#BestBarEver: Finally, Bar exams held despite COVID
Image: Daniella Marie Agacer
MANILA, Philippines — Held hostage by the COVID pandemic, one of the toughest examinations in the Philippines—the 2020/2021 Bar—was finally held.
Bar examinations in the Philippines are generally held on all Sundays of November, but because of COVID, the 2020/2021 Bar was shelved for two years.
Last Friday (Feb. 4), the Office of the 2020/2021 Bar Chairperson said there were 11,378 law graduates who took the exams in 31 local test centers at 21 local government units on the tests’ first day.
Graphic: Ed Lustan
One of the 11,378 examinees was Anya Remonte, a 2021 law graduate from the University of the Philippines–College of Law. She told INQUIRER.net on Thursday (Feb. 3) that the Bar exams generated “mixed feelings”.
“I’m happy that finally, after two years, there will be new lawyers because in these times when there are so many legal questions and issues floating around, we really need lawyers,” she said.
GRAPHICS: Ed Lustan
But Remonte said she also felt sad since “not all candidates can take the examinations because they tested positive” for the COVID virus. She said it’s disheartening because it was out of anyone’s control.
“They still tested positive even if they did everything to keep themselves safe from COVID-19. I guess, if the crisis response was better, all the over 11,000 candidates would’ve been given the chance to fight,” she said.
Graphic: Ed Lustan
Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the 2020/2021 Bar Chairperson, said the 11,378 was 96.5 percent of the 11,790 law graduates who were expected to take the examinations. There were 11,405 who downloaded pre-examination files.
READ: About 96 percent of examinees attend Day 1 of 2020/2021 bar exams
He said this was the largest batch of Bar examinees and the batch that will fill the lack of new lawyers in the last two years because of the COVID crisis which hit the Philippines starting in 2020.
Few changes
The 2020/2021 Bar exams, which should have been held in November 2020 and 2021, were postponed three times. While the Supreme Court (SC) tried to have the exams held the “soonest,” it was never easy.
Because of the challenges brought by the COVID crisis, the SC decided to introduce a few changes, like the digitalization of the Bar exams which will be held in several local test centers instead of one.
Graphic: Ed Lustan
On Feb. 14, 2021 the SC said instead of taking handwritten tests, examinees will be allowed to bring their laptops and will be “proctored” while taking the exams.
Leonen said the software that the SC used will stop all existing applications, even the operating system, so as soon as the password for the exams was typed in, no more applications are allowed.
RELATED STORY: Bar examinees warned: Do not post Notice of Admission on social media
Bar Bulletin No. 35 said examinees will be allowed to keep reviewers in their laptops, which should always be saved in local folders and “not downloadable from their clouds.”
However, it stressed that in any event, examinees should close all reviewers and other law-related files 30 minutes before the first test bell–7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m–rings.
Likewise, instead of having the Bar exams in one location—University of Santo Tomas in Manila—the SC decided to have it “localized” to significantly lessen examinees’ expenses and to comply with existing health protocols.
As Leonen said, there are 31 test centers in Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region.
Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen likewise had local test centers for the 2020/2021 Bar examinations.
Graphic: Ed Lustan
On Oct. 9, 2020, because of the expected rise in number of examinees since two Bar exams had been consolidated, the SC said each topic shall have three examiners to maximize the efficiency in evaluation of answers.
Look back
INQUIRER.net took a close look at the key instances which led to the conduct of the 2020/2021 Bar examinations this year. Here’s a look back from the day the SC first decided to move the examinations:
- April 29, 2020
The SC decided to postpone the exams because of the rise in COVID-19 cases, saying that it shall definitely be held in 2021 in Manila and Cebu City.
- June 29, 2020
The SC decided that the exams “will definitely not be held at a date earlier than February 2021” because of the COVID crisis, lockdown protocols, and the continuing precariousness of the situation.
- 8, 2020
As the COVID crisis persisted, the SC decided it would hold the next exams in November 2021.
