Nine Boholanos hurdled the 2006 bar examination given by the Supreme Court.

The new Boholano lawyers are Filipina Asoy, Hazel Calamba, Ma. Shiela Deloso, Adam Jala, Angie Ucat Lugarta, Eva Neliz Cloma Lucero, Mildred Maglajos, Ma. Cecilia Tirol and Victor Tirol, Jr.

Asoy and Calamba are graduates of Holy Name University while the two Tirols are from the University of Bohol. Logarta is a product of Bohol Institute of Technology. Jala is the son of Rep. Eladio Jala who is running for congressman in the 3rd district while Victor Tirol, Jr. is the son of former BM Victor Tirol and vice gubernatorial bet Godofreda Tirol. Jala is from Ateneo University.

The partial list of successful barristers reached the Chronicle just before deadline last night. Names of other new Boholano lawyers are expected to be known today from the various schools in the country.

They were among the 1,893 successful barristers, out of 6,187 who took the licensure test for lawyers given by the High Tribunal September last year.

The bar topnotcher is Noel Malimban of University of Cordilleras who got 87.6% followed by Debora Acosta of the University of the Phils with 87.4%.

Two Ateneo Law School graduates Erika Jimenez and Maria Teresa Carlos closely followed with grades of 86.6% and 86.1%. Fifth was Gina Rubio of Far Eastern University Institute of Law with 85.75%.

Others in the top ten are Ann Julie Tan (85.70% Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Center); Karen Gaviola (85.68% University of San Carlos); Al Shawid Ishmael (85.65% University of Cebu); Timothy Mendoza (85.55% UP) and Alain Deloso (85.05% UP).

The 2006 Bar examinations consisted of eight tests and was held on four successive weekends last September 2006. The examinations were administered through Deputy Clerk of Court and Bar Confidant Ma. Cristina B. Layusa.

Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, chairman of the Committee on the 2006 Bar Examinations, on Monday said the list will be displayed on LCD monitors in strategic places at the front yard of the Supreme Court, near the entrance at Padre Faura St.

The results can also be accessed at www.supremecourt.gov.ph, the official website of the high court.

According to the high court, this year's Bar examinations mark the second time that the "five-strike" rule is being implemented. The rule limits to five the number of times a candidate may take the Bar exams, which is reputed as the toughest government-administered test. The five-strike rule is in accordance with the Court's resolution in Bar Matter No. 1161.

The highest passing percentage for the past 10 years was in 1998 - almost 40 percent. The lowest was in 1999, 16 percent.

The Philippine bar started in 1901 with just 13 examinees. It has produced four presidents who were topnotchers: Manuel Roxas (1913), Carlos Garcia (1923), Diosdado Macapagal (1936) and Ferdinand Marcos (1939).