Working Student Tops 5 Twice over Ranks 5th in 2025 Bar and 5th in CPALE 2019

 

MANILA, Philippines — While many aspire to pass the Bar, few achieve the rare distinction of ranking in the top tier—not once but twice across major national licensure exams.

Marc Angelo Santos, a working law student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law, secured fifth place in the 2025 Bar Examinations, repeating his earlier feat of ranking 5th in the 2019 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam (CPALE).

“Actually, na-blangko ako kasi hindi ako makapaniwala. To be ranked 5th is something na hindi ko ma-imagine,” Santos told Manila Standard, recounting his reaction to learning his results.

Balancing work with the demanding schedule of law school and bar review was no easy task. Santos admitted, “I must admit it is really hard being a working law student, since you would want to give your 100% in studying… I took it as a challenge from the very start.”

In the 2025 Bar exams, he posted a general average of 91.5875%, joining three other Thomasians in the Top 10—an achievement that highlights the strength of UST’s Faculty of Civil Law.

From CPA to Bar Topnotcher

Santos first made headlines in 2019 when he placed 5th in the CPALE with a score of 89.17%—an accomplishment he credits with shaping his approach to law school and bar review.

“The CPA licensure exam historically has a low passing rate. So at the time, I was really pressured to pass and do well. I think I carried that discipline and those efforts into my law school and Bar exam review,” he said.

His mother, also a CPA, inspired his early interest in accountancy and instilled in him the values of discipline, hard work, and perseverance. Santos noted that knowledge from certain accountancy subjects—such as taxation—proved useful during his law studies, particularly in commercial law.

Despite expectations following his CPA success, Santos said his main goal for the Bar was simply to pass, not necessarily to replicate his earlier ranking.

Bar Results and Passing Rate

The Supreme Court released the 2025 Bar Exam results on January 7 at its Manila headquarters, announcing a national passing rate of 48.98%, up from last year’s 37.84%.

Santos’ remarkable journey—from achieving top marks in the CPALE to earning a place among the Bar’s topnotchers—stands as a testament to his dedication, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence in both accounting and law.