- 24, 2020
The Office of the Bar Chairperson confirmed that it has been looking at the possibility of conducting online but proctored bar exams or a mix of online and written exams in more than two places as part of Bar reforms.
“Accessibility to the Bar exams and geographic equity has always been one of the more important principles that has moved Bar reforms,” said Leonen.
- 9, 2020
Because of the expected increase in number of examinees, the SC said each Bar topic shall have 3 examiners to maximize the efficiency in the evaluation of answers.
The SC also resolved to explore the possibility of computerizing the examinations which would do away with the traditional handwritten tests. It said a series of activities shall commence to test the viability of the proposed system.
- 1, 2021
With 120 students, the SC held mock exams in preparation for digitalized tests in November 2021. These were held at the Ateneo de Manila University in Makati, St. Louis University, University of Cebu, and Ateneo de Davao University.
- July 15, 2021
The SC said online application–July 15 to Sept. 15, 2021–for the exams will be done through the Bar Personalized Login Unified System app.
It’s a homegrown online application system through which applicants for the exams will file their verified petition, other required documents and information, like proof of payment of the Bar application fee.
- 18, 2021
The SC released the list of 24 local test centers for the exams. It said the “regionalization” was to significantly lessen the examinees’ travel and accommodation expenses, as well as minimize transit to comply with health protocols.
- 28, 2021
After considering the COVID crisis in the Philippines and in all local test centers, as well as advice from several experts, the SC moved the November 2021 examinations to Jan. 16, 23 and 30, and Feb. 6.
- 11, 2021
After assessment, the SC decided to add five institutions in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Northern Mindanao as local test centers.
- 4, 2021
The SC lessened the coverage and the examination dates for the 2020/2021 Bar exams. The SC said, though, that this will be “pro hac vice” or it will only be for the 2020/2021 Bar exams.
READ: SC reduces coverage, shortens duration of 2020/21 bar exams
The SC said the exams were set on Jan. 23 and 25.
- 14, 2022
Because of the rise in COVID cases in the Philippines, the SC decided to move the exams to Feb. 4 and Feb. 6.
READ: SC reschedules 2020/21 Bar Examination to February 4 and 6
It said 16.8 percent of 8,546 examinees who have responded to the e-mail sent by the Office of the Bar Chairperson are either positive for the COVID virus, living with someone positive for the virus or in isolation because of direct contact with someone positive for the virus.
- 24, 2022
The SC, in saying that examinees will be allowed to keep reviewers in their laptops through local folders, said: “Examinees may also review their own files during lunch breaks. For local testing centers with assigned lunch areas, examinees may bring laptops there; for those that allow eating inside the testing rooms, examinees may use their laptops inside to review.”
Lessened coverage
Since the Bar exams were postponed for two years, the SC, on Jan. 4, 2021, lessened their coverage, but only for the 2020/2021 exams.
Graphic: Ed Lustan
Leonen said the changes seek to meet demand for new lawyers as disasters continue to hit the country. He said examinees for the 2020/2021 Bar exams have gotten more time to review even in difficult circumstances.
“The Philippines has produced no new lawyer since the pandemic. But while the Bar examinations may no longer be postponed, it can be held in a way that is more humane,” he said.
Bar Bulletin No. 31 said the first day (Feb. 4) and second day (Feb. 6) of the Bar exams will consist of these:
- 18 questions (30 percent) on The Law Pertaining to the State and Its Relationship with Its Citizens
- 15 questions (15 percent) on Criminal Law
- 18 questions (30 percent) on The Law Pertaining to Private Personal and Commercial Relations
- 18 questions (25 percent) on Procedure and Professional Ethics
COVID protocols
Since the 2020/2021 Bar exams will be held while COVID remained a threat, Leonen crafted health protocols based on consultations with the Department of Health and engagements with LGUs:
- Completely vaccinated examinees
To take the exams, they need to obtain a negative antigen test result within 48 hours before 4:00 a.m. of Feb. 4. However, the LGU may prescribe an earlier testing date.
