By Karren Jay G. Asgar
The CPU Senior High School Building is the venue of the 2025 Bar Examinations.
The three-day 2025 Bar Examinations, conducted by the Supreme Court across 14 local testing centers nationwide, including Central Philippine University (CPU), began on September 7 and will conclude on September 14.
CPU first served as a Bar examination venue during the #BestBarEver2020_21, when it was selected as one of 31 testing sites nationwide. In the #BarNiJLo2024, it was again designated as one of 13 local testing centers. This year marks the third time CPU has hosted the Bar exams, underscoring the university’s continued commitment to supporting the legal community.
To ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the exams, the Iloilo City Government issued three executive orders regulating activities within a 500-meter radius of CPU. Under EO 057, the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks are banned on September 6-7, 9-10, and 13-14. Meanwhile, EO 058 prohibits noise-generating activities including videoke, wireless microphones, and other loud equipment during specific hours on exam days. To coordinate security, traffic, health, disaster response, and public information efforts, EO 059 establishes the Bar Examinations Coordinating Committee, composed of various government agencies. Barangay officials and the Task Force on Morals and Values Formation have been enforcing the liquor and noise bans to ensure a peaceful environment for examinees.
The Supreme Court of the Philippines reported on its official Facebook page that as of September 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m., a total of 13,193 examinees were admitted to the Bar Examinations, with 11,437 present on the first day. Of these, 5,214 are first-time takers, 4,239 are repeaters, and 1,984 are refreshers. Female examinees (6,673) outnumber males (4,764), with the youngest at 24 years old and the oldest at 80. The group also includes 241 persons with disabilities, 206 senior citizens, 40 pregnant women, and 139 examinees with medical conditions.
The following are local testing centers and their corresponding number of examinees:
Metro Manila:
1. University of Santo Tomas (704)
2. San Beda University-Mendiola (874)
3. New Era University (1,698)
4. Manila Adventist College (427)
5. San Beda College-Alabang (764)
6. University of the Philippines-BGC (584)
7. Ateneo de Manila University School of Law (512)
Luzon:
8. Saint Louis University – Baguio City (1,253)
9. University of Nueva Caceres – Naga City (600)
Visayas:
10. University of San Jose Recoletos – Cebu City (1,264)
11. Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation – Tacloban City (471)
12. Central Philippine University – Iloilo City (547)
Mindanao:
13. Ateneo de Davao University – Davao City (1,099)
14. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (640)
As the final day of exams approaches, CPU’s role as a testing center highlights its ongoing commitment to excellence in legal education and reinforces its dedication to providing a supportive environment for future legal professionals.