From review to results: 2025 Bar topnotchers on how they made it

Angelica Mitra (No. 4)

Angelica Mitra of De La Salle Lipa shared that she felt overwhelmed after achieving fourth place in the exams, especially considering that she only had two months to review before the Bar.

"I never expected to top the bar, though I prayed hard for it and I aimed for it," she said.

To work her way around her limited time, she decided to craft a schedule focusing on subjects she felt she had insufficient foundation.

"Hindi ako nag-hoard ng materials kahit sobrang daming available. As much as possible, ginamit kong books and review mats were those na ginamit ko na din during my four years sa law school," she said.

"Rest din is very important, I listen to my body pag ayaw na nya mag-aral. It is much better na magpahinga or mag-Netflix or matulog pag wala nang pumapasok sa utak. Don’t feel guilty about resting and giving yourself a 'me time,' take it as a form of 'recharging' para full battery ulit sa pagbabasa at pag-aaral," she added.

According to her, preparation for the bar should start on the very first day of law school.

"Walang major, walang minor subjects, lahat sila binibigyan ng effort at panahon aralin. Dapat hindi mababaw ang pag-aaral, learn as much as you can while in law school. Formal bar prep is for refining and recalling, not for first-time learning," Mitra stressed.

It's also equally important to have a close circle of friends in law school. Her pals were a crucial source of support throughout her journey.

With the exams done, she said that she will focus on honing her craft as a law practitioner while ensuring that everything that she does remains an extension of her core values.

Jeowy Ompad (No. 6)

Jeowy Ompad of the University of San Jose - Recoletos was watching the live announcement on YouTube when he learned that he placed sixth.

"I did not expect it kasi nahirapan ako sa Commercial Law and Remedial Law. When my name was called, I hugged my wife and cried hard. In that moment, I thanked God for making me one of the topnotchers," he shared.

During his preparation, he made it a point to ensure that all topics in the Bar syllabus were thoroughly covered.

"I prioritized reviewing my weaker subjects, while also considering those subjects with heavier weights in the bar examinations. I followed a disciplined eight-hour daily study schedule. I studied four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon," he said.

Ompad also made sure to get adequate sleep and rest, as well as regularly practiced answering past bar examination questions to calibrate and improve his approach.

Recalling some words of wisdom that his professor once told him, he said, "Dreams will remain dreams if you only sleep on them. To aspiring lawyers, enroll in law school so that your dream of becoming a lawyer will be realized."

He urged aspiring lawyers to "prepare yourself mentally, financially, emotionally and spiritually."

For now, Ompad plans to continue working as a certified public accountant in the private sector and dedicate his time and skills to helping fisherfolk and the less fortunate.

Johann Raphael Gata (No. 7)

Johann Raphael Gata of the University of Santo Tomas was overcome with emotion when he heard his name announced as top seven.

"I was overwhelmed and deeply humbled, as I was not really expecting to be among the topnotchers for this year’s Bar exams. I kept praying that God would allow me to hurdle the Bar exam successfully," he said.

For his preparation, he stuck to the study methods that worked for him in law school, but this time, he doubled his efforts.

"What really worked for me was focusing on reading the codals and using a single reference material per subject. I deliberately avoided relying on too many resources, as that can often lead to confusion and be more harmful than helpful," Gata shared.

"My family, partner, and friends have been my greatest support throughout my journey to becoming a lawyer. They constantly reminded me to believe in myself, especially during moments of exhaustion and self-doubt, and their encouragement lifted my spirits every time I needed it," he continued.

For him, it's important to "believe in yourself, even when self-doubt kicks in."

"One of my professors once told me to aim for the stars, because even if you fall, you’ll land on the moon. Hold on to that mindset, and remember the people around you who continue to support and believe in you, even on the days you doubt yourself," he said.

Moving forward, Gata is keeping an open mind. He plans to carefully weigh the opportunities that come and see where he can best grow and serve the Filipino people.

Allan Paran (No. 11) 

Allan Paran of Arellano University had one thing to say when he found out that he snagged the Top 11 spot in the exams: "It was the best feeling in my life, as if my body was being lifted to the clouds. Finally, after years of struggle, hardship, and persistence, I made it."

His success was thanks to reading as much as he could.

"I made sure to review and understand all topics in our Bar syllabus. It also helps that my review materials are already syllabus-based to ensure that I am able to cover all topics in the Bar syllabus," he said.

