Bar Exam 2020-2021

Last month, I took the bar exam. Again. 

It really says something about the uncertainty of the times when the 2020 and 2021 bar exams were held on the February of 2022. It was originally supposed to be held on November of 2021 but was postponed to January 2022, and then again to February 2022. Frankly, I just wanted the damn thing to be over with. 

The exam was especially stressful for reasons other than the actual exam itself. Aside from the "will they, won't they" postponements, if you tested positive for the China virus, you wouldn't be allowed to enter into the testing centers. Examinees were therefore forced to self-isolate for a long period of time. As you can imagine, this was a terrible pain in the ass, especially for people with jobs and other commitments. People plan their lives around this particular exam, you know. Imagine having the exam postponed three times and then having to arrange for leave just so you won't get the wu-flu. 

A Historic Exam

The 2020-2021 Bar Exam was "historic" for three reasons: it was the first time the exam was held in places outside Manila, it was the first digital exam, and the exam subjects were compressed to two Sundays instead of four. 

It was the digital format of the exam that facilitated the move to alternative venues, really. All we needed were the software and the internet connection. For the most part, the testing centers were necessary only to keep an eye on us. It's amazing that it only took a global pandemic to force the Supreme Court to do what ought to have been done decades ago. The bar exams of yesteryear look antiquated at best and callous at worst. The inconvenience and cost of travelling to Manila to take the exams for four Sundays of a month is clearly no longer reasonable to ask of examinees.

Personally, the move to a digital format made things much easier on the wrist and there was no more fumbling with booklets and little envelopes. All you had to do was to download the exam in the morning or at the testing center and then the password to open the exam file would be given at the testing center once the exam began. The software was easy enough to use. The best part of course, was the ability to easily edit ones answers - no more inky messes from crossing out of errors. 

On the matter of the questions itself, I found them tricky. They were tricky in a sense that if you tended to overthink things, you'd probably make a mistake. Some subjects were cut while others were combined into one. It was very unusual. For example, Taxation Law, the bane of my existence, was cut down to only two questions and combined in one exam to be taken together with Commercial Law and Civil Law. The result of the compression of subjects meant that the pool to draw potential questions was very wide. Therefore, I had to stick to the syllabus diligently and pray there were no curve balls. 

One other thing that I observed in the exam was that there weren't any questions regarding recent landmark jurisprudence of the Supreme Court. For example, I was very confident that KMU vs. Aquino would be asked in Political Law, but it wasn't. But I suppose that would be too predictable. 

The questions were either about the practical application of the laws or indirect problems that required the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of new additions or quirks to the law. As another example, there was a curious question about whether a single proprietor can start a corporation with only himself as the sole officer and shareholder. The concept of single-person corporations is a relatively new addition to our Corporate Law. If you were confronted with that question, your mind would naturally go through the checklist on the requirements to form a single-person corporation, that is, if you remembered the law.

In Conclusion

As if to show that the exams were hip to the times, announcements regarding the exam were tweeted with the hashtag #bestbarever. Best bar ever? Well, I suppose I'm in a better position to judge if it's the best bar exam ever, seeing as how this is the second time I've taken the damn thing. I can say, out of all the bar exams I've taken, this was the best bar exam ever. There, happy?

Would it be odd to say that I enjoyed the bar exams? I guess that's only because the first one was hell. This time, it was in my home court so to speak. I actually got to rest on my own bed beforehand and go to the testing center with a home-cooked meal instead of a crushed burger from some fast food place. These little comforts are advantages that cannot be ignored. The battle is not just about knowledge but of mindset after all. I was in a better "space" and that counts for a lot.

I can't say with confidence that I passed the exam. You never really know with these things. 

All I can do now is just wait.

Bar Exams 2016

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the 2016 bar exams. As you probably know, the bar exam is a grind-fest that takes place over four Sundays in that fetid buffalo anus of a city called Manila. Law graduates and assorted loonies will take their shot (again for some) to hopefully become the newest shiny cogs in the obsolete rusty machine that is the Philippine justice system.

