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Bar Exams Answers

Useful Introductory Lines


(May also be used in preparing pleadings)

“To my mind, the four year (or more) law study


of a Bar candidate is more than sufficient to at
least hurdle the Bar, if not top it. But that is on
the assumption that the Bar aspirant has been
a diligent law student, meaning he/she has
religiously studied every subject of the course.

I made this to be of help to law graduates


who will be taking the Bar in the near future.
All of them for sure know the law. After all,
perhaps it would be safe to presume, that
they will not graduate if they did not deserve
to. Taking the Bar and answering every
question given by the Honorable Bar
examiners are not based solely in knowing
the law.
I think that you will agree with me that it is
more of

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CONVEY

to the examiner (thru the test booklet


answers) that the Bar candidate knows the
applicable law and how should it be properly
applied in the given scenario. Appropriate
usage of introductory words and statements
are great factors, to the point I guess that it
would appear that as if we know the law,
when in truth and in fact,
we do not or that we have forgotten the
same
Let’s admit it, it is hard to know all the
answers in a given
Bar exam. Well, that is perfectly normal.
But do not ever get discouraged.

Page 1 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
Familiarize yourself with these introductory
lines…
Answering the Bar will then flow smoothly as
it should be.”

- Atty. Rey C. Tatad, Jr.

WHY READ THIS?

Imagine a test booklet with same introductory answer “The law


provides” from answer to question no. 1 to answer to the n th
question. It is boring to read right? If you are the one who will check
such test booklet, chances are, your enthusiasm in checking it might
lessen as you go about the docket of booklets 
Hence, these useful introductory lines were culled from
Supreme Court decided cases and compiled for anybody’s
consumption.

WHO MAY USE THIS?


 Justices / Judges (I said may use ha, I did not say they will )
 Bar candidates
 Law students
 Colleagues in the law profession
 Anybody else who may want to

REASON/S BEHIND THE LAW


1. The purpose of the law is…
2. The law is designed to…
3. It is intended to shield …
4. It is primarily aimed at protecting ____________ from
unwarranted __________
5. The rationale behind the law is…
6. The spirit of the law is to the effect that…

DEFINITION / EXPLANATION
1. ________________ is a comprehensive term used to
describe _________.
2. _________________, in its generally accepted sense,
refers to ….
3. … It is a safeguard and guarantee provided by the 1987
Constitution..
Page 2 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
4. … It is a kind of relief granted to a ______________ by the …
5. ________________ is a branch of public law (or private law)
which deals with..
6. It pertains to…
7. It connotes a ….
8. … is a doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) which refers to…
9. … is a principle in (i.e. Criminal Law) which states that…
10. It presupposes…
11. Its principal identifying feature is..
12. It is akin to…
13. The function of which is to…
14. The office of which is to…

ENUMERATION
1. In capsule form, the following are the elements of the
crime of _____________
2. In a nutshell, the following are the elements of the crime
of _____________
3. The following elements are generally considered in the
determination of the presence of (i.e. employer-employee
relationship)
4. Among the (i.e. defenses/remedies) available to (i.e. Mr. X) as
provided for by/in the (i.e. Civil Code) are:
(1)…
(2)…
5. The following are the requisites for…
6. In order that a case for (i.e. B.P. 22) to prosper, the following
elements must be attendant/present:
7. To constitute (i.e. homicide), the following requisites must
concur:
8. (i.e. Legal compensation) requires the concurrence of the
following conditions:
9. To establish a person’s culpability under (i.e. estafa), it is
indispensable that…

* Tips on answers that require enumerating something. (i.e.


elements)
 If you can enumerate all, write it in bulleted or numbered form
to highlight the fact that you know all of them and for more
convenient-reading purposes.
(i.e. 1.
2.
Page 3 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
3.
 If you cannot enumerate all, write it in paragraph form so that it
would not easily be noticeable that you missed something.
(I got the above tip from our mentor Atty. Gafar Lutian)
DISTINCTION

When being asked to distinguish, do not state its definition. If you


give its definition, you are in effect asking the examiner to extract out
the differences of the two [or more] from your definition. Do not also
give their similarities. You are asked to differentiate and contrast, so
similarities are not included (That was a tip I learned from my
professor in Civil Law Review I, Atty. Virgilio Gesmundo).The
number of distinctions you will give must also be proportionate on
the points allotted for such. If it is only worth two points, do not give
8 distinctions. The examiner cannot give you 8 points for that .
For a two point distinction question, perhaps, three would be enough
(four is not too much).