RELATED STORY: Bar examinees told to self-quarantine prior to scheduled exam
- Partially vaccinated, not vaccinated examinees
To take the exams, they need to obtain a negative RT-PCR test result, taken within 72 hours before 4:00 a.m. of Feb. 4.
- Symptomatic examinees
Regardless of vaccination status and negative COVID test results, they will have to be examined medically on site before entering the test centers.
If they are required to take an emergency antigen test on site, a positive result will prevail over the prior negative test result and the examinee will be barred from entering the local test center.
Leonen said out of the 8,461 antigen tests administered by the SC, only 1.36 percent or 115 tested positive for the COVID virus.
In Cebu, some examinees may have to wait until next year to take the exams since they yielded a positive antigen test result. The local government said the examinees already took RT-PCR tests for confirmation.
READ: Bar examinees in Cebu City test positive for COVID-19
Leonen explained that when one yields a positive antigen test result, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is not allowed to enter because there are those considered as “recovered”.
He said based on DOH and LGU guidelines, if one tests positive but he or she is a recovered case, that person is assumed to have already finished quarantine.
Fighting for dreams
Through the years, the Bar exams, one of the hardest in the Philippines, were not only about concepts of laws but a source of inspiration.
MOTHER’S DREAM. While COVID-19 shelved the traditional send-offs for Bar examinees, a mother stands on a sidewalk in Manila after taking her child to a local test center. PHOTO COURTESY OF ATTY. RODEL TATON
Lawyer Rodel Taton, dean of the Graduate School of Law of San Sebastian College–Recoletos, shared on Twitter some photos that were taken as he headed to the De La Salle University in Manila.
RELATED STORY: MMDA: Some roads in Manila City closed for Bar Exams on February 4 and 6
He shared a photo of a mother who was standing near the sidewalks of Taft Avenue after walking with her child, who will take the exams in one of the local test centers in Metro Manila.
Taton also posted a photo of a man walking on Taft Avenue while carrying a bag and laptop. He said: “While unseen, he is carrying tons of books, words, concepts, jurisprudence, courage and everything he has. He is walking with his dreams. He will become a lawyer.”
CARRYING HIS DREAMS. A man who will take the Bar examinations walks through Taft Avenue in Manila as he heads to a local test center. PHOTO COURTESY OF ATTY. RODEL TATON
Here’s a glimpse of most recent Bar exams held in the Philippines:
- 2010
982 or 20.26 percent of 4,847
Topnotcher: Caesario Antonio Singzon, Ateneo de Manila University, 89.000 percent
- 2011
1,913 or 31.9 percent of 5,990
Topnotcher: Raoul Angelo Atadero, Ateneo de Manila University, 85.536 percent
- 2012
949 or 17.76 percent of 5,343
Topnotcher: Ignatius Micahel Ingles, Ateneo de Manila University, 85.640 percent
- 2013
1,174 or 22.18 percent of 5,292
Topnotcher: Nielson Pangan, University of the Philippines, 85.8 percent
- 2014
1,126 or 18.82 percent of 5,984
Topnotcher: Irene Mae Alcobilla, San Beda University, 85.5 percent
- 2015
1,731 or 26.21 percent of 6,605
Topnotcher: Rachel Angeli Miranda, University of the Philippines, 87.40 percent
- 2016
3,747 or 59.06 percent of 6,344
Topnotcher: Karen Mae Calam, University of San Carlos, 89.05 percent
- 2017
1,724 or 25.5 percent of 6,748
Topnotcher: Mark John Simondo, University of St. La Salle–Bacolod, 91.05 percent
- 2018
1,800 or 22.07 percent of 8,158
Topnotcher: Sean James Borja, Ateneo de Manila University, 89.306 percent
- 2019
2,103 or 27.36 percent of 7,685
Topnotcher: Mae Diane Azores, University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi, 91.049 percent
RELATED STORY: PNP to deploy 200 cops for Bar exams in Cebu City
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