I had my chance and I blew it; not even going to make excuses. The worst part about flunking the bar is having to live with that fact. It's a curse.

There's something you have to understand about the bar. When you're in Law school, it's hyped up beyond belief. You get four years of non-stop hype over what is essentially a government administered board exam. Of course, it's silly at first but then they start talking about it almost breathless terms as if it were a life or death situation and then you begin to buy into it. Next thing you know, the bar consumes every bit of your life. It's in your thoughts and under your skin.

If you pass, then that's another story. If you flunk then you're stuck. It's a curse. "Oh, what did they ask this year?" "Are you taking it this year?" "Oh, he's not taking it this year?" Stuck. It's an anchor frustrating the sailboat of your life. The lucky ones move on and make lives for themselves; start a family maybe. For unlucky ones, it'll define them. Stuck. Stuck by the wayside endlessly running into familiar faces, asking with feigned interest if you took it again, if you plan to take it again, who else took it, who passed, who will take again, on and on forever until you finally pass it or die, whichever mercy comes first.

The lucky ones who pass will go on with their careers. The unlucky ones become Law professors; unable to truly escape the bar exams even as they overcame it. Law schools are judged by how many passers they produce. To be fair, many law teachers are great people but it eventually becomes a rat-race. The bar exam truly consumes everything. It is the end all be all of legal education. Law school will teach you everything you need to pass the bar. Everything else, you'll have to learn on your own.

Sour grapes? Probably. I decided not to take this year because frankly, it's exhausting. Imagine learning something, spending the fourth year relearning it, then another year reviewing what you relearned, then reviewing it months prior to the exam, then reviewing your review of your reviews the week before the big days. People act surprised when I tell them that I'm not interested in retaking the test at the moment. Nothing is more irritating to me than people acting as if it were so easy to drop half a year of your life to review then flying to that rat nest Manila to stay there for a month to take an exam over four Sundays.

See? I'm writing about the damned thing after a month of pretty much nothing. It can't be helped. People bring it up. It's in the papers. It's in your memories. I just want to go about my life pretending that I'm over it in peace!

Why doesn't China just invade already?

11/30/15 Home

Finally.

The exam last Sunday was the worst ever but I don't care at this point. It's in God's hands now. I'm just happy to be home, to eat home-cooked food and to sleep on my bed.

It's been a learning experience. There were ups and downs but no matter what happens, I'm kinda glad to have done what I did.

I think I'll sleep well tonight.

11/18/15 Smile

Have you ever been to a stupid social gathering that you didn't want to go to but had to? You go from a foul murderous expression to an upbeat smile because you have to keep appearances and be sociable. The APEC is pretty much this. Manila went from a shithole to pleasantville in no time. It was actually nice to be out and about today and there wasn't even any traffic for me since people were forced to stay home. No street beggars harassing me either. 

I had a funny thought. As soon as this APEC thing is over, is Manila going to instantly relapse in like, a second? Imagine that as soon as the last delegate steps foot on his plane, everything just collapses like a sudden gust of wind to a house of cards.

It's all a house of cards, I tell you.

11/10/15 Restricted

I just realized that there are two McDonalds within the same walking distance from my place. I live in a corner and there's one McDonalds on each side within fifteen seconds of walking distance. Today, I went to the nearby mall to eat. I could have sworn I saw a Jollibee within a Jollibee. Am I going insane?

Getting around Manila is very difficult. I heard stories from my mother about how well organized and efficient mass transit was in Japan. I imagine her vacation there was very enjoyable since getting from one place to another was so easy. You could fit a lot of activities in a day if movement weren't such an issue.

Manila is another story. The trend is that sections of the city and new developments go for some kind of "self-sufficiency". Everything has to be nearby since going far takes up too much time with all the traffic congestion and whatnot. Hence, we get McDonalds to the left and right, Jollibees within Jollibees and huge malls. 

