Daily Guardian’s Marzan, Iloilo law schools post bar success

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A proud moment for Daily Guardian marked the release of the 2025 Bar Examinations results, as senior reporter Joseph Bernard A. Marzan was among those who successfully passed the country’s most demanding professional licensure exam.

Marzan, a graduate of the University of San Agustin College of Law, continued working in the newsroom throughout his law studies, balancing reporting, writing, and editorial duties alongside classes, reviews, and bar preparations.

Colleagues described his journey as a testament to perseverance, discipline, and commitment to public service, qualities he consistently demonstrated both as a journalist and as a law student.

The Supreme Court released the official bar examination results on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026.

Nationwide, 5,594 out of 11,420 examinees passed the 2025 Bar Examinations, representing a passing rate of 48.98%.

Bar chairperson Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier said the percentage reflected examinees who completed all three exam days.

She said the Supreme Court approved a uniform passing grade of 75% for all takers.

In Iloilo, law schools recorded historic performances in the 2025 examinations.

The pioneer batch of the UP College of Law Extension Program in UP Visayas made history after all four of its graduates passed the Bar Examinations, posting a 100% passing rate in the campus’ first participation in the national licensure exam.

The successful UP Visayas passers were Evette Jaimee Capungcol, Jules Duke Contreras, Kate Quinco, and Theresa Iana Rosales Tan.

Another Iloilo-based institution, West Visayas State University College of Law, also achieved a perfect result after all of its 12 candidates, including 11 first-timers, passed the examinations held in September.

Lazaro-Javier led the announcement of the top 20 bar passers during the official release of results.

Topping the 2025 Bar Examinations was Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez of the University of the Philippines, who earned a score of 92.70 percent.

Second place went to Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro of the University of Santo Tomas-Manila with 92.46 percent, followed by Alaiza Agatep Adviento of the same university with 91.91 percent.

Angelica de Castro Mitra of De La Salle-Lipa placed fourth with 91.68 percent, while Marc Angelo Galvez Santos of UST-Manila ranked fifth with 91.58 percent.

Jeowy Loyloy Ompad of the University of San Jose-Recoletos and Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia of Ateneo de Manila University both posted scores of 91.25 percent.

Other top performers included Johan Raphael Silapan Gata of UST-Manila with 90.90 percent, Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento of the University of the Philippines with 90.87 percent, and Richmond Bulan Lucas of University of La Salette Inc. with 90.45 percent.

Completing the top 20 were graduates from the University of the Philippines, Arellano University, University of the East, Bukidnon State University, University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, and Ateneo de Manila University, with ratings ranging from 89.35 percent to 90.36 percent.

The Supreme Court announced that the oath-taking and signing of the Roll of Attorneys will be held on Feb. 6, 2026, at the Philippine Arena.

The number of passers this year exceeded last year’s total of 3,962, reflecting a notable increase in the national passing rate.