"To make sure that I understand a topic, I tried breaking down the concept into simpler terms, as if I [were] talking to a person with no background on the law. But as much as I studied hard, I prayed harder. From the start of the Bar review, I ensured to pray the Rosary at least once a day, and attend the Holy Mass every day, if possible," he added.

To survive law school and become a lawyer, Paran believed that one doesn't need to be the smartest person in the room.

"One just needs to be humble and persevering. Law school [throws] every challenge in the world at you: professors who 'terrorize' students, cases with a hundred pages, examinations with hypothetical questions that are 'out of this world,'" he said.

"Just be humble and persevere. Take every challenge one step at a time. Study hard, and more importantly, pray harder," he urged.

Patric Navarro (No. 12)

Everything seemed surreal for Patric Navarro of the University of the East when he learned that he placed twelfth in the exams.

"During my review period, I read a lot. I wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. and read for 10 to 12 hours. There’s really no shortcut in passing the bar; you really have to read a lot," he said.

"My tip for aspiring lawyers is that your review for the bar exams starts on the very first day you step into law school. Build your foundation well during your early years," he continued.

Another important thing to do is to "reinforce your knowledge during your fourth-year review classes, and fine-tune all the things you have learned in law school during your Bar review proper."

"The study of law is, at the end of the day, a journey," Navarro stressed.

"For now, I want to explore the different fields of law practice and, if given the opportunity, to teach law, which has been a dream of mine ever since I started studying law," he added. 

Alfrancis Cabungcal (No. 13) 

Alfrancis Cabungcal of the University of the Philippines found out late that he was a topnotcher. It was a huge surprise for him as he shared that he was "not someone who consistently topped exams" during law school.

"I was in Quiapo Church that day and had just attended the Pabihis. I was actually planning to line up for the Pahalik and told myself that I would only check the results after I was done," he said.

"But curiosity got the better of me. Around 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. already, I decided to peek at the livestream [...] and suddenly saw my name among the topnotchers. It took a while to sink in. I was completely overwhelmed and quietly stepped aside inside the church to process what had just happened," he added.

Following a "very structured and disciplined study plan" helped Cabungcal ace the exam.

"I made a schedule not just per subject for the month and week, but even down to the topics I needed to cover each day. I treated it as a general rule, but I also allowed myself some flexibility for emergencies or for days when I really wasn’t in the right headspace to study," he explained.

It also helped that he didn't take the Bar immediately after graduating in 2024, so he maximized the extra time he had.

"Aside from studying, I also made it a point to attend Mass every weekend. It gave me a breather from the routine and helped me reset, especially on days when I was full of doubt," Cabungcal said.

"What’s probably unusual is that I don’t drink coffee and I don’t do all-nighter reviews. Whenever I feel sleepy, regardless of the time of day, I sleep. I realized early on, especially in law school, that studying while exhausted is not productive, and that rest is part of preparation," he added.

He advised aspiring lawyers to "trust your preparation, especially if you took law school seriously and if your school trained you not just for the Bar, but for actual practice."

"More than just a profession, the practice of law is a form of service to the country. So my advice is: study well, understand deeply, and never lose sight of why you wanted to become a lawyer in the first place, not just for yourself, but for the people and the country we are meant to serve," he continued.

Cabungcal now plans to continue his work with Tolosa Lim and Chua Law Firm and grow as a practicing lawyer.

Gerilin Gascon (No. 14)

Gerilin Gascon of Bukidnon State University also got emotional when she learned that she was top 14 in this year's exams.

"I cried and just kept uttering the words, 'Thank You Lord.' All I felt was joy and gratitude," she said.

She shared that before opening law books and reviewers, she made sure to read a chapter or two from the Bible.

"I enrolled with Legal Edge Review Center, Dean Ralph Sarmiento’s Mentoring Program, and earnestly participated Bukidnon State University - College of Law Bar Drills," she shared.

Gascon also had a "targeted number of pages to study every day."

She advised aspiring lawyers to know their "why?" before entering law school.

"I submit that in determining the deeper reason why I wanted to become a lawyer sustained me throughout law school and my Bar Journey. It will also serve as my anchor in pursuing the kind of lawyer I want to become," Gascon said.

Now that the exams are in the rearview mirror, she intends to apply her legal knowledge to raise awareness among rural communities about their rights and obligations under the law.

"In this way, I could empower them and make law more accessible to them," she said.