Examinees' supporters flock to Cebu's test center
The 2026 Bar Examinations have commenced in the Philippines, with thousands of law students gathering at testing centers across the country. The exams are being held over three days in September, covering various fields of law.
Why it matters
The Bar Exam is a major national event in the Philippines, representing the culmination of years of legal education for thousands of aspiring lawyers.
Students pose with former Dean of the University of St. La Salle College of Law Ralph Sarmiento on the first day of the 2026 Bar Exams in Cebu. CDN Digital photo
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Law students, family members, and friends of this year’s Bar examinees gathered outside the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus on Sunday, September 6, as the 2026 Bar Examinations began.
The USJ-R Basak Campus is Cebu’s sole designated local testing center and is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 aspiring lawyers throughout the three-day examinations.
The Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant said 13,441 examinees were cleared to take this year’s Bar out of 14,291 registered applicants nationwide.
READ: LIST: Top 20 passers in 2025 Bar Exams
The examinations are being held on September 6, 9, and 13 at 15 local testing centers across the country.
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