Luke Jickain, 'Bar Boys' character inspo, also passes 2025 Bar Exam

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January 9, 2026 | 11:58am

MANILA, Philippines — Former actor and model Luke Jickain is yet another celebrity who is on the way to becoming a lawyer after passing the 2025 Bar Examinations.

Jickain announced his inclusion in the 2025 Bar passers last January 7 on social media by sharing his graduation photo from Arellano University and a screenshot of the results bearing his name.

The ex-actor is the brother of Aiko Melendez's ex-husband Martin and prior to leaving showbiz starred in shows like "Imortal," "Marina," "Maria la del Barrio" and "Maalaala Mo Kaya."

He also served as the inspiration for the character of Joshua Zuñiga in "Bar Boys," a role played by Kean Cipriano on film and Omar Uddin on the stage.

Zuñiga was initially going to join his best friends in law school, however, he failed the entrance exam. After pursuing an acting career, he went back to law school and passed the Bar.

The social media accounts for "Bar Boys" congratulated Jickain on passing the Bar as well as actor Nico Antonio, who had a cameo in the sequel "Bar Boys: After School."

Antonio — son of film producer Atty. Joji Alonso — had a larger role in another movie "Unmarry" as a lawyer,  a true reel-to-real journey for the actor.

Out of the 11,420 who finished the 2025 Bar Examinations, only 5,594 passed, yielding a passing rate of 48.98%.

Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez, a law graduate from the University of the Philippines, was the topnotcher on his first take with a score of 92.70%

Among the happy stories for new Bar passers were seven National Bureau of Investigation personnel, five officers of the Bureau of Corrections, and 10 priests — becoming "fathers in law."

One individual passed the Bar on his 11th take, his first attempt dating back to 1993. Also passing the Bar was content creator Jose "Dora" Dorado.

RELATED: FULL LIST: 2025 Bar exams passers