From Seafarer to Certified Lawyer
CHARMAINE ARCE GABELO – A 43-year-old former seafarer from Cavite, has become a certified lawyer after passing the 2024 Bar Exams.
On December 13, 2024, Supreme Court Associate Justice and Bar Chairperson Mario Lopez announced that 3,962 examinees passed the 2024 Bar exams, accounting for 37.8% of the 10,490 law graduates who took the exams in September. This marks a slight increase from the previous year, where 36.77% passed.
Lopez further explained that the Supreme Court had lowered the passing grade from 75% to 74%, which allowed more examinees to pass. He noted that this adjustment added nearly 1,000 new lawyers to the list, joking that the prayers of many seemed to have worked.
The 2024 Bar exams, held in September across 13 testing centers nationwide, initially had over 12,000 examinees. However, some were unable to finish. Despite these challenges, the results brought joy to many, as a new batch of lawyers joined the profession.
Kyle Christian Tutor, a graduate of the University of the Philippines, topped the exams with an impressive score of 85.77%. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also reminded the public that examinee scores are considered sensitive personal information under the Data Privacy Act and cannot be disclosed without the examinees’ consent.
Among the recent Bar Exam passers is Charmaine Arce Gabelo, a former seafarer from Cavite. Gabelo studied law at the Philippine Christian University in Dasmariñas during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. She successfully passed the Bar Exams on her first attempt. In an interview, she expressed gratitude, attributing her success to God’s guidance. Gabelo aspires to become a criminal lawyer in the future.
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