Bar Exam Kickoff: Cheers and Support Greet Candidates on First Day

The first day of the Philippine Bar Examinations concluded on Sunday, with over 600 candidates passing through the University of Santo Tomas (UST) exit after completing the initial day of the three-day test. Outside the venue, a festive atmosphere prevailed as more than 600 bar exam candidates passed through the University of Santo Tomas’s exit after finishing their first of the three-day test on Sunday. Hundreds of family members and fellow students held banners, placards, and balloons, offering fervent encouragement. Rachelyn Mae Valenzuela, a 26-year-old law student from San Beda College-Alabang, stated, "We wanted to show our support to motivate and inspire them." She was part of a dozen-member group that stayed for over 12 hours to express solidarity with those taking the exam. "We know that they worked hard since the first year. These are the fruits of their efforts for four years—manifesting that they will be Bedan lawyers come 2027," Valenzuela added. Mariekei Sta. Maria, a second-year law student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), also shared that around 20 members of their group waited for over 15 hours. "We wanted to show our bar takers that the bar examination is not just their journey but the entire PUP College of Law community," she said. Some candidates received unique support from their families. Janine Cea, 28, along with her mother and two other family companions, wore blue T-shirts with the words "JESPER IS MY LAWYER" to surprise her younger brother, Jesper, 26. The T-shirts were not worn when they initially sent off their bar candidate to the examination site. According to data from the Supreme Court, a total of 12,029 examinees were present for the exams, with 675 taking the test from UST. The second and third days of the bar exams are scheduled for September 9 and 13, respectively.