ERMITA, Manila — Four University of the Philippines (UP) examinees were among the Top 10 in the list of BAR passers released by the Supreme Court (SC).

BAR exam chairman Justice Mario Lopez cited that some 10,490 took the tests and 3,962, or 37.84 percent, made the passing grade of 74 percent.

Here are the Top 20 passers:
1. Kyle Christian Gorrero Tutor, UP, 85.77 percent
2. Maria Cristina Santos Aniceto, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), 85.54 percent
3. Gerald Catayong Roxas, Angeles University Foundation School of Law, 84.355 percent
4. John Philippe Encarnacion Chua, UP, 84.28 percent
5. Jet Ryan Pecson Nicolas, UP, 84.265 percent
6. Maria Lovelyn Joyce Quebrar, UP, 84.06 percent
7. Kyle Andrew Isaguirre, ADMU, 83.905 percent
8. Joji Macadine, University of Mindanao, 84.745 percent
9. Gregorio Jose Torres II, Western Mindanao State University, 83.59 percent
10. Raya Villacorta, San Beda University, 83.47 percent
11. Paolo Antonio Valmonte Gerpacio, ADMU, 83.455 percent
12. Andrew Gil Bruzon Ambray, University of Santo Tomas, 83.445 percent
13. Marielle Janine Joy Tubay Macarilay, ADMU, 83.275 percent
14. John Daniel De Jesus Hamoy, University of San Carlos, 83.135 percent
15. Therese Bianca Noblejas Garcia, ADMU, 83.09 percent
16. Recel Ladista Elumba, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, 83.065 percent
17. Rieland Joromo Cuevas, UP, 82.87 percent
18. Betlee-Kyle Tabobo Barraquias, ADMU, 82.83 percent
19. June Steve Gonzaga Barredo, University of St. La Salle, 82.805 percent
20. Charles Kenneth Figueroa Lijauco, UP; Pierre Angelo Cortes Reque II, UST, 82.795 percent.

According to Justice Lopez, although 12,246 registered for the BAR exams, only 10,502 took the tests on the first day and 10,493 were able to continue on its second day.

Earlier, Lopez apologized for the delay in posting the Bar results outside the court, where hundreds waited, since the court had to adjust the passing mark to 74 percent, allowing an additional 1,000 passers.

The full list of successful examinees and the 20 topnotchers are posted on the Supreme Court website.
Meanwhile, while commending the High Court's decision to lower this year's passing mark, the Federation of Free Workers (FW) welcomed the new lawyers with open arms, especially should they choose to work for workers' rights or labor advocacies.

"We need more lawyers for the workers, and this small yet impactful 1 percent adjustment added nearly 1,000 new lawyers — I think this is a brilliant move proving that even the tiniest tweaks can lead to big victories (and more lawyers in courtrooms and labor tribunals!)," FFW president Atty. Jose Sonny Matula enthused.