(Updated, May 2, 2020)

Do you know that the Bicol Region was able to produce 39 bar examinees since 1930 who are crème de la crème for being in the top 10? And do you know that the First Female Bar Topnotcher is a Bicolana who also happened to be the First Female Senator of the Republic of the Philippines?

Bicolanos do not only love music and literary arts but are also legal luminaries. Since 1930, the region was able to produce 39 bar topnotchers or an average of two every three years. Five of them ranked first and these are Mae Diane Azores (2019), Edwin Enrile (1999), Romulo San Juan (1970), Gregorio Castillo (1957) and Tecla San Andres (1930) of Naga, Camarines Sur who was later married to a Ziga in the First District of Albay. With former Senator Domingo Imperial who took the exam in 1912, we’ll have six who ranked first in the bar exams

Prior to Azores who became famous for being a topnotcher from a provincial law school, Tecla San Andres stole the limelight for decades. She was the first female to top the bar exams and the First Female Senator of the Philippines. It was her feat that catapulted the Zigas to the political limelight for several decades.

And talking about politics, some of the noted bar topnotchers who forayed into politics and became senators, Aside from Tecla, are Leila De Lima (1985 bar exams, 10th place) and Dominador Aytona (1949 bar exams, 2nd place).

Aside from the University of Santo Tomas (UST-Legazpi, formerly known as Aquinas University), the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) also produced three top 10 bar passers, and the Bicol Colleges. UNC produced John Michael Galauran who ranked 5th in 2007 bar exams; David C. Naval who also ranked 5th in 1960, and Benjamin Claveria who ranked 10th in 1958. Only Jose Evan who ranked 10th in 2003 came from Bicol Colleges.

Ten of the Bicolano topnotchers came from Ateneo de Manila and only six came from the University of the Philippines.

Below is the list of the Bicolanos who made it to the top 10 in the bar examinations from 1930.

Year	Passer’s Name	School	Rank	Hometown
2019	Mae Diane Azores	UST-Legazpi (Aquinas University)	1st	Legazpi City
2019	Myra M. Baranda	UST-Legazpi (Aquinas University)	3rd
2012	Carmela D. Base	University of the Philippines	5th	Cabusao, Camarines Sur
2010	Paolo Carlo C. Tolentino	Arellano University	3rd	Tigaon, Camarines Sur
2009	Jihan Jacob	San Beda College	9th	Naga City, Camarines Sur
2007	John Michael Galauran	University of Nueva Caceres	5th	Naga City, Camarines Sur
2007	Ralph Karlo B. Barcelona	Aquinas University (now UST-Legazpi)	7th	Legazpi City
2005	Tamsin Rae N. Lucila	University of the Philippines	5th	Camalig, Albay*
2003	Jose C, Evan	Bicol Colleges	10th	Daraga, Albay
1999	Edwin R. Enrile	Ateneo de Manila	1st	Naga City, Camarines Sur
1993	Maria Josefina G. Se	Ateneo de Manila	5th	Legazpi City
1992	Priscilla B. Valer	Ateneo de Manila	10th	Sto. Domingo Albay
1986	Bernardo V. Cabal	Ateneo de Manila	7th	Bula, Camarines Sur
1985	Lilian B. Hefti	San Beda College	4th	Bacacay, Albay
1985	Leila de Lima	San Beda College	10th	Iriga City, Camarines Sur
1984	Vivencio F. Abaño	Ateneo de Manila	6th	Daet, Camarines Norte
1980	Jaime S. Jacob	San Beda College	3rd	Naga City, Camarines Sur
1977	Nicolas J. Gomez, Jr.	Ateneo de Manila	10th	Payo, Catanduanes
1971	Romulo P. Atencia	Ateneo de Manila	5th	Bagamanoc, Catanduanes
1970	Romulo D. San Juan	University of the Philippines	1st	San Jacinto, Masbate
1969	Quintin J. Garcia	San Beda College	8th	Guinabatan, Albay
1966	Ruben F. Balane	University of the Philippines	2nd	Juban, Sorsogon
1965	Pio Y. Go	University of San Carlos	8th	Corpus, Masbate
1962	Joaquin G. Bernas	Ateneo de Manila	9th	Baao, Camarines Sur
1960	David C. Naval	University of Nueva Caceres	5th	Calabanga, Camarines Sur
1959	Custodio O. Parlade	Far Eastern University	4th	Ligao, Albay
1958	Benjamin A. Claveria	University of Nueva Caceres	10th	Buhi, Camarines Sur
1957	Gregorio R. Castillo	University of the Philippines	1st	Buhi, Camarines Sur
1956	Carlos R. Imperial	Ateneo de Manila	3rd	Daraga, Albay
1955	Manuel T. Muro	Far Eastern University	7th	Masbate, Masbate
1954	Jose R. Viñas	MLQU	6th	Malinao, Albay
1953	Jose C. Reyes	Ateneo de Manila	4th	Iriga , Camarines Sur
1950	Gregorio S. Turiano	Far Eastern University	8th	Iriga City, Camarines Sur
1949	Dominador Aytona	University of Manila	2nd	Libon, Albay
1948	Irene R. Cortes	University of the Philippines	9th	Libon, Albay
1947	Juan M. Hagad	University of the Philippines	2nd	Casiguran, Sorsogon
1946	Jose L. Papa	UST	5th	Legazpi, Albay
1939	Ramon Fernandez	University of the Philippines	2nd	Libon, Albay
1930	Tecla San Andres	University of the Philippines	1st	Naga, Camarines Sur
1912	Domingo Imperial	San Beda College	1st	Daraga, Albay

* Lucila used Quezon City as her hometown but she originally came from Camalig, Albay according to former Albay Vice Gov. Lito Tuanqui

Sources: SolStrat Files, Supreme Court Lawyers’ List; and Lito Estevez Tuanqui

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