2,497)
1985 Janette Susan L. Peña 89.4 University of the Philippines San Juan, Metro Manila 25.78% (701 out of 2,719)
1986 Laurence L. Go 88.6 Ateneo de Manila University Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur 18.88% (493 out of 2,609)
1987 Mario P. Victoriano 88.55 Ateneo de Manila University Dumaguete, Negros Oriental 17.90 (480 out of 2,682)
1988 Maria Yvette O. Navarro 88.12 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 24.40% (689 out of 2,824)
1989 Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. 86.185 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 21.26% (639 out of 3,006)
1990 Aquilino L. Pimentel III 89.85 University of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro 27.94% (866 out of 3,100)
1991 Joseph P. San Pedro 89.95 Ateneo de Manila University Malolos, Bulacan 17.81% (569 out of 3,194)
1992 Jayme A. Sy, Jr. 87 Ateneo de Manila University Sagay, Negros Occidental 17.25% (499 out of 2,892)
1993 Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castañeda 88.325 Ateneo de Manila University Manila, Metro Manila 21.65% (725 out of 3,348)
1994 Francisco Noel R. Fernandez 89.2 University of the Philippines Butuan, Agusan del Norte 30.87% (1,030 out of 3,337)
1995 Leonor Y. Dicdican 91.2 University of the Philippines Davao City, Davao del Sur 30.90% (987 out of 3,194)
1996 Patricia-Ann T. Prodigalidad 90.6 University of the Philippines Brooklyn, New York, US 31.21% (1,217 out of 3,900)
1997 Ma. Cecilia H. Fernandez 90.025 University of the Philippines Makati, Metro Manila 18.11% (710 out of 3,921)
1998 Janet B. Abuel 91.8 Baguio Colleges Foundation Dagupan, Pangasinan 39.63% (1,465 out of 3,697)
1999 Edwin R. Enrile 88.5 Ateneo de Manila University Naga, Camarines Sur 16.59% (660 out of 3,978)
Florin T. Hilbay University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila
2000 Eliseo M. Zuñiga, Jr. 90.6 University of the Philippines Mandaluyong, Metro Manila 20.84% (979 out of 4,698)
2001 Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada 93.8 University of the Philippines Quezon City, Metro Manila 32.895 (1,266 out of 3,849)
2002 Arlene M. Maneja 92.9 University of Santo Tomas Quezon City, Metro Manila 19.86% (917 out of 4,659)
2003 Aeneas Eli S. Diaz 88.53 Ateneo de Manila University Sorsogon City, Sorsogon 20.71% (1,108 out of 5,349)
2004 January A. Sanchez 87.45 University of the Philippines Santa Maria, Bulacan 31.61% (1,659 out of 5,249)
2005 Joan A. De Venecia 87.2 University of the Philippines Dagupan, Pangasinan 27.22% (1,526 out of 5,607)
2006 Noel Neil Q. Malimban 87.6 University of the Cordilleras Baguio, Benguet 30.6% (1,893 out of 6,187)
2007 Mercedita L. Ona 83.55 Ateneo de Manila University San Jose, Batangas 22. 91% (1,289 out of 5,626)
2008 Judy A. Lardizabal 85.7 San Sebastian College Imus, Cavite 20.58 (1,310 out of 6.364)
2009 Reinier Paul R. Yebra 84.8 San Beda College Daet, Camarines Norte 24.58% (1,451 out of 5,093)
2010 Cesareo Antonio S. Singzon Jr. 89 Ateneo de Manila University Catbalogan, Samar 20.26% (982 out of 4,847)
2011 Raoul Angelo D. Atadero 85.536 Ateneo de Manila University Quezon City, Metro Manila 31.95& (1,913 out of 5,987)
2012 Ignatius Michael D. Ingles 85.64 Ateneo de Manila University Quezon City, Metro Manila 17.76% (949 out of 5,343 )
2013 Nielson G. Pangan 85.8 University of the Philippines Manila, Metro Manila 22.18% (1,174 out of 5,293)
2014 Irene Mae B. Alcobilla 85.5 San Beda College San Remigio, Antique 18.82% (1,126 out of 5,984)
2015 Rachel Angeli B. Miranda 87.4 University of the Philippines Quezon City, Metro Manila 26.21% (1,731 out of 7,146)
2016 Karen Mae L. Calam 89.05 University of San Carlos Kalilangan, Bukidnon 59.06% (3,747 out of 6,344)
2017 Mark John M. Simondo 91.05 University of St. La Salle Bacolod, Negros Occidental 25.55% (1,724 out of 6,748)
2018 Sean James Borja 89.306 Ateneo de Manila University Muntinlupa, Metro Manila 22.07% (1,800 out of 8,155)
2019 Mae Diane Azores 91.049 University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi Legazpi City, Albay 27.36% (2,103 out of 7,699)
2020 Postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic [14]
20211 None 2 72.28% (8,241 out of 11,402)
2022 Czar Matthew Dayday 88.803 University of the Philippines Quezon City, Metro Manila 43.47% (3,992 out of 9,183)
2023 Ephraim P. Bie 89.2625 University of Santo Tomas Metro Manila 36.77% (3,812 out of 10, 387)
^1 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court En banc instituted bar reforms pro hac vice in conducting the 2020-2021 bar examinations, including: 
  • Digitization and regionalization of the bar examinations.[15]
  • Postponement of the bar examination to February 4, 2022, and February 6, 2022.[16]
  • Reduction of Bar Coverage to 4 subjects - Laws pertaining to the State and Its relationship with its Citizens (formerly Political Law, Labor Law, and Taxation Law); Criminal Law; Law pertaining to Private Personal and Commercial Relations (formerly Civil Law and Commercial law); and Procedure and Professional Ethics (formerly Remedial Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises).[17]
  • Requirement of negative results for Antigen test and confirmatory RT-PCR test. 
^2 Declaration of bar topnotchers is suspended. Examinees who obtain 85% or higher shall be recognized for exemplary performance.[18]

