The dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Attorney Nilo Divina, described 2023 Bar exam top notcher Ephraim Bie as an analytical and intelligent student.

 In an interview with Daily Tribune on Wednesday, Divina said he was aware of Ephraim's intelligence as he was his student for two semesters and was also one of his associates at DivinaLaw, the dean's law firm.

 "Ephraim writes very well. He writes very analytically and is very intelligent. One of his advantages is that he can express his ideas in a very clear and convincing manner," Divina said.

Another official of UST said Bie graduated from its journalism school before taking up law. He was also a writer for the College of Arts and Letters' literary folio Flame.

 Asked about the faculty's preparations for the 2023 Bar exam, the dean said Bar review programs were offered to all law students.

 "First, the students pray and study. The Faculty of Civil Law offered a bar review program to all law students, and we also gave them a case digest, a short version of the new jurisprudence. And of course, we in the faculty prayed for them every day," Divina said.

 Divina added that it was 22 years since UST topped the Bar exams, that time aced by Arlene Maneja. Bie is the fourth UST Bar topnotcher.