Ah yes, the malls. What could be more contained than a mall? It has everything. Some even have dedicated chapels where you can attend Sunday mass. Personally, I think it's in profane to hold mass in what is essentially a temple to our own golden calves but the priests must go where they must; where the people are.

I guess that's part of the reason why it feels so oppressive here. I feel constrained in movement like I can't go where I want to. It's not just the traffic. Just a few days ago, a taxi driver tried to put one over on my mother. The driver wouldn't turn on his meter and demanded cash upfront to drive her to the airport and that if she didn't like it, she could just find another cab. What an asshole. Some drivers refuse outright to take you to certain places if they think it's too troublesome. A lot won't even give you back your change. Jeepney drivers are exactly as you would expect. The bus drivers are reckless and double park while waiting forever for more passengers before they leave. The rail system is decrepit and could collapse any minute. Have you seen the rail cars? I saw one chug past and it looked pitiful.

I've been wondering what's been eating me about this place and I think I found part of the reason why I feel so off. I feel restricted. I feel like I can't go anywhere without it unnecessarily eating a lot of my time.

Dan Brown was right. This is the gates of hell and what's worse, there's a really long line too.

It's disturbing to think that Cebu City is essentially going the same direction.

11/09/15 One Down

So there we were at UST that Sunday morning. Grim lines of people shuffling in like pigs being herded into an abattoir. Not even the chants of nearby cheer squads or the sounds of friendly chatter could mask the sense of unease and dread in the air.

It went like the way we practiced in the mock bar exams we had in school. You go to your assigned room and wait an eternity with your thumb shoved up your ass. The questions are the things no amount of mock bar exams can truly prepare you for.

Political Law was a kick in the balls. The questions were difficult and there was barely enough time. There were some questions I wasn't sure of the answers to and I had less than thirty minutes. I ended up just putting the first thing that popped into my head and rushed it at the end. I felt my face was melting and there were live snakes squirming in my stomach. My throat felt like a desert and I had no appetite; had to force myself to eat. Not eating at all would be worse later on.

Labor Law seemed like a dream then swiftly turned to a nightmare. At least I learned to manage time better.

I don't know what to make of all this. It wasn't the total disaster that I feared but it wasn't a clear victory. I can't say with confidence if I did well or not. The anxiety still hasn't gone away to this day.

But it's one down and three more Sundays to go. I want this to be over. This is one of the most stressful things I've ever gone through. I feel isolated and alone. The place and people here are awful. Homesickness is getting worse.

This is one long ass month.

11/06/15 Nostalgia

It's been difficult. So far, I've been oscillating wildly between bouts of cold resignation and unwarranted optimism. Tonight however, it's nostalgia mixed with depression. Looking back at the last five years, it's been quite a ride. I remember when I was still a Law school freshman and how much energy I had. I remember the eagerness to read those brick-like books and the genuine desire to learn. Poof! Gone.

What the hell happened?

11/05/15 Manila

I don't like Manila. It's not a secret. Manila is an overcrowded dump and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. It's hard to believe that there are actually people who claim to love this place.

Trips that would normally take ten minutes by simple distance takes forty thanks to traffic. Street after street of nothing but the same stores and fast food chains next to piles of garbage against a backdrop of grey, grimy concrete. The people are indifferent but exude an unmistakable vibe of hostility as they push past the armies of beggars to jaywalk across clogged roads.

I admit I may be overreacting but honestly, I really do hate this place as long as I can remember and nothing can change that.

11/03/15 Alien

Full disclosure; I can barely speak Tagalog. Language is learned through constant practice and since I never saw the need for it, I never learned to speak it. I don't watch Tagalog shows too so I didn't pick it up that way..

It's frustrating to be reduced to using very basic and rudimentary Tagalog. People probably think I'm some kind of deficient.

I might as well be an alien from outer space.

11/02/15 My World

I would have blogged yesterday but it's busy work settling in. I'm in Manila waiting for my shot at the Philippines' most overhyped board exam. My laptop won't connect to the internet for some reason so I'm writing on a tablet. It's a pain so I'll keep these things short.

This tiny room is my world now.