FOUR Thomasians led the fresh batch of Thomasian lawyers, with the University ranking third among law schools with more than 100 examinees.
UST obtained an overall passing rate of 87.16% in the 2025 Bar examinations, and a 96.3% passing rate for first-time takers. The 2025 overall passing rate was an improvement from the 80.35% it recorded in 2024.
Spinel Albert Declaro placed second nationwide with a 92.46% score.
Alaiza Adviento claimed the third spot with a score of 91.91%.
Marc Angelo Santos scored 91.58%, placing fifth. He was followed by Johann Raphael Gata at No. 7, with 90.90%.
Adviento, who graduated batch valedictorian in 2025, said topping the Bar examinations still felt surreal.
“My goal was to just pass the Bar exam. Pero siyempre, at the back of my head, I knew I still needed to top the bar exam because I needed to give pride to UST, especially to the UST Faculty of Civil Law community, [which] had very high hopes for our batch,” Adviento told the Varsitarian.
Gata said he felt overwhelmed seeing his name appear on the list of topnotchers.
“Honestly, hindi po ako makapaniwala na ‘yong name ko [ay] lumabas doon. [I’m] thankful po for the blessings,” he said.
Lexanne Garcia, former associate editor of the Varsitarian, and former Filipino section writer Kim Naparan, were among the successful examinees.
Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina congratulated the fresh batch of Thomasian lawyers and topnotchers on Facebook.
“In the 2025 Bar Examinations, UST once again affirmed its tradition of excellence, producing four Bar topnotchers and posting an outstanding 96.3% passing rate,” his post read.
“To the families, mentors, students, office staff, and friends who stood with our Barristers every step of the way—thank you. This victory belongs to all of you,” it added.
The Supreme Court announced the list of passers and topnotchers on Jan. 7 at its Manila headquarters.
The national passing rate rose to 48.98% (5,594 out of 11,420), higher than last year’s 37.84%.
Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar examinations, led the announcement of the topnotchers.
“The court welcomes you into the legal profession with high hopes that you will bear the privilege of this calling with humility, the weight of its responsibility with resolve, and the trust of the public with unwavering integrity,” she said.
UST served as the national headquarters and a local testing center for the examinations.
Jhenroniel Rhey Sanchez of the University of the Philippines placed first with a score of 92.70%.
The bar examinations were administered on Sept. 7, 10 and 14 last year.
The oath-taking of the newly minted lawyers will be on Feb. 6 at the Philippine Arena.