1. The (i.e. two) may be distinguished from each other in the


followings ways:
a.
b.
2. In the first, it is necessary that there be….., whereas in the
second it is sufficient that there be ….
3. In the former, … while in the latter…
4. The former requires … while the latter…
5. … on the other hand ______________ is…

ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH VAGUE FACTS


(or which requires qualification)
But if the facts are complete in itself, do not attempt to add facts or
assume anything.

1. We must distinguish. If… (or As far as the __________ is


concerned)
2. It depends. If…(or As far as the __________ is concerned)
3. The question requires a qualified answer. If…
4. I will qualify. If…
5. On the assumption that…
6. My answer must be qualified.

Page 4 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
JURISDICTION

1. The case is beyond the ambit of the jurisdiction of the (i.e.


Regional Trial Court)
2. It is within the ambit of the (i.e. Secretary of Labor’s)
power.
3. It is not within the province of the (i.e. Municipal Trial Court)
4. It is clearly within the powers of the (i.e. Labor Arbiter) to…
5. The case of (i.e. ejectment) lies with the Municipal Trial Court.
6. The case is cognizable by the (i.e. Regional Trial Court)
7. The case is covered by the (Rules on Summary Procedure).
8. The law vests upon the (i.e. Secretary of Justice) the power
to…

ELABORATING/EXPOUNDING ANSWERS

Go straight to the point. The length of answers and expounding


the same, must always be proportionate to the points allotted for
such particular question. The higher the points, the more in-depth
the elaboration should be. However, it must not appear “na
nambobola ka na”. Sometimes, if your answer is too long, it is an
indication that you are not sure of the answer so there is that need
of getting around the bush. Remember that most of the times,
MORE TALK, MORE MISTAKE!!! (I got this tip from my professor in
Political Law, Dean Mariano F. Magsalin, Jr.)

1. It should be borne in mind that…


2. It must be noted that…
3. It may be recalled that…
4. It is worth observing…
5. It must be taken into consideration that…
6. More importantly, ….
7. Significantly,…
8. Corollarily,…
9. Furthermore,…
10. Moreover,…
11. Similarly,…
12. Parenthetically,…
13. In other words,…
14. Otherwise stated,…
15. Simply put,…
16. Simply stated,…
Page 5 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
17. Stated more concretely…
18. The reasons are obvious. (expound)
19. The reasons are well-known. (expound)
20. The reasons are plain. (expound)
21. Under the same line of reasoning,…
22. As regards…
23. With regard to… (it is error to state “with regards to”)
24. Anent the (i.e. first issue),…
25. As far as the ________________ is concerned,…
26. This is indicated by the fact that…
27. The language of the law leaves no room for doubt that,

28. Justice and fair-play dictates that,…
29. Applying the principle of….
30. For all its conceded merits, (i.e. equity is available in
the absence of law and not as its replacement)…
31. The law is categorical with regard to…
32. Notwithstanding the… (i.e. execution of the document)
33. It is beyond debate that,…
34. It is imperative to look at,…
35. This is consistent with the time-honored maxim (i.e.
nullum crimen nulla poena sine lege).
36. As it is imbued with public interest,…
37. In like manner,
38. In the same manner,
39. In the same vein,
40. In the same breath,
41. Likewise,..
42. In fine,
43. It bears articulating that
44. The controlling element in the (i.e. crime of estafa) is…
45. By analogy,…
46. Suffice it to state that..
47. Emphasis must also be placed at…
48. Manifestly, there was (i.e. grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction)
49. Needless to stress that…
50. It goes without saying that
51. The Supreme Court frowns upon the (i.e. illegal
practice of forum shopping as it erodes the administration of
justice and makes a mockery of the justice system).

