Politicians, key personalities salute 2025 Bar passers
Cheers and celebrations erupted across the country as a new batch of lawyers officially secured their place in the legal profession.
After months of intense preparation and sleepless nights, a total of 5,594 out of 11,420 test-takers emerged victorious in the 2025 Bar examinations, with Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez of the University of the Philippines-Diliman ranking first with a grade of 92.70%.
As the results were announced, messages of congratulations and encouragement quickly poured in—not just from proud families and mentors, but also from prominent figures in Philippine politics, who took the moment to commend the passers and offer words of wisdom as they step into the legal profession.
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno was among those who extended his congratulations as he noted how hard the bar passers worked for this moment.
"Congratulations to our new lawyers! Alam ko kung gaano kahaba at kabigat ang dinaanan ninyo. Deserve ninyo ang tagumpay na ito," he said in a Facebook post.
"May you always carry in your hearts and minds a deep commitment to serve and protect the welfare of our fellow Filipinos, especially those who lack the means to stand up for and defend their rights," he added.
He also left words of encouragement to those who did not pass.
"Sa mga hindi pinalad sa pagkakataong ito: hindi kayo nabigo. Ang pangarap ay hindi nasusukat ng isang resulta. Tuloy lang. May saysay ang bawat laban," he implored.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan also welcomed the passers to the work of lawyering as he highlighted that honest lawyers are needed now more than ever due to the various corruption issues plaguing the Philippines.
"Kailangan kayo sa pamahalaan, sa mga korte, sa mga unyon, at sa mga pamayanan. Piliin ang maglingkod kahit na magulo at hindi glamoroso. Practice with integrity, consistency, and a bias for truth and social justice. Be lawyers who ask who benefits, who gets left out, and who pays the price. Then act," he said on Facebook.
"The Bar is not a finish line. It is a gate to what you can do. Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang exciting part," he stressed.
He also urged those who did not pass this year to keep persevering as "failing the Bar is not a final judgment on your intelligence, grit, or calling."
"It’s simply one snapshot, not the whole story. Rest, regroup, and return when you’re ready. The law, and the country, will still need you," Pangilinan said.
Fellow senator Win Gatchalian also said on X, "Maligayang pagbati sa ating mga bagong abogado! Nawa’y magamit ninyo ang inyong kaalaman sa paglilingkod sa kapwa."
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto echoed the same sentiments in that he hopes that the incoming lawyers "never waver in their pursuit of truth and justice."
"Let your integrity guide your practice, and your courage sustain you in the hard moments,” Recto said in his message.
"Always choose to do what is right even when it is not popular or easy. And above all, never forget the Filipino nation whom you ultimately serve in the pursuit of what is just," he added. "Ilagay natin ang ating galing, talino, at puso sa pagpili at paglaban para sa tama—para sa kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino at ng ating bansa."
Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, advised the Bar passers to "always use your knowledge and skills to uphold the rights of our people, strengthen our institutions, and advance justice and fairness for all Filipinos."
A total of 137 out of 143 schools emerged with successful Bar exam takers. Among the law schools with over 100 first-time candidates, Ateneo de Manila University had the highest percentage of passers at 98.11% (104 out of 106), followed by the University of the Philippines at 96.83% (214 out of 221) and University of Santo Tomas-Manila at 96.30% (104 out of 108).
