More Changes for Philippine Bar Exams

After the news on Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) with memorandum writing as newly-introduced style for the upcoming Philippine Bar examinations, the Supreme Court recently announced two additional developments.  

According to the High Court, the 2011 entrance tests for lawyers will be moved to November instead of the usual month of September, so as to veer away from the heavy rains and typhoons that happen mostly within this month.  

To recall, the SC was forced to postpone the last Sunday during the 2009 examinations because of the massive flooding in Metro Manila area at the height of typhoon Ondoy.

Another change is that the examinees are expected not to troop to De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila, which had been the case for years, but would be pushing their test pens in the University of Sto. Tomas instead.  Change of venue, the SC says, came about after the DLSU declined to renew its lease contract for the holding of the exams in its campus.

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Five-Time Flunkers May Retake Bar Exams

Law graduates who, after five takes in the Philippine Bar Examinations, were disqualified may find hope in a proposal recently lodged by Congress for the Supreme Court to allow them one more re-examination.

Through House Resolution No. 649, siblings-legislators Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. seek the High Court's approval to temporarily suspend the "five-strike rule."  

According to this rule, a bar candidate who fails his first Bar Exam still has two chances, but if on the third try he still flunks, he needs to go back to fourth year law school to get a refresher course in all major subjects before he can be allowed for another two takes.  And if he remains unsuccessful after a total of five tries, he is disqualified forever to take such exams.   

The lawmakers assert that such proposal will give fair chances to those previously disqualified examinees, and would permit them to take a shot at the new version of the Bar Exams, which is the Multiple Choice Question type.

The 2011 Bar Examinations Committee, chaired by Associate Justice Roberto Abad, has been working with law deans and colleges for the exam style of 60% MCQ and 40% essay.  

Knowledge and recall, comprehension, case analysis, and law application will make up the entire examinations, according to reports.  An examinee should, however, ensure to pass the MCQ so as to proceed with the essay or memorandum writing test.  

The MCQ will be 200 items picked out by examiners from 300 items pooled from various topics falling under a major subject.  The Essay Test may consist of answering straight questions about the law and drafting of resolution, memorandum, position paper, or opinion.  Each Essay Test, the reports say, will be read and checked, and re-read and re-checked by a five-man team of examiners.

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Bar Review in Cebu Until March 2011

The Albano Bar Review Center is holding advanced review classes for candidates to the 2011 Philippine Bar examinations in select cities of Cebu, Manila, Baguio, Tacloban, Naga, and General Santos.  The review started on November 13, 2010 and will run until March 13, 2011.  

Led by Dean Ed Vincent S. Albano, the line-up of reviewers include Atty. Jason R. Barlis, Dean Baldomero C. Estenzo, Atty. Ed Vincent A. Albano III, Atty. Zarah R. Villanueva-Castro, Atty. Edwin R. Sandoval, Justice Japar Dimaampao, Atty. Joselito G. Chan, Atty. Benedicto G. Kato, Atty. Teresita L. Cruz, Dean Abelardo C. Estrada, Judge Meinrado Paredes, Atty. Victoria C. Garcia, Dean Reynaldo Agranzamendez, Dean Honorato Aquino, and Dean Ralph A. Sarmiento.  

In collaboration with the University of Cebu College of Law, classes in Cebu City are held in UC-Banilad located in Gov. Cuenco Avenue, Banilad Road.  The Review Center also welcomes law undergraduates. 

The 2011 Regular Pre-Bar Review will soon begin after the advanced review classes end.

//rmis