Saturday, 2 December 2017

PISTON cancels December 4 and 5 transport strike

MANILA, Philippines - The scheduled nationwide transport strike on December 4 and 5 has been cancelled after the Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) heard the appeal of Senator Grace Poe.

PISTON cancels December 4 and 5 transport strike

"We welcome the decision of Piston and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition to heed our appeal and call off their nationwide transport strike," Sen. Poe, Chair of the Committee on Public Services said in a statement.

"Issues can be better discussed and resolved when sobriety and judiciousness are exercised, in pursuit of the highest public good," Poe added.



In a press briefing, the militant group instead to voice out their concerns on the Senate hearing on Thursday, December 7.

PISTON added the strike is being planned in January.

The supposed disturbance in the transport sector had prompted the cancellation of classes on Monday. Several LGUs took back their announcement after the recent development (READ: #WalangPasok: Class suspensions on Monday, December 4, 2017).

The groups are opposing the implementation of the government’s jeepney modernization program.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that public utility vehicles (PUVs) that are more than 15 years old will be banned from the road, and will be replaced by vehicles with "low-carbon and low-emission technology."

"The jeepney phase out is just one way for President Duterte to appeal himself to foreign and local capitalists. It has no other objective than for a few corporations to monopolize [the jeepney industry],” George San Mateo, PISTON’s national president said.

Stop and Go Transport Coalition President Jun Magno said that drivers and operators could not shoulder the P1.6-million loan for new jeepney units and daily amortization of P800.

The coalition proposed for the rehabilitation of old jeepneys instead of acquiring new units.

In October, the militant groups led a two-day strike, which caused Malacañang to suspend government work and classes nationwide.

— The Summit Express
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List of Passers: November 2017 Philippine Bar Exam results release

MANILA, Philippines — The November 2017 Philippine Bar Exam results are officially released online after the special en banc session in April to May 2018. Out of 6,750 law graduates who have completed the tests on the four Sundays of November 2017 (5, 12, 19 and 26), the full list of passers and topnotchers (top 10) who got at least 75 percent average grade will be announced by the Supreme Court (SC).

List of Passers: November 2017 Philippine Bar Exam results release

For the 116th bar exam, the SC Public Information Office (PIO) said: "7,227 were admitted to take but after first Sunday, only 6,759 remained and on the last two Sundays, there are only 6,750 examinees (still higher than 2016).

SUMMARY: 2017 BAR EXAM FULL RESULTS (check back for the updates):

  • A-G List of Passers: 2017 Philippine Bar Exam Results
  • H-O List of Passers: 2017 Philippine Bar Exam Results
  • P-Z List of Passers: 2017 Philippine Bar Exam Results
  • TOP 10 PASSERS: November 2017 Philippine Bar exams

The statistics showed that 477 of the 7,227 admitted candidates did not show up to complete the examinations.

As a protocol, takers who did not proceed on succeeding exams are not required to explain their absence. In addition, SC has no way of knowing if the examinees fell ill or were simply overwhelmed by fear of the grueling tests.

COVERAGE OF EXAMINATIONS

The 2017 bar exam was headed by Committee Chairman Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin and the eight (8) examiners for each bar subjects.

The examinable subjects are: Political Law and Public International Law (15%), Labor and Social Legislation (10%), Civil Law (15%), Taxation (10%), Mercantile Law (15%), Criminal Law (10%), Remedial Law (20%) and Legal and Judicial Ethics (5%).

Examinees were tasked to answer open-ended questions in long hand. Those questions, carefully selected by the committee, are formulated to test analytical ability, facility in expression in terms of written argument, comprehension of basic principles of law, and grasp of jurisprudence.

2017 BAR EXAM PASSING PERCENTAGE

While a bar examinee is “deemed to have passed his examinations successfully if he/she has obtained a general average of 75%,” the SC en banc has always retained for itself (based on its authority to amend the Rules) the discretion to make adjustments, as it did in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Bar Examinations to lower the bar exam passing percentage.

In 2012, the Bar exam committee lowered the passing average to as low as 70%. In 2013 and 2014, the highest court lowered the passing grade to 73% in view of the structure of the results, the difficulty the candidates encountered with the MCQ portion of the exam, and in light of past precedents.

Meanwhile, the standard passing grade of 75% was kept for the 2015 and 2016 examinations. Section 14, Rule 138 of Revised Rule of Court added that there should be no grade falling below 50% in any bar subject.

2017 BAR EXAM OFFICIAL RELEASE

The results of the 2015 and 2016 were both released on the first week of May the following year (specifically both May 3).

The Bar Examiners committee manually checked the test papers which caused the long waiting period of about five (5) months.

While there's no announcement yet on the exact release of results, the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) is tasked to release the 2017 Official List of Successful Bar Examinees, expected anytime in April to May 2018.

Traditionally, the full list of successful bar examinees will be flashed on a widescreen at the Supreme Court front yard and simultaneously be viewed at the official website of the high court.

2017 BAR EXAM UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prior to the official release of list of passers and topnotchers, reliable sources give some hints on the possible date of release of the results. Specifically, the Supreme Court and the personnel related to the administration of the bar exam are sharing information of the special en banc leading to the release of results mid-day of the schedule.

Same with the previous examinations, The Summit Express will provide immediate and live updates on this page and our social media accounts in time for the announcement of results.

PHILIPPINE BAR EXAM OVERVIEW AND HISTORY

The Philippine bar examinations, dubbed as the most prestigious professional licensure exam in the country for aspiring lawyers, is the only professional exam not handled by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). It is exclusively supervised by the Supreme Court.

The SC conducts the Bar examinations pursuant to Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides that it shall have the power to promulgate rules governing the admission to the practice of law.

