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Daphne Galvez - The Philippine Star
January 9, 2026 | 12:00am
Bar examinees and their relatives gather at the Supreme Court compound in Manila during the release of the 2025 Bar exam results yesterday.
RYAN BALDEMOR, THE VARSITARIAN
MANILA, Philippines — Tears flowed at the Supreme Court in Manila on Wednesday as the SC announced the results of the 2025 Bar examinations.
Aside from top-notch passers, stories of second chances and an 11th retaker filled the SC courtyard.
Eduardo Rivera Regio, 59, passed the Bar exams on his 11th attempt, having first tried in 1993.
Regio said he was initially barred from taking the Bar in 2005 when the SC enforced the “five-strike” rule, which limited examinees to five attempts and required a one-year refresher course for the fourth and fifth tries.
In 2015, a year after the rule was lifted, Regio took the Bar exams again.
Asked why he kept trying, Regio said, “There is nothing to lose.”
After flunking 12 years ago, another examinee, Spinel Albert Declaro, ranked No. 2 in the 2025 Bar exam.
Another examinee, John Mark Carrasco, tearfully hugged his brother when they saw his name on the list of passers.
Carrasco said it was his second attempt at the Bar.
Ion Billones came alone from Iloilo to Manila, hoping to see his name on the LED screen at the SC compound.
Billones missed by .71 percent last year in his first Bar attempt.
While examinees hoped to only pass the Bar, a few admitted feeling shocked when they ranked high.
Johan Raphael Gata, who placed seventh with a score of 90.90 percent, said he could not believe the result.
Jusmin Teriann Afable Yap, who ranked 11th, said he was surprised and he just studied really hard.
Ronald Vincent Ofrecio Gonzales, who landed on the 20th spot, said he wants to go into public service and enter the Public Attorney’s Office to fight injustice.
The University of the Philippines yesterday congratulated UP Diliman law graduate Jhenroniel Rhey Sanchez after topping the Bar exams with a score of 92.70 percent.
Seven National Bureau of Investigation personnel passed the Bar exams, according to NBI Director Angelito Magno.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines lauded the 10 priests who passed the Bar.
Up to 5,594 examinees passed the 2025 Bar exams, yielding a passing rate of 48.98 percent. – Mark Ernest Villeza, Evelyn Macairan
