MANILA (September 8) — A record number of examinees took the 2026 Bar Examinations on Sunday, including candidates who overcame disability, illness, age, limited computer experience and even detention to pursue a law career.
The Supreme Court reported 12,029 examinees on the first day of testing—the highest Day 1 turnout recorded. Of 14,291 applicants, 13,441 were admitted, also a record.
The figures included 6,773 women, 285 senior citizens and 304 persons with disabilities. First-time takers made up 45.9 percent of the examinees, while previous takers accounted for 29.5 percent and refreshers 24.6 percent. The youngest examinee is 24 and the oldest is 84.
But the numbers also reflected the Court’s effort to make the digital examinations accessible to candidates with different needs.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, chairperson of the 2026 Bar Examinations, said three examinees were allowed to write their answers by hand because they had significant difficulty using computers.
They included a 64-year-old candidate with chronic dry eye; a 49-year-old examinee undergoing therapy for a shoulder injury who had also lost a laptop shortly before the tests; and a 69-year-old candidate with limited exposure to computers.
Four others were allowed to take the examinations with the help of encoders. One had lost their sight to a rare form of meningitis, another had lost both arms, a 75-year-old had limited computer literacy, and another had a hand condition that made typing at the required speed difficult.
The Court also allowed a person deprived of liberty to take the Bar at a local testing center rather than inside a detention facility, subject to security measures coordinated with the Office of the Judiciary Marshals.
“Meron din tayong isang person deprived of liberty,” Gaerlan said during a news conference at St. Benedict Hall of San Beda College Alabang in Muntinlupa City.
This year’s examinations are the first to be held under a codified framework following the 2025 amendments to Rule 138 of the Rules of Court on admission to the Bar.
Gaerlan assured examinees that the Court intended to make the tests fair and reasonable, not to obstruct their aspirations.
He urged them to use the legal profession in addressing the country’s problems.
“Alam natin maraming mga problema sa ating bansa. Nawa sila ay makatulong sa mga suliraning ito at hindi makadagdag sa mga problema ng ating bansa,” he said.
He also reminded examinees to trust the years they had spent preparing and to remember the people who inspired them.
“You have done everything na makakayanan ninyo. Just believe in yourself and think of to whom you are dedicating your dreams,” Gaerlan said.
