12,029 take Bar exams

A record 12,029 law graduates took the first day of the Philippines’ 2026 Bar examinations, the highest number of applicants and examinees ever recorded, according to Bar exam chairman Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan.

Of 14,291 applicants, 13,441 were officially cleared to take the exams. Women make up about 56% of the examinees. Bar exam head Cheska Ann Pazziuagan said some mothers had asked whether they could bring breast pumps into the testing venues.

Most examinees are taking the test on laptops, but three received handwritten versions. They include a 64-year-old with an eye ailment, a 49-year-old undergoing therapy for a shoulder injury and a 69-year-old with limited exposure to computers. Coders are assisting four other examinees, including a visually impaired person, someone with a rare form of meningitis, a 75-year-old struggling with computer literacy and a person who lost both arms.

An inmate also took the exam at an undisclosed testing site under security protocols. The exams are being held at 15 centers nationwide, covering six subjects, including civil, criminal, labor, commercial and taxation law, as well as legal ethics and practical exercises. Heavy rains remain a concern, and Gaerlan said the committee could cancel the exams at an individual center. The remaining exam days are scheduled for Sept. 9 and 13.

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limited exposure to computers throughout his life