Highest and lowest topnotcher grades

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Jose Hontiveros obtained an average of 98% in 1911.[19] A standard was created in 1940, when Claudio Teehankee (future Supreme Court Chief Justice), from the Ateneo Law School, got a grade of 94.35% when he topped the examinations. This record was obliterated four years later in 1944 when Jovito Salonga and Jose W. Diokno tied with the highest score of 95.3%. This was the first time that first place ended in a tie. When they took the 1944 Bar Exams, Atty. Salonga was an undergraduate at the UP College of Law while Atty. Diokno (future Senator) was an undergraduate of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. After passing the bar, Atty. Salonga (future Senate President) went back to UP to complete his bachelor's degree in law, earning it in 1946. The only other instance of a tie at the first place in the bar exams was when Edwin Enrile (salutatorian of his Ateneo Law School class) and Florin Hilbay (an honor student of the UP College of Law) both garnered the same score in 1999. Atty. Enrile served as Deputy Executive Secretary to President Gloria Arroyo and as a Professorial Lecturer at the Ateneo Law School.[2] Atty. Hilbay served as the Solicitor General from 2014 to 2016 and is the current dean of the Siliman University College of Law.[20] After another four years, the "bar" was raised a few notches when Manuel G. Montecillo of the Far Eastern University Institute of Law got a grade of 95.50% when he bested all the bar examinees of 1948. The following year, another record was set when Anacleto C. Mañgaser, an alumnus of the Philippine Law School, got a grade of 95.85% when he topped the 1949 bar exams.

The lowest grade was obtained by Ateneo Law School's Mercedita L. Ona, 83.55%, 2007, which erased the prior record of 84.10%, obtained by Adolfo Brillantes of Escuela de Derecho de Manila (now Manila Law College Foundation) in 1920.[1][21] Atty. Ona was just the latest of women's first placers. In 1930, Tecla San Andres (an alumna of the UP College of Law and future Senator) broke the proverbial "glass ceiling" when she became the first woman to top the bar with a grade of 89.4%. Ameurfina A. Melencio (also an alumna of the UP College of Law and who later became a Justice of the Supreme Court) has the highest grade of all-female bar topnotchers in recorded history when she obtained a 93.85% rating in 1947.

Notable bar topnotchers

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Prominent lawyers who made the bar top ten include:[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

Presidents and Vice-Presidents

[edit]

Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices

[edit]
  • Jose Hontiveros - Associate Justice of the First Supreme Court; Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals; 1st placer, 1911 Bar Exams (University of Santo Tomas)
  • José Yulo – 6th Philippine Chief Justice; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • Ricardo Paras – 8th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1913 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • César Bengzon – 9th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1919 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • Roberto Concepcion – 10th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1924 Bar Exams (UST Faculty of Civil Law)
  • Querube Makalintal – 11th Philippine Chief Justice; 7th placer, 1933 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • Ramon Aquino – 15th Philippine Chief Justice; 9th placer, 1939 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • Claudio Teehankee – 16th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1940 Bar Exams (Ateneo Law School)
  • Pedro Yap – 17th Philippine Chief Justice; 1st placer, 1946 Bar Exams (UP College of Law)
  • Andres Narvasa – 19th Philippine Chief Justice; 2nd placer, 1951 Bar Exams (UST Faculty of Civil Law)
  • Artemio Panganiban – 21st Philippine Chief Justice; 6th placer, 1960 Bar Exams (FEU Institute of Law)
  • José P. Laurel – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 2nd placer, 1915 Bar Exams
  • J. B. L. Reyes – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1922 Bar Exams
  • Ambrosio Padilla – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 3rd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
  • Cecilia Muñoz-Palma – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1937 Bar Exams
  • Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1947 Bar Exams
  • Irene Cortes – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 9th placer, 1948 Bar Exams
  • Carolina C. Griño-Aquino – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1950 Bar Exams
  • Isagani R. Cruz – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 8th placer, 1951 Bar Exams
  • Florenz Regalado – former Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 1st placer, 1954 Bar Exams
  • Adolfo Azcuna – Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 4th placer, 1962 Bar Exams
  • Antonio Eduardo Nachura – Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
  • Presbitero Velasco, Jr. – Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1971 Bar Exams
  • Antonio Carpio – Philippine Supreme Court Justice; 6th placer, 1975 Bar Exams
  • Arturo D. Brion – Philippine Supreme Court Justice; former Philippine Court of Appeals Justice; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
  • Lucas Bersamin – 25th Philippine Chief Justice; 9th placer, 1973 Bar Exams
  • Francis Jardeleza- 173rd Supreme Court Associate Justice and former Solicitor General; 3rd placer, 1974 Bar Exams