Page 6 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
52. There is no denying in this case, that (i.e. the petitioner
never raised the issue of jurisdiction throughout the entire
proceedings in the trial court; case of Tijam vs. Sibonghanoy)
53. It is now too late in the day for the respondent/defendant
to (i.e. raise the issue of …)
54. Equally telling is the (i.e. factual finding of the lower
court) that…
55. The gravamen of the (i.e. the crime of rebellion is an
armed public uprising against the government)
56. It cannot be denied that (i.e. the petitioner is also guilty
of negligence)…
57. Attention must be drawn to the fact that…
58. ___________ and ____________ are two mutually
exclusive remedies. An application of one precludes the
application of the other.
59. To amplify,…
60. It must be pointed out that…
61. Notably,…
62. At the outset, the (i.e. defendant)…
63. Coming now to the issue of (i.e. prescription),…

CITING LAW PROVISIONS

1. No less than the (i.e. 1987 Constitution) provides for the…


2. The (i.e. Rules of Court) substantially provides in part that…
3. Under the broad principles of (i.e. due process clause)…
4. Under the all-encompassing doctrine of (i.e. incontestability
clause)…
5. Under the law…
6. According to the (i.e. Family Code)…
7. The law is explicit on the matter.
8. The law explicitly expresses in part that…
9. By express provision of law,…
10. By operation of law…
11. As a matter of law…
12. Worth remembering is the rule on _______________
which provides in part that…
13. Decisive on the matter is the pertinent provision of
the (i.e. Law on Property)
14. The law prescribes certain rules on…
15. By legislative fiat…

Page 7 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
QUOTING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

1. The Supreme Court in one case, had the occasion to rule


that…
2. In a long-line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, it has
always been (consistently) held that…
3. In a litany of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
4. In a long-string of cases decided by the highest court of the
land,
5. According to several cases decided by the Supreme Court,…
6. In a series of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
* Do not use the words series, litany or long-line if there is only
one decision/jurisprudence for that topic.
7. In one case decided by the highest court of the land, it was
held that
8. In one case, the Supreme Court ruled that
9. It has been said that…
10. In a recent case, the Supreme Court has laid to rest the issue
of whether or not…
11. It is well settled in this jurisdiction…
12. It is well settled in this country…
13. The Supreme Court has steadfastly adhered to the
doctrine which states that
14. In a case with similar facts, the Supreme Court ruled that…
15. In several notable Supreme Court decisions, the highest court
declared that…
16. The Supreme Court has often stressed that…
17. In the landmark case of _____________, (if the case is so
famous) the Supreme Court laid down the doctrine which
substantially provides that…
18. In the leading case of …
19. As enunciated by the Supreme Court in one case,…
20. The court has repeatedly ruled…
21. A case in point is a case already decided by no other than the
highest court of the land, where the Supreme Court held that…
22. There is likewise an array of cases in this jurisdiction where
the Supreme Court has consistently declared that…
23. Deeply rooted is the jurisprudence which provides that…
24. In one case, the Supreme Court was emphatic when it
ruled that….

Page 8 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
EMPHASIZING CASE DOCTRINES / JURISPRUDENCE

1. It is hornbook doctrine in (i.e. Civil Law) that…


2. Immortal is the rule that…
3. Well settled is the rule…
4. Well entrenched is the principle that..
5. Elementary is the rule that..
6. The cardinal rule in (i.e. labor law) is that
7. It is a familiar canon in (i.e. political law) that
8. By well settled public law…
9. Basic is the rule in (i.e. Criminal Law)…
10. It is an elementary principle in…
11. It is a fundamental doctrine in…
12. Well accepted is the rule that…
13. It is axiomatic in (i.e. Civil Law) that
14. Enshrined in the 1987 Constitution is the rule that
(i.e. no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property
without due process of law)
15. Consonant with the rule on…
16. It is a recognized doctrine in (i.e. Civil law) that…
17. It is a basic tenet in (i.e. Commercial Law)
18. Consistent with current jurisprudence
19. It is a legal presumption, born of wisdom and
experience, that (i.e. official duty has been regularly
performed; that the proceedings of a judicial tribunal are
regular and valid and that judicial acts and duties have been
and will be duly and properly performed. The burden of
proving irregularity in official conduct is on the part of the
petitioners.)
20. It is an oft-repeated rule that…
21. The Philippines adhere to the principle of…

REFERRING BACK TO THE CASE


(correlating the facts with the law/jurisprudence)

Note: In my personal opinion, it is not proper to use the statements


“in the case at bench” or “in the case at bar” when answering.
Although I guess it is very tempting because it sounds good and
professional to state, “in the case at bar/bench”, we must not forget
that the cases given in the Bar are only theoretical. The statements
“in the case at bench” and “in the case at bar” are more
appropriately used in pleadings in court. After all, you can use the
Page 9 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
statements “In the instant case, In the facts given, In the
problem given and In the question presented.”

