BukSU graduate is Mindanao’s lone topnotcher, ranks 14th in 2025 Bar exams

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) recorded Mindanao’s sole topnotcher in the 2025 Bar Examinations, based on results released by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

BukSU College of Law Batch 2025 graduate Gerilin Ano-os Gascon posted an 89.79% rating, ranking 14th nationwide in the examinations.

Before pursuing law, Gascon is a Certified Public Accountant. She is currently employed at the Bukidnon Lending Center of Landbank of the Philippines in Malaybalay City.

“Since her law student days, we have always identified Gascon as particularly excellent and diligent in her studies despite her being a full-time mother and full-time government employee,” said BukSU College of Law faculty member Micah Stefan Dagaerag.

The College of Law attributed part of the outcome to its bar examination preparation initiatives. For the first time, the college organized a Bar Exam drill for graduating students, which included mock examinations reviewed by faculty members and one-on-one coaching sessions led by volunteer alumni mentors.

“Through innovative pedagogy, responsive curriculum development, and a culture of mentorship, we have consistently prepared candidates to meet the rigorous demands of the Bar and to enter the legal profession with competence, integrity, and fidelity to the rule of law,” said College of Law Dean Ophelia Pilar Rubio-Zamora.

According to the College of Law, initial results showed 31 BukSU examinees passed the Bar Examinations, pending the release of the official list of Bar passers by the Supreme Court.

“This accomplishment reflects our enduring legacy of academic excellence and public service, and affirms our institutional commitment to producing graduates who embody the values of the legal profession and who are prepared to serve society with distinction,” Rubio-Zamora added.

Nationwide, 5,594 examinees passed the 2025 Bar Examinations out of 11,424 who completed the three-day tests, translating to a passing rate of nearly 49%, based on figures issued by the high court. The examinations were conducted simultaneously September last year in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as part of ongoing efforts to improve access for examinees across the country.

For many aspiring lawyers, the path to passing the Philippine Bar Examination is a journey of isolation and intense study. However, for one local success story, the secret to conquering the “green spine” wasn’t just found in textbooks, but in the halls of public service and the daily grind of the Bukidnon State University (BukSU) Legal Unit.

Atty. Lyric Cyrus Cabrera, having served as Legal Assistant II for over two years, the newly minted attorney credits his professional role as the primary catalyst for his success.

While most candidates approach the Bar with theoretical knowledge, he entered the testing center with the “weapon” of practical experience. Working within the BukSU Legal Unit provided an early, immersive exposure to the complexities of the legal field.

“This really placed me in a position where I can grasp an experience on legal perspectives which eventually helped me in my pursuit of passing the Bar,” he shared. “Through my work, I was exposed to the varying aspects of law, improving my comprehension on legal matters that proved vital during the examinations.

Beyond technical skill, he highlighted the foundational role of Bukidnon State University’s Mission. The university’s focus on providing a service-oriented legal education aims to produce “practice-ready ethical lawyers.”

“We were constantly reminded of the importance of practicing law with integrity. It has been my belief that an ethical lawyer can provide legal services with utmost integrity.”

As the transition from Legal Assistant to Attorney begins, the focus shifts to the future of his legal career. Despite the notoriously demanding nature of the profession, he remains a steadfast advocate for the principle of work-life balance.

“I believe it would never be a problem for me to juggle my soon-legal profession and family life,” he stated confidently. “I would just apply the basics of time management so I can keep track of my work as I attend to my family.”

This success story reinforces Bukidnon State University’s role as a premier institution where public service and legal education converge to mold the next generation of principled, competent, and battle-tested legal leaders. (BukSU – Information Unit)