BAGUIO CITY – Supporters flocked to Saint Louis University for the yearly tradition of the Bar Salubong, this Sunday, September 15.
The Philippine Bar Examinations were held on September 8, 11, and 15. The 15th marked the last day of the examinations.
According to the Supreme Court, only 10,483 out of the 12,246 applicants took the examination. Meanwhile, 1,158 examinees took the exam at Saint Louis University, Baguio City.
Bar operations nationwide, families, and friends braved the crowd to wait for the examinees. Bordering both ends of Bonifacio Street, they proudly showed off their tarpaulins, posters, placards, flowers, and balloons. Various bar operations from the cordilleras likewise showed off their support through the banging of their gongs and their traditional dances.
“So right now we are trying our best to give our full support by providing them bar kits po, like every Wednesday. We are all gathered sa ALC sa UB to conduct these operation kits, so that during examinations there will be bar kits that will be provided to them (bar examinee). Kasi as a law student din, it’s also important to participate in operation, kasi when our time comes na kami naman ‘yung mag-bar exam, at least meron din tutulong sa amin, especially sa law school ng UB or sa organizations namin,” Ava Garcia, a bar operations member from the University of Baguio shared.
Susan Soriano, a parent of a bar examinee who traveled all the way from Tuguegarao expressed her mixed feelings upon waiting for their child to finish the exam.
“Okay naman, masaya. Okay naman, pero pati rin kami kinakabahan. Exciting,” Soriano said.
It was already around 4 pm when some of the examinees finished.
“Nakakapagod po, naka-ka-drain, pero worth it’ pagnatapos lahat, kasi feeling ko justified lahat ng pagod ko,” Marc Macaspac, a bar examinee from Angeles University Foundation, stated.
The Bonifacio Street was closed from 3 pm to 7 pm, and vehicles were advised to reroute. To ensure the safety of the examinees and salubong participants, the PNP, POSD, CDRRMC, BFP, and barangay officials of Baguio City surrounded the area.
The exam finally ended around 6 pm, with the crowd chanting and cheering as they awaited the examinees.
The results of the 2024 Bar Examination are expected to be released by the end of this year, while the oath-taking ceremony and the signing of the Roll of Attorneys are already scheduled on January 24, 2025. By Heleina Taeza and Rachelle Quilling
