Posted on April 7, 2008 in Bar Exams
The diverse opinions on the 2007 bar examination expressed in this site probably reflects the level of “controversy” surrounding it. I agree that more reforms are needed, although it’s unfair to say that the Supreme Court is not doing anything about it. I agree that the Supreme Court is not perfect, but any effort to destroy its credibility, especially when based on mere allegations, should never be allowed as it brings more harm. I agree that some are luckier than others, but it’s unfair to attribute everything to luck because we all know the extreme difficulty in preparing for the bar exams. I agree that there’s nothing else we could do because the result was already released, but it’s unfair to tell those who want to express their respective opinions to shut up.
To those who made it, congratulations. May you be magnanimous in victory. All bar examinees are on the same boat, so to speak, and the victory of some is never anchored on the fact that others didn’t make it. Go ahead and celebrate, but always err on the side of restraint.
To the majority who will have to wait, let’s move on, and may the future be favorable to you. Life goes on. In closing, allow me to paraphrase the words of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, for those who refuse to let their dreams die:
The Supreme Court has exercised its exclusive power of accepting new members to the legal profession. Let us all respect its judgment. The Almighty has a plan for all of us and I agree that the All Seeing Eye does not play dice with our destinies. Indeed, even pain has a purpose.
I dispel all rumors that I will not pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. Those who desire to reduce me to posthumous significance will not experience any ecstasy.
I will continue to work as a humble student of the law and as always, I pledge to fight for the civil liberties of the people against abuses coming from any and all sources, to do battle with vested interests especially those who believe they have a divine right to selfishness and to protect the institutional independence of the courts against threats of tampering from within and without their portals.
I wish the new lawyers for 2008 all the best!
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@ Uriel
Thank you for citing Bar Matter No. 1209.
That was the case I was referring to above, but could not find in lex libris for some reason.
I quote:
“The petitioner’s erroneous belief that a person who passed the bar examinations may allow himself to be called an attorney should be corrected. An applicant who has passed the required examination or has been otherwise found to be entitled to admission to the bar, shall take and subscribe before the Supreme Court the corresponding oath of office. The Court shall thereupon admit the applicant as a member of the bar for all the courts of the Philippines, and shall direct an order to be entered to that effect upon its records, and that a certificate of such record be given to him by the clerk of court, which certificates shall be his authority to practice.The clerk of the Supreme Court shall keep a Roll of Attorneys admitted to practice, which roll shall be signed by the person admitted when he receives his certificate..
The Oath is thus a prerequisite to the admission to the practice of law, while the signing in the Roll is the last act that finally signifies membership in the bar, giving the applicant the right to call himself “attorney”. Continued membership in the IBP and regular payment of membership dues and other lawful assessments that it may levy are conditions sine qua non to the privilege to practice law and to the retention of his name in the Roll of Attorneys.
The unauthorized use of the said appellation may render a person liable for indirect contempt of court.[35]The Court may deny the applicant’s petition to take the Lawyer’s Oath for grave misconduct, such as calling himself and “attorney” and appearing as counsel for clients in courts even before being admitted to the bar.Although the evidence in this case does not include that the petitioner actually engaged in the practice of law, the fact is that he signed in an attendance sheet as “Atty. Caesar Distrito.” He called himself “attorney” knowing fully well that he was not yet admitted to the bar.
Thus, we disagree with the findings of the OBC, and find that the petitioner is unfit to become a member of the bar. The petitioner must show this Court that he has satisfied the moral requirements before he can be admitted to the practice of law.
ACCORDINGLY, the petition of CAESAR Z. DISTRITO to be allowed to take the oath as member of the Philippine Bar and to sign the Roll of Attorneys in accordance with Rule 138 of the Revised Rules of Court is hereby DENIED.”
@ jna, as you can see from this case, where Mr. Distrito used ‘atty’ in a mere attendance sheet, the use of the appellation ‘atty.’ is unauthorized even if the usage is not connected to the practice of law until one has taken an oath AND signed the rolls.
I hope this clarifies matters.
wag na kasi atat… isang buwan na lang aantayin di pa magawa…. well tapos na oathtaking… signing na lang..
its just sad that some people think they are better than others because they are lawyers.. maybe that bar matter is a warning to bar passers to know their role…
oh well … vanity.. always my favorite sin
badly quoting john milton, in the 1997 movie the devil’s advocate.
anyway, i hated the news that i saw on tv regarding this year’s new lawyer.
what are they trying to show? that except for the original 5 percent passers, the rest are just products of generosity? what a load of bull.