Senators and Representatives

[edit]
  • Jose Hontiveros - former Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1911 Bar Exams
  • Manuel A. Roxas – former Philippine Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives; 1st placer, 1913 Bar Exams
  • Manuel L. Quezon – former Philippine Senate President; 4th placer, 1903 Bar Exams
  • Cipriano P. Primicias - former Philippine Senate Majority Floor Leader; 6th placer, 1923 Bar Exams
  • Arturo M. Tolentino – former Philippine Senate President; 2nd placer, 1934 Bar Exams
  • Jovito Salonga – former Philippine Senate President; 1st placer, 1944 Bar Exams
  • Neptali Gonzales – former Philippine Senate President; 9th placer, 1949 Bar Exams
  • Ernesto M. Maceda – former Philippine Senate President; 10th placer, 1956 Bar Exams
  • Franklin M. Drilon – former Philippine Senate President; 3rd placer, 1969 Bar Exams
  • Lorenzo Sumulong – former Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1929 Bar Exams
  • Jose W. Diokno – former Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1944 Bar Exams
  • Rene Saguisag – former Philippine Senator; 6th placer, 1963 Bar Exams
  • Aquilino Pimentel III (Koko Pimentel) – Philippine Senator; 1st placer, 1990 Bar Exams
  • Sergio S. Osmeña – former Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2nd placer, 1903 Bar Exams
  • Jose Yulo – former Speaker of the House of Representatives; 3rd placer, 1913 Bar Exams
  • Antonio Eduardo Nachura – former Samar Representative; 7th placer, 1967 Bar Exams
  • Ronaldo Zamora – San Juan Representative; 1st placer, 1969 Bar Exams
  • Prospero Nograles – Speaker of the House of Representatives; 2nd placer, 1971 Bar Exams
  • Arturo D. Brion – Assemblyman, Philippine National Assembly; 1st placer, 1974 Bar Exams
  • Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. – former Tarlac Representative; 1st placer, 1989 Bar Exams
  • José P. Laurel- former Senator; 2nd Placer 1915
  • Leila de Lima – current Philippine Senator; former Secretary of Justice; former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson; 8th placer, 1985 Bar Exams

Appointees and career service officials

[edit]

Local officials

[edit]

Academe

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g List of Bar Topnotchers from 1913 to 2006, Office of the Bar Confidant, Supreme Court of the Philippines.
  2. ^ a b c Manila Times, April 12, 2008
  3. ^ "zxq.net". filipinoheritage.zxq.net. January 2, 2024.
  4. ^ IRPA, DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU. "De La Salle University : DLSU : Home". dlsu.edu.ph.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Balita, Val; Araneta, Vina; Alipon, Joworski (March 26, 2015). "2014 Bar 4th placer is 2009 CPA exams 2nd placer".
  6. ^ "Brillantes faces rough sailing at CA". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  7. ^ Section 5, Rule 138, Revised Rules of Court.
  8. ^ "Home – San Beda". sanbeda.edu.ph.
  9. ^ "HON. JUSTICE FLORENZ D. REGALADO". Republic of the Philippines Senate Electoral Tribunal. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Florenz Regalado
  11. ^ a b "Results of the Philippine Bar Exams." TV Patrol World, ABS-CBN, March 2006.
  12. ^ Bar Examinations National Percentage
  13. ^ [1] First Bar Exam in PH
  14. ^ SC Bar Bulletin No. 11
  15. ^ Bar Bulletin No. 18
  16. ^ Bar Bulletin No. 33
  17. ^ Bar Bulletin No. 31
  18. ^ Bar Matter No. 3860
  19. ^ Justice Jose Hontiveros obtained a grade of 98% in 1911. See "Profiles of Chief Justices and Associate Justices," p. 146.
  20. ^ "SU names former SolGen Hilbay as Law dean". Silliman University. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  21. ^ "Women outshine men in RP bar exams". GMA News Online. March 30, 2008.
  22. ^ Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court, June 2007.
  23. ^ Faculty and alumni list, Ateneo School of Law, June 2007.
  24. ^ Faculty and alumni list, FEU Institute of Law, June 2007.
  25. ^ Faculty and alumni list, Lyceum of the Philippines College of Law, June 2007.
  26. ^ Faculty and alumni list, MLQU College of Law, June 2007.
  27. ^ Faculty and alumni list, San Beda College of Law, June 2007.
  28. ^ Faculty and alumni list, San Sebastian College-Recoletos College of Law, June 2007.
  29. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UE College of Law, June 2007.
  30. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UP College of Law, June 2007.
  31. ^ Faculty and alumni list, UST Faculty of Civil Law, June 2007.
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