2015 Bar Review Primer

2015 BAR REVIEW PRIMER
Compiled by:
SHEENA TENGCO
(4th year Batch Representative)
2015 BAR REVIEW TIPS
RAOUL ANGELO d.F.ATADERO

Ateneo Law School Batch 2011
Cum laude, Valedictorian
Ranked 1st in the 2011 Bar Examination
MATERIALS
STUDY TIPS
Cast as wide a net as possible for your 1st reading. Try to read or at least browse through as many books as you can for
your frst reading. This allows you to whittle down your reading list for your 2nd and succeeding readings to those materials
that you think are useful and those you are comfortable with. Further, by reading a range of materials, you’ll get at the very
least a vague familiarity of many different things – vague as this may be, you can never tell when such stock knowledge at
the back of your mind might be needed.
Stick to the Beaten Path. Index your chosen study materials with those recommended by people who have taken and
passed the Bar Exams before you. The materials chosen by the majority should be suffcient. Now is not the time to be
eccentric!
Stick to Review Books or Reviewers. Resist the temptation to re-read your law school textbooks for Bar Review when there
are review books or reviewers that will suffce. You do not have time to read all your law textbooks again if you plan to do
more than one reading. If you feel that the available review materials for a particular topic don’t quite meet your standards,
then make exceptions. Make these exceptions few and far between, however.
Organize your materials properly. Boxes, folders, bags, it doesn’t matter – organize your materials in such a way that you
can keep track of what you have and fnd them easily. I personally wasted a lot of money photocopying or buying materials
I forgot I already had because my things were in a sad state of disarray.
Bring your reading materials to Bar Review Lectures. Your Bar Review professors might have updates to the law or juris-
prudence that have not been incorporated into your books and review materials. Bring them along to lectures so you can
make marginal notes on them to reflect these updates.
SCHEDULING
Number of Readings. Be realistic with the number of readings you set out to do. It's better to have fewer quality readings
than a lot done in a hurried, haphazard fashion. Your number of readings will of course depend on your own style and
speed of reading. I aimed to complete three readings of my materials with a time limit of 2 months per reading. You don't
have as much time, this time, so you may want to change this a bit.
Subject Chronology. Don't feel the need to be organized during your frst reading. Use it to feel the lay of the land and
survey the materials out there, then use what you've learned from your 1st reading to plan an excellent 2nd reading and
beyond. For 1st reading, I took the subjects in the order I wanted. I took the subjects which I felt I was weakest at frst, then
worked my way from there. For my 2nd & 3rd readings, I took the subjects in the reverse of the order their exams were
scheduled [i.e. Criminal to Political Law] that way, I’ll end my last reading reviewing for the immediately coming exam.
Daily Hours. Aim to log at least 8 hours of study every day. Ramp this up to 9, 10, even 12 hours as the exams approach.
While I personally didn’t have the organization to use a stopwatc h, it might be helpful for you.
Take Breaks. Breaks are necessary and highly encouraged. So long as you’re able to meet your quota of study hours, be
generous with study breaks and breaks for meals. My library study buddies will attest to my frequent internet breaks, runs
to the mall for milk tea, or just taking time to walk around.
Vacations. Allow yourself vacations. If well-timed, they break the monotony and can recharge your spirits. I gave myself 2
during bar review season, though take note we had 7 months to review.
Study Goal Fails. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you fail to meet the study goals you’ve set for the day, week, or month.
I fell short on a lot of days.
OTHER GENERAL TIPS
Exercise & Eat Healthy. Apart from not overindulging on comfort food, try to put in some exercise to keep yourself ft. You
cannot afford to get sick, so exercise, eat well, and take vitamins if necessary. If you’re a stress eater, this will offset the Bar
Review weight gain. Remember though, that your frst priority at this point is to pass the Bar Exams - while you should put
in some exercise, don’t spend all your time at the gym getting yourself bikini-ready.
Talk it Out. It helped me to take breaks to talk to the people I was studying with. Apart from gossip (an excellent way to
ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

relax), we discussed things in our study materials we were confused with – this was an excellent learning exercise.
Nap. When you need to, nap. There's no point studying when you're sleepy. I usually couldn't help myself - I was always
STUDY TIPS
dozing off at the library (usually around 15-30 minutes).