Some Filipino lawyers say the bar exam is tough because it is centralized on eight bar subjects, with the expected annual passing rate of 20% to 30%.

Special en banc session for the 'decoding of bar exam results' is being done morning prior to the release of results. Decoding is the process where the SC orders the OBC to open the sealed envelopes with the names of the candidates who passed the exams.

From 2000 to 2006, the Bar exam passing rate exceeds 30% three times (in 2001, 2004, and 2006). After that, the passing rates saw a decline, with the rate going as low as 20.26% in 2010.

However, the following year, in 2011, the passing rate suddenly increased to more than 30 percent (31.95%). This was the year the SC introduced multiple-choice questions (MCQ) in the exams.

For two years, results for MCQs weighed more (60 percent) than the results for essay questions (40 percent). But unlike in the 2011 results, the 2012 passing rate plummeted to a 12-year low of 17.76%.

The following year, in 2013, the high court decided to change the Bar exam rules anew. This time, essay questions were made to weigh more (80 percent) than the MCQ (20 percent). That year, the passing rate recovered (22.18) but still far from the 30-percent mark in the early 2000s.

The 2014 exam also resulted to a low passing rate of 18.82% while a big jump was saw in 2015 having 26.21% , the the sixth highest since 2001 which had a 32.89 percent.

Last year, a record-breaking 59.06% passing rate was hit (3,747 out of 6,344 examinees). This was a historic high for at least 30 years. Reports said that 2016 Bar Chairman Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr was more "reasonable" as "points were given to answers, even if the positions taken may not exactly be the right answer."

In an unprecedented turnout, all topnotchers in the in the last year's bar exam came from the provincial law schools, dominating the usual top performing NCR-based schools. University of San Carlos' Karen Mae Calam aced the bar with a rating of 89.05%.

Check out the Comparative Results for the Bar Examinations in the past 16 years ( statistics courtesy of OBC):

Year No. of Examinees No. of Passers Passing Rate
2016 3747 6344 59.06%
2015 6,605 1,731 26.21%
2014 5,984 1,126 18.82%
2013 5,292 1,174 22.18%
2012 5,343 949 17.76%
2011 5,987 1,913 31.95%
2010 4,847 982 20.26%
2009 5,903 1,451 24.58%
2008 6,364 1,310 20.58%
2007 5,626 1,289 22.91%
2006 6,187 1,893 30.60%
2005 5,607 1,526 27.22%
2004 5,249 1,659 31.61%
2003 5,349 1,108 20.71%
2002 4,659 917 19.68%
2001 3,849 1,266 32.89%
2000 4,698 979 20.84%

Meanwhile, SC spokesman Theodore Te explained:

“Each bar examination must be considered unique in itself when we look at the comparative statistics across the years. Unlike other licensure examinations which employ a standard set of questions and the same set of examiners across a period of time, the bar examinations for each year is practically a new exam because the composition of the Committee differs—from the Chair, who has absolute and sole discretion to choose the questions to be asked, to the eight examiners, who are the ones who correct the notebooks."

So, when we look at a lower or higher percentage of passing for each year, it may be difficult to compare the two examinations as the questions are not the same, neither is the emphasis given by the Chair to particular topics; the appreciation of the answers, the point spread for each number during the checking by the examiners for each year will also differ.”

RELATED STORY
FULL RESULTS: 2016 Philippine Bar Exams

— The Summit Express
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Netizens react on Adamson Pep Squad’s win in the 2017 UAAP CDC

MANILA, Philippines - The Adamson Pep Squad finally won the UAAP Cheerdance competition and beat the National University (NU)’s winning streak on Saturday, December 2.

Netizens react on Adamson Pep Squad’s win in the 2017 UAAP CDC
The winner of the 2017 UAAP Cheerdance Competition, the Adamson Pep Squad. Photo Credit: Twitter/MOA Arena

The Soaring Falcon’s 80’s-inspired performance was very much applauded even before the announcement of the winners. Their stunts were flawlessly pulled off and the audience were in awe of their routine.

The Twitterverse was filled with reactions about their win. Some already anticipated the win after Adamson placed second runner up last year. Many felt that it’s such a “sweet win” to see the underdogs go up the podium.

Here are some of the top reactions from celebrities, fans and supporters.








So, that’s it for this year, let’s look forward to another exciting competition next year!

Congratulations, Adamson University!

— Sally, The Summit Express
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CHAMPION: Adamson Pep Squad wins 2017 Cheerdance Competition

MANILA, Philippines - The Adamson University Pep Squad won the UAAP Season 80 Cheerdance Competition (CDC) held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, December 2, 2017.

Adamson Pep Squad wins 2017 Cheerdance Competition
CONGRATULATIONS! Adamson University Pep Squad won their first UAAP cheerdance crown.

Adamson finally took home their first CDC title and joined the club of squads who have won the championship from the 23-year-old competition. Previous winners include the Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe, University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad and National University (NU) Pep Squad.

Adamson continued their climb atop the leaderboard after a pleasant surprise of a third-place finish a year ago. That put an end to their 15-year absence on the podium.

Adamson Pep Squad winner cheerdance 2017

Adamson won with an overall score of 663.50 followed by the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and the University of the East (UE) Cheering Squad with 638.50 and 634.50 points.

The San Marcelino-based squad received P 340,000 cash prize while the UST Dance Troupe and UE Cheering Squad took home P 200,000 and P 140,000, respectively.

The Adamson Pep Squad impressed the judges with their dance back to the 80s performance.

NU, the now-dethroned four-time champions, ended up in a tie for fourth-place with the FEU Cheering Squad with a score of 610.50.

UP, the winningest team in UAAP CDC, ranked sixth with 575.50 points.

— The Summit Express
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