By Erma Edera Before the gates opened at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday for the 2018 bar exams, families and friends of the bar examinees as well as other groups carrying banners and balloons flocked and added color to the festive atmosphere to show their support to the examinees. This November 2017 file photo shows examinees arriving at the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila for the first set of Bar exams.
(Alvin Kasiban / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Supporters brought along an icon Sto. Niño, colorful placards, banners with inspirational messages and balloons but some aspiring lawyers burst into tears as their supporters cheered on them. Bar taker John Daniel of the University of Pangasinan, who recently lost his father and mourning the death of his uncle was seen crying before entering the examination venue. "Dad, tito para po sa inyo ‘to!” he said as he cried and embraced his mother. But 62-year-old Antonia Carbrigas-De Jesus was all smiles as her three children accompanied her in UST. She said that will be taking the bar exam for the third time. On the other hand, one of the supporters seen in front of UST was the group from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). They allowed their personnel to take a six-month study leave to prepare for the 2018 bar exams. According to BJMP spokesperson Jail chief Insp. Xavier Awican Solda, around 60 personnel, including four officials from different regional offices of BJMP, will take the 2018 bar examination. “Importante na masuportahan sila kasi alam niyo naman ang pangangailangan ng BJMP pagdating sa mga lawyer. Kailangan na kailangan namin ng mga abogado,” Solda told the Manila Bulletin. He also noted that the Philippine jails were congested by more than 500 percent. “We encourage our personnel to take law. Malaking advantage kung sa BJMP mismo manggagaling yung mga lawyer, mas mabilis yung pagfollow-up ng mga kaso sa korte,” he said. “Kung sakaling makapasa sila, sana tulungan natin yung mga kapatid nating nasa kulungan, maging instrumento sila ng pagbabago na gusto nilang mangyari sa buhay ng mga nakakulong,” he added. Out of the 50 examinees of BJMP from the last year’s bar exam, 10 of them made it on the list. Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen also visited UST and encouraged the bar takers to do well. “‘Wag mag-panic, take the exam one at a time," he said. Meanwhile, some of the law school deans send their bar candidates to their rooms. In a Facebook post, UST Faculty of Civil Law Dean Nilo Divina advised the bar takers to “aspire not just to pass but to excel.” “Aspire to be the best that you can be. Don’t compete with others but compete against yourself. Aspire to bring honor to your family, friends and school,” he said.