1. Applying the said law/doctrine in the instant case,


2. From the facts given, noteworthy is the …
3. From the facts of the case, it is readily observable that…
4. In the instant case, it may be observed that…
5. It is crystal clear from the facts presented that (i.e. the crime of
treason) is present (or was committed).
6. In the present case, it is immediately noticeable that the
element of __________ is wanting (or lacking).
7. Under the circumstances, the proper remedy would be…
8. The case obtaining indicates a case of (i.e. B.P. 22)
9. It logically follows…
10. It goes without saying…
11. Even assuming arguendo, for the sake of argument
that…
12. The situation in the case at hand…
13. The situation presented evinces a case of...
14. The facts sufficiently indicated …
15. In the given facts, it is immediately apparent that…
16. It is evident that…
17. In the same token…
18. Under the facts stated in the problem,…
19. In the case under consideration,…
20. Worth stressing is the fact that
21. Worth emphasizing is the fact that
22. The facts would reveal that…
23. A careful perusal of the facts of the case would reveal
that…
24. A careful scrutiny of the actuations of the accused would
reveal that…
25. A careful reading of the (i.e. Deed of Absolute Sale)
would reveal that…
26. A cursory examination of the…

ANSWERING IN THE POSITIVE

1. The petition is meritorious.


2. The contention has legal basis.
3. The case will prosper.
Page 10 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
4. The argument is proper.
5. The provision is perfectly applicable.
6. The action is tenable.
7. The motion should be granted.
8. The Judge is correct.
9. The petition is impressed with merit.
10. Yes. It is a (i.e. patent violation) of the
11. There is merit in the petition.
12. The petitioner’s contention is sustainable.

ANSWERING IN THE NEGATIVE

1. The contention does not hold water.


2. With all due respect to the judge, his decision is apparently
erroneous or is not in accord with law and existing
jurisprudence.
3. The contention is totally misplaced.
4. It is now too late in the day to raise the issue of…
5. The petition is not meritorious.
6. The evidence presented deserves scant consideration.
7. The contention has no legal basis.
8. The argument is bereft of merit.
9. The petition is devoid of merit.
10. Petitioner’s reliance on the (i.e. doctrine of…) is
inappropriate. The doctrine of … does not apply in cases
where / of…
11. It is a futile gesture on the part of the respondent to
invoke the rule on…
12. The theory/argument has no ground to stand upon.
13. The contention has no leg with which to stand on.
14. The position of the petitioner runs counter with the
doctrine of…
15. The case will not prosper.
16. The case is not tenable.
17. The act of the accused in… is of no moment.
18. The assertion lacks substance.
19. The decision is erroneous.
20. The court cannot countenance the (i.e. inconsistent
postures of the petitioner)
21. The testimony that…, cannot be given credence.
22. The evidence presented has no probative value.
23. The allegation is belied by the fact that…
Page 11 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
24. To put it otherwise would be to render the law on
_____________ useless/futile.
25. The actuations of the accused in (i.e. fleeing and hiding)
negates (i.e. innocence)
26. While it is true that _______________ is a (i.e.
constitutional guaranteed right of a person), it does not,
however mean…
27. It is not correct to say that…
28. It is not proper to state that…
29. It is not accurate to conclude outright that…
30. A contrary conclusion would erode the rule that provides
in part that…
31. To sustain the contention would be to render the law on
____________ nugatory.
32. It would be absurd and incongruous to sustain the
argument that…
33. It is not enough that…
34. The fact that … is immaterial since…
35. The fact that … is irrelevant since…
36. In itself, mere …… is not sufficient (i.e. to warrant
conviction)….
37. The petitioner cannot give any additional meaning to the
clear and plain language of the law.
38. The Supreme Court, in several cases, has struck down
the (i.e. defense of alibi)
39. The attendant circumstances of the case are contrary to
the petitioner’s assertion.
40. The evidence does not support the theory of the
petitioners.
41. There is no cogent reason to disturb the ruling of the (i.e.
Court of Appeals)
42. The claim for (i.e. moral damages) must necessarily fail.
43. The (i.e. respondent) cannot rely on (i.e. mere alibis) to
aid his cause.

