Jhenroniel Rhey Timola Sanchez, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, topped the 2025 Bar Examinations, achieving an overall rating of 92.70%.
The country’s top state university once again demonstrated its academic strength after securing six positions in the Top 20.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST)-Manila, which served as the Bar examinations headquarters, also made a significant impact with four candidates in the Top 20, while an examinee from its sister school, UST-Legazpi, placed 16th.
Other candidates from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Arellano University, the University of the East (UE), and De La Salle–Lipa, among others, also placed in the top list.
A total of 5,594 examinees passed the 2025 Bar Examinations, representing a 48.98% passing rate, the Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday.
“The court approved the passing grade of 75% for the 2025 Bar Examinations. It means we did not adjust the passing grade… A total of 5,594 are privileged to join the legal profession,” said Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations.
In her message, she also reminded future lawyers to bear the privilege with humility.
In an interview with Manila Standard, Johan Gata, 2025 Bar Examinations Top 7, said he was overwhelmed by the results, admitting he did not expect to finish with flying colors.
“What I was only wishing for during the waiting time for the results was just to pass [the examinations]… I really did not expect that I would be one of the topnotchers in this year’s Bar,” he said.
Tedi Peña, another passer, said she felt relieved after seeing her name on the big screen, describing it as an “answered prayer.”
Meanwhile, Lazaro-Javier formally revealed that the “biggest venue” was prepared for the oath-taking and roll signing ceremonies, which will be held on February 6 at the Philippine Arena.
Last year’s Bar Examinations posted the highest passing rate in recent years since the 2020–2021 examinations, widely referred to as the “Best Bar Ever.”
Among the top-performing law schools with more than 100 examinees were Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas–Manila, Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation, and Far Eastern University.
The Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation (DVOREF) College of Law also emerged as one of the Top 5 law schools nationwide with the highest passing percentage in the 2025 Bar Examinations, based on official data released by the Supreme Court.
DVOREF recorded an 80.19% passing rate among first-time examinees from schools with more than 100 candidates, ranking fourth overall and placing it ahead of San Beda College of Law–Alabang and alongside leading institutions such as Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.
Out of 106 examinees, 85 passed the Bar, making DVOREF the only law school in the provinces to enter the national Top 5 in its category—an achievement widely seen as a breakthrough for regional legal education.
The DVOREF College of Law is headed by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a lawyer who earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law.
Dean Romualdez credited the strong Bar performance to disciplined preparation, faculty mentorship, and an academic culture anchored on ethics and public service.
“This achievement shows that excellence in legal education is not confined to Metro Manila,” Romualdez said. “I thank our administrative staff, faculty members, students, and parents for standing with us every step of the way and for helping turn our shared goal into reality.”
The Supreme Court’s “Performance of Law Schools” report, released on January 7, 2026, covers first-time Bar examinees nationwide and serves as the official benchmark for institutional performance in the 2025 Bar Examinations.
The examinations, held on September 7, 10, and 14, 2025 in 14 local testing centers across the country, set a new milestone as the largest number of finishers in Philippine Bar history.