4rthmar,you are very huge.i mean,HUGE.bawas bawasan mo taba mo coz’ i think you weight in at 250lbs.down it to 180 para sexy at gwapo kang tingnan AND youre a lawyer and placer pa.wala talagang makipagsuntokan sa iyo sa laking mo yan dahil takot kami baka ma heart attack ka o ma high blood.remember paborito ng high blood at sakit sa puso ang mga lawyers.tsk!:}
So, folks, have we moved beyond the “Atty” issue?
How’s the oath taking, by the way. Congratulations, again.
Webster, no problem. Thank you, and thanks to everyone, for making this forum helpful and engaging.
hi atty fred!
my feeling during yesterday’s oath taking was almost exactly the same feeling that i felt when i was there at the SC last march 29 when i saw my name in the list posted on the bulletin board. yesterday, the feeling was so “heavenly” especially during that moment when we were reading the lawyer’s oath. it was really a big sigh of relief after the ceremonies were concluded. what also added to the heavenly atmosphere was seeing the SC Chief Justice and the Associate Justices as well as the Bar Examiners sitting as en banc before our very eyes. Looking back in time, just before the Bar exam results were released, the oath taking was just a daydream but yesterday it became a rendezvous with destiny. right now, i’m looking forward to signing the roll of attorneys on may 5.
atty. fred, i just wanna thank you again for hosting this site where there is really a marketplace of ideas coming from the different stakeholders of this forum: lawyers, barristers, law students and even non-law students. i hope i will be able to continue to be of contribution to this fantastic forum. to you atty. fred and all the members of this forum, i wish you all the best.
Godspeed!
I heard, SC placed the orig grades in the bar rating. Bigay kaagad daw bar rating pag sign sa rolls…FYI
ayos…. bigay agad bar rating
Whew! Kakapagod!!!
Sa akin naman, gaya nung lumabas ang result ng exam, parang ordinary day lang.
as masaya ako na nameet ko ulit mga kaklase ko saka yung mga nakasama ko sa UP Law Center BRI.
Kakaiba ang atmosphere nung dumating yung mga justices. Napakaingay sa hall, then, suddenly, complete silence talaga. Super. Maski yung mga umuubo o nagcleaclear ng throats nila wala ka maririnig. Sabi ko nga sa mga kaklase ko, titigan na nila mga justices kasi baka last time na nila makita ng live ang SC Justices sa isang en banc session, live! Anyway, I’m looking forward pa rin sa day na magprepresent ako ng oral argument sa harap nila sa SC. Hehehe… (kung kailan man yun). Pinakamatangkad si Justice Azcuna. si justice Carpio matangkad din. Si Justice Nazario cute. Haha. Sya ang keynote speaker. Inistress nya lang ang importance ng legal ethics sa pag-expand ng lawyer’s oath.
Sina Atty. Salalima at Atty. Fortun na-”boo” nung pumunta na sila sa harapan. Pero pinalakpakan naman sila ng malakas nung prinesent na sila ni Justice Azcuna.
On a funny note, isa ako sa mga fanboys na nagpa-autograph sa mga examiners. Hehehe.
One last step bago ako maging “totoong” lawyer… Signing in the Roll of Attorneys! Sa May 2 pa ako. 5:30 PM. Yung friend ko kaninang 6 PM… Natapos sya mga 7:30 PM na. Ang nagpatagal daw yung picture-taking.
Anyway, kitakits!
I finally signed the Roll yesterday. The feeling was more overwhelming than the other day (Oathtaking). At last, i can now be legally called “Attorney”. Haay, what a feeling!
And yes, ibinibigay kaagad iyong grades. Medyo unexpected ang results but nevertheless, i am glad. Sa mga magr-rollsigning bukas at sa susunod pang araw, savor the moment. Para sa akin, mas exciting ito.
Good luck and Godbless, compañeros & compañeras! Ü
@ alexi
The 2003 resolution of the Court is well taken.
However, there is a 2006 resolution allowing the concerned bar candidate to take his oath and sign the roll, qouted as follows:
Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court dated MAR 14 2006.
“Bar Matter No. 1209.- In Re: Petition to Take the Lawyer’s Oath, Caesar Z. Distrito, petitioner.- The Court Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Bar Confidant, to ALLOW petitioner Caesar Z. Distrito to take the Lawyer’s Oath and sign the Roll of Attorneys upon payment of the required fees.” Quisumbing, J., on official leave.
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA
Clerk of Court
musta signing kanina? musta grades? sino kasama sa original na 5%
i underrstand why SC said that the checking is unusually strict in the 3 subjects, i got 51,52,53. in those, and the remaining subjects i got 81-82. now do the math if that will be in the original 5%.
being in the original 5% would be great but i still stand by my original position… a pass is a pass…. 07 bar passers, quits quits na lang yan
goimon, based on your comments, i guess you had same fate as me.