CONCLUDING WORDS

1. From the gamut of evidence on hand, it can be


gathered/deduced that,…
2. Taken all together,…
3. Finally, …
4. Hence, …
Page 12 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
5. Therefore, …
6. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there is really (i.e. a
violation of…)
7. From the foregoing, it is now safe to conclude that….
8. Lastly, …
9. Consequently,…
10. As a necessary consequence…
11. The logical implication is that…
12. At any rate,…
13. In view of the foregoing,…
14. As an inevitable conclusion,…
15. In the light of the circumstances,…
16. Undoubtedly,…
17. Indubitably,…
18. Clearly, the case at hand falls squarely within the purview
of…
19. Verily, he/she has committed…
20. For this/these reason/s, it is unavoidable to conclude
that…
21. Based on the facts obtaining,…
22. In this light,…
23. This being the case…
24. Clearly therefore, applying the aforecited ruling in the case at
hand,…
25. In light of the foregoing, it is beyond cavil (doubt) that,…
26. There is no doubt that…
27. To the unprejudiced mind, the actuations of the three,
when analyzed and taken together, leads to no other
conclusion except that (i.e. conspiracy among them existed)
28. Inescapably, therefore,…
29. All things considered,…
30. It follows therefore that…
31. As a logical result…
32. In sum,..
33. In view of the fact that…,
34. All told,…
35. Given the prevailing facts…
36. Having stated the foregoing premises,…
37. One final point,…
38. Accordingly,…

Page 13 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
MY PERSONAL ADVICE FOR FUTURE BAR CANDIDATES

DURING THE REVIEW


 Always pray before and after studying.
 Turn off your cellular phones. (Turn it on only during your break).
Most or a significant part of our time reviewing is sometimes
spent on non-sense (or not so important) texting-replying-texting-
replying. There is a time for everything. But when you review,
avoid interruptions. Cellular phone, believe me, is one of the
major interruptions. Although it is hard, why not sacrifice a little
for the sake of being a lawyer.
 Believe in yourself. If you will not, then who do you expect would
believe in you. (Tip from Sir Bubut Cayco)
 Choose a study buddy if you want. But sometimes it is better that
you do not have one. More study buddies, more interruptions
(more kwento). Without you knowing it, “tapos na araw or
September na”.
 Before starting your review, be sure that the tension has already
subsided. (Specifically starting the month of July when tensions
really soars high for most Bar candidates) Bear in mind that we
can comprehend more if we are in a relaxed state of mind.
 Set your own pace. Do not compare your pace with others (like
asking others, “ilang reading ka na?”) This is not a rat race.
Quality reading (studying/reviewing actually) is what is needed.
Bar does not dwell on the amount of pages/books you have read,
it is more of how much you have mastered.
 Do not memorize without comprehending. When mental block
occurs, you cannot recall even a single thing. Moreover, in
applying the law in a given theoretical case problem, for sure you
can hardly answer the same if you have memorized without
understanding.
 Do not highlight the entire reviewer  Sometimes, the problem
with highlighting is that it becomes our security blanket that we
have read and understood what we have read. But more often,
we have not.
 When you have a query or some matters in mind that needs
clarification, just write it in a piece of paper, pag marami na, ask it
to a professor you believe is competent in that field. Don’t ask
your co-barristers. It might only end in a debate and waste of
time, when no reliable answer is concluded. Remember, time is
precious during the pre-bar review.

Page 14 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
 Set one day for recreations alone. It could rejuvenate your energy
and create hunger for review the following day.
 Attend to the needs of your entire being. Physically, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. This will also help you avoid being
exhausted in the review.
 Take vitamins and take your meals on time.

BEFORE THE BAR EXAM PROPER


 Make sure you have enough and complete sleep. A well rested
mind can answer and articulate better.
 Pray
 Review the material you personally believe is a good last minute
tip for you.
 Compose yourself, your mind, heart and spirit. Focus on the
exam alone and not on the fear of failing. Stop or reduce your
tension. Tension is normal, as long as it is at a moderate level.
After all, you will already be taking the bar, no turning back. So
might as well do your best. And you can only perform well if you
are in a composed mind and heart. (I suggest you close your
eyes. Inhale then exhale as you count one to ten. It might help)
 Boost your confidence by telling yourself “Walang (your surname)
na di magaling.” Or tell yourself “What kind of celebration will I do
if I top or at least pass the bar?” at least you might laugh kahit
kabado 

