Not One Of November 2016 Bar Topnotchers Came From UP, Here’s What Their President Said

UP President Danilo Concepcion expressed his side over the result of November 2016 bar examination.

DANILO CONCEPCION – The President of the University of the Philippines expressed his side over the absence of a topnotcher coming from UP in the November 2016 bar examination.

The results of the November 2016 bar exam has undeniably raised a question on some people’s minds. On the social media, some netizens were surprised on why none of the bar takers from UP made it into the top 10.

Based on a recent report in ABS-CBN News, the President of UP, Danilo Concepcion, has already released his side regarding the absence of a 2016 bar topnotcher coming from their university.

Danilo Concepcion
University of the Philippines / Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

According to the report, the Philippine Law Register, the official student publication of the University’s College of Law, quoted the UP President saying that the “business of law school is to teach law in the grand manner and to make great lawyers; it doesn’t say to make Bar topnotchers.”

The University’s school publication also wrote that the recent overall passing rate of UP in the 2016 bar exam is the its highest passing rate since 1970s. The University has a passing rate of 97.89 percent in the exam.

According to the report, the Philippine Law Register also cited the statement of the UP College of Law Class 2016’s valedictorian, Paolo Tamase. According to Tamase, they would choose a 100-percent passing rate over a “batch with just 10 topnotchers”.

Based on a previous news report, the one who garnered the highest score among the 2016 bar passers is a graduate of University of San Carlos (USC) law school in Cebu City – Karen Mae Calam.

Calam topped the exam with a score of 89.05 percent. According to Calam, she has no plans yet on what to do next. She said that she wanted to go to the Basilica del Sto. Niño to offer prayers.

The November 2016 bar topnotcher dedicated her success to her parents.

Leave a Comment