A law student from the University of the Philippines topped this year’s Bar exams which saw nearly 4,000 examinees hurdling the tests given last September.

Supreme Court Justice and 2024 Bar Exam Chairman Mario Lopez said that out of 10,502 takers, 3,962 passed the exams for new lawyers for a 37.84-percent passing rate.

Lopez said he and the other SC justices agreed in a session to adopt the grade of 74 as the passing grade for the exams.

Kyle Christian Guerrero Tutor of UP topped the Bar with a grade of 85.77, followed by Maria Cristina Santos Aniceto of Ateneo de Manila University with 85.54 percent. Third was Gerald Roxas of Angeles University Foundation School of Law with 84.355.

The Top 10 passers are as follows:

Kyle Christian Guerrero Tutor, University of the Philippines, 85.77 percent; Maria Cristina Santos Aniceto, Ateneo de Manila University, 85.54 percent; Gerald Roxas, Angeles University Foundation School of Law, 84.355 percent; John Philippe Chua, UP, 84.28; Jet Ryan Nicolas, UP, 84.265; Maria Lovelyn Joyce Quebrar, UP, 84.06; Kyle Andrew Isaguirre, AdMU, 83.905; Joji Macadine, University of Mindanao, 84.745; Gregorio Jose Torres II, Western Mindanao State University, 83.59; Raya Villacorta, San Beda University, 83.47.

The son of Senator Lawrence “Bong” Go, Christian Lawrence Go, was one of those who passed. This was according to a Facebook post by the senator’s uncle, Richard Mata, and the latter’s wife, Erika, who both congratulated the young Go.

“We are all proud of you, Atty Chrence! From the whole Tesoro clan and from all of us!” the Matas said on Facebook.

In 2019, Christian Lawrence placed third in the October 2019 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, welcomed his daughter to the law profession after she passed the 2024 Bar exam.

Mendoza was among the nervous parents who had been praying their children would pass the Bar, considered the most difficult exam for a profession. He could not help but blurt out a resounding “Yes!” when the results came out.

Lopez said the passers will be the new advocates of justice and truth.

“They will join the ranks of esteemed legal professionals who will shape society and champion the rights of the people,” he said.

“We framed the questions objectively,” he said.

“They were neither easy nor difficult. Eksakto lang (Just right). The reason was that we want to produce lawyers who are not just prepared to practice but who are equipped with professionalism, empathy and commitment to public service,” he said.