DURING THE BAR EXAM PROPER


 I suggest that before answering, formulate on your mind what will
be placed on your first, second and third paragraphs. The first
paragraph normally contains a one-sentence direct to the point
answer to the question. The second paragraph commonly
contains legal basis (provision of law in point, jurisprudence, co-
relation of the jurisprudence/provision with the facts of the case
and application). Third paragraph normally contains the
conclusion. When you are already decided of your answer, write
it according to your thoughts. In this approach, you will not only
be avoiding unnecessary revisions and erasures, you will also
maintain the cleanliness of your booklet. Bear in mind that, a dirty
booklet is irritating to the eyes of the person checking the same.
 Allocate the time depending on the number of questions.
 Answer each question one at a time. Focus on one question
before thinking or bothering yourself of the succeeding questions.
Page 15 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
 Do not stay in a number for so long. Leave at least a sheet for a
5point question. Go to the next number if you do not know the
answer. If I am not mistaken, more than one (1) bar candidate
had not succeeded because of stocking himself / herself in an
item he/she does not know the answer of. As a necessary result,
he/she failed to finish the exam. As one of my friends told me,
“No matter how grossly wrong your answer may be, do not ever
leave an item unanswered. Malay mo, may points for the
effort/ink  Kidding aside, a blank sheet will surely get an
automatic 0 point. So better answer all.”
 Don’t blame yourself or don’t panic if you failed to answer an item
or two. It’s perfectly normal. What is abnormal is if you failed to
answer questions that you know the answer of just because you
bothered/blamed yourself so much on the items you don’t know.
In short, if you failed to finish the exam.
 As my professor Atty. Francis Sababan told us before, “mga bata,
avoid passing your booklet too early. The time allocated for each
subject may be too much, but it must be used wisely to: (1) write
legibly, (2) compose your answers properly, (3) avoid erasures,
(4) observe proper margin, and (5) review your answers. After all
there are no prizes for early finishers.”

AFTER A BAR SUBJECT (OR ENTIRE BAR EXAM)


 Do not discuss answers. It is futile because the booklets had
already been submitted and it could greatly affect your
performance for the remaining subjects. If your noble reason on
asking about the answers is for you to know the same, I suggest
that you wait until the exam results have been already released.
For self-preservation reasons, for sure you will be anxious and
fearful if you would discover that you have incurred (just for
example) 10 mistakes.

IMPORTANT REMINDER IN ANSWERING

If you are so sure of the answer, you can directly answer yes
or no. But if you are just guessing or not so sure of the answer, you
better start citing law provisions and jurisprudence first.

Logic behind: If you answer yes or no and it happened to be


wrong, chances are, you will get an automatic ZERO (0) for that
item. The examiner might not read your answer anymore. Come to
Page 16 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
think of it, it would be a waste of his time reading explanation of a
wrong answer. Besides, there are so many booklets to check.

On the other hand, if you cite the law provisions and


jurisprudence first, eventhough your yes or no answer placed in the
last paragraph/sentence is wrong, you might get some credit. (The
examiner might say, “may alam tong batang to, nalito lang”). Finally,
at least, the examiner has read all your answer and explanation
before grading you for that item.

CARDINAL RULES IN TAKING THE BAR

 Do not forget your test permits, Supreme Court color coded


Identification card, and other pertinent documents/things as
required in the letter coming from the SC allowing you to take
the Bar.
 Bring a watch with you to keep you updated of the time left.
 Never be tempted to cheat.
 Keep your focus.
Page 17 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”
 Carefully read and comprehend the instructions and
questions.
 Answer one at a time.
 Answer straight to the point.
 Be responsive to the question. Answer only what is being
asked. Though it is tempting to showcase your knowledge,
do not over-elaborate.
 Avoid erasures.
 Do not hurry at the expense of substance (and readability) of
your answers.
 Leave a space before starting a new paragraph.
 Review your answers. Scan your booklet before submitting
the same. Be sure you have not left any question
unanswered.
 Bring extra sign/fountain pens.
 Observe proper margin.

DISCLAIMER!!!

This is only a guide material and will not and cannot assure
anyone of passing or even topping the BAR. What is assured only is
that it will greatly facilitate the candidates’ presentation of his/her
answers.

--------GOOD LUCK!!!--------

Atty. Reynulfo C. Tatad, Jr.


September 2006 Bar Exam Passer

Page 18 of 18
By: ATTY. REY C. TATAD, JR.
 Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cavite Chapter
 Former Chairman, Order of the Flaming Arrows (Arellano Law)
 San Beda College Graduate (High School 1992-1996 and College 1996-2000)
 Original Arellano University School of Law student (2001-2006)
 Former Officer, Arellano Law Singers
 Member, Sarong Banggi
Comments are very much welcomed. You can reach me at rey_tatadjr@yahoo.com
“Ut in omnibus, glorificetur deus”

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