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.
