Honor before excellence – UP bar topnotcher

MANILA, Philippines – “Honor comes first before excellence.”

This was the message of Sandra Mae Magalang, 3rd in rank among the passers of the 2014 bar examinations, to her batchmates from the University of the Philippines College of Law in a thanksgiving gathering on March 26, a UP report said.

Magalang, also the salutatorian of her batch, garnered a grade of 84.6 in the bar exams. She is a product of public education from elementary to law school.

“When we are given a choice, let us choose that which will benefit more than us and our family… something that will pay tribute to our UP education,” Magalang said.

College of Law Dean Danny Concepcion reminded the new lawyers of UP Law of their duty to serve the country. In an interview, he said UP’s topnotch performance in the last two Bar exams is proof that changes in law education being proposed by UP are highly in order.

No. 1 law school

Based on the preliminary figures for first-time takers of the bar exams held in October 2014, UP ranked first among law schools in the country with a passing rate of 77%. Based on the same figures, perennial topnotch law schools Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and San Beda College posted 54% and 58% passing rates, respectively.

The Supreme Court released the list of passers and the topnotchers on Thursday, March 26, declaring an 18.82 national passing rate.

It is set to announce the official rankings of schools just before the oath-taking on April 24. A hundred and eight first-time takers from UP made it, led by 4 who landed on the Top 10: Magalang, 3rd place with a grade of 84.6; Mark Leo Bejemino, 4th place, with a grade of 84.55; Rhey David Daway, 8th, with a grade of 84.2; and Jamie Liz Yu, 9th, with a grade of 84.0

A total of 1,126 out of 5,984 takers passed the exams – a passing rate of 18.82% – lower than 2013 figures when 22.18% or 1,174 out of 5,593 examinees passed. The passing grade was 73%. – Rappler.com