FORMER Varsitarian editor in chief Lorenzo Luigi Gayya and two others led the new batch of Thomasian lawyers, ending UST’s five-year drought in the Top 10 of the Bar examinations.
Gayya, a journalism alumnus, placed sixth in the 2017 Bar examinations with a score of 89.10 percent. Fellow UST law graduates Klinton Torralba and Emma Ruby Aguilar clinched the ninth and 10th spots with scores of 88.65 percent and 88.40 percent, respectively.
The last UST graduate to enter the top 10 was Christian Louie Gonzales, who placed fifth in 2011 with a score of 84.09 percent.
UST’s passing rate for first-time takers stood at 89.89 percent with 89 Thomasians passing the test out of 99 first-time examinees. Last year’s passing rate was 96.25 percent or 77 out of 80 first-time Thomasian examinees.
Mark John Simondo of the University of St. La Salle topped this year’s examinations with a score of 91.05 percent.
The total number of Thomasian examinees has yet to be released as of writing.
Former Varsitarian associate editor Denise Pauline Purugganan also passed the exams.
Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina dedicated the success of the faculty to the Thomasian community.
“[H]ow sweet it is. [A]ll our efforts, sacrifices and prayers paid off. This is for all of us. Thanks be to God,” Divina said in a text message to the Varsitarian.
The national passing rate dropped to 25.55 percent or 1,724 successful examinees out of 6,750 exam takers. Last year’s passing rate was 59.06 percent or 3,747 out of 6,344 examinees.
More than 7,200 examinees from all over the country flocked to the University as it hosted the Bar exams in November.
Held on all four Sundays of November last year, the exams covered various areas including civil law, political law, labor law, taxation, criminal law, remedial law, legal and judicial ethics.
According to Bar exam rules, an examinee is deemed to have passed if he or she obtained a general average of 75 percent.
The chairman of this year’s Bar exams was Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, former faculty member of Civil Law.
Congratulations UST Civil Law.
Keep it up and consistent.
Congratulations too to UST Men’s football team for entering the uaap finals.
Congratulations to the UST STUDENT ATHLETES for wunning for the University its 42nd GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
GO USTE…..