Don’t Force It. If by the end of the day you’re very tired and sleepy, don’t force yourself to study when you can’t process or
retain what you’re reading anyway. Sleep and continue the next day.
Pray. When you’ve studied harder than you’ve ever done before, there’s nothing else to do but trust in some higher power.
TYPICAL STUDY DAY [This is ideal because I tended to be liberal with my days]:
• Wake up at around 6:30 to go to the gym. [Going to the gym was discontinued a month before the exams.]
• Grab coffee and be at the library around 9-9:30.
• Study until around 11:30 [most likely doze off somewhere in between].
• Head to the mall for lunch [as the exams approached, the mall was replaced with the cafeteria].
• Study until around 5:30 [almost defnitely doze off several times in between].
• Head to the cafeteria for dinner.
• Study until the library closes.
• Goof off at home. [As exams approached, I'd continue studying at the AGSB study area at the 2nd floor or at home]
• Sleep at around 11pm.
MY READING LIST
NOTES &
SUBJECTS BOOKS THE ESSENTIALS
REVIEWERS
• Bernas – Primer
• Bernas – Primer • Jimenez – Recent • Nachura - All
Political Law
• Nachura - Reviewer Jurisprudence
non-Consti portions.
• Azucena –
Everybody’s Labor Code • Manuel - 100 Notes • Azucena –
[aka Green Book] • Ateneo Bar Ops Everybody’s Labor Code
Labor Law • Alcantara – Labor Law Reviewer • Ateneo Bar Ops
Reviewer [Just Social • Disini – Social Reviewer
Legislation] Legislation Tables
• Codal
• Mamalateo – Tax
Reviewer [1st Reading
Only]
• Co-untian – TaxDigest
• Personal Notes from • Co-untian – Tax
• Codal
Tax 1 & Tax 2 Digest
Taxation ° Casasola – Annotated
• Primus (Domondon) • Primus (Domondon)
NIRC
Star Notes Star Notes
° LGC [Local Taxation
and Real Property
Taxation]
° Tariff & Customs Code

NOTES &
REVIEWERS
STUDY TIPS
• Codal
• Balane's Notes -
• Sempio-Diy – Family
Property & ObliCon
Code
• Del Castillo – Class
• Balane – Succession
Notes for Property
[1st Reading Only, then
• San Beda Red Notes
switch to Champ Reyno’s
- Sales, Partnership &
Notes]
Agency, Lease, Torts & • Codal
Civil Law • Jurado –Civil Law
Damages
Reviewer [1st Reading
• Reyno - Notes on
Only, excluding Family
Atty. Balane’s Book
Code & Succession]
• Zuniga - Notes on
• Aquino – Land Titles
Credit Transactions
[1st Reading Only,
• Delos Angeles–
only those parts in the
Notes on Land Titles
Syllabus]
• Catindig - Notes on
Selected Commercial
Laws [And the 2007
Supplement/Update]
• S undiang – • Sundiang –
Commercial Law Commercial Law
Reviewer Reviewer
• Jimenez – Recent
Mercantile Law • Villanueva – • Catindig - Notes on
Jurisprudence
Commercial Law Selected Commercial
Reviewer [1st Reading Laws [And the 2007
Only, only Corporation Supplement/Update]
Law & Insurance]
• Abad - Negotiable
Instruments Made Easy
[1st Reading Only]
• Codal
• Riano – Civil
Remedial Law Procedure, Criminal • San Beda Red Notes • San Beda Red Notes
Procedure, Evidence [1st
& 2nd Readings only]

NOTES &
REVIEWERS
STUDY TIPS
• Codal
• Aguirre – Legal Ethics
Reviewer
• Paño – Legal Ethics
Legal Ethics • San Beda Red Notes • San Beda Red Notes
Reviewer
• Philippine Judicial
• Academy – Annotated
Code of Judicial Conduct
• Gregorio – Criminal
Law Review [1st Reading
Only]
• De Castro – Special
Penal Laws [1st Reading
Criminal Law Only] • San Beda Red Notes • San Beda Red Notes
• Sandoval – Special
Penal Laws [1st Reading
Only]
• Boado – Criminal Law
Notes & Cases
Materials, which: 1) on hindsight, I wish I stuck to from the very start; 2) I believe will suffce when push comes to shove;
or 3) I stuck to even for Pre-week.

JOSEPH DE JESUS
Second Honors
PART I:
During Bar Review Season

STUDY TIPS
1. How do I approach the Bar Review season?
I will say this repetitively all throughout this guide:
THERE IS NO FIXED RULE FOR PREPARING FOR THE BAR EXAMS.
Your mindset, your strategies, and your study program will depend on a careful assessment of your personality and
study habits, and an honest appraisal of your four years of education in law school.
Be very honest with yourself as to what you can or cannot do. The bar review month is not a time to indulge in reading
every single material that comes your way. It is also not the time to do “leisure” reading.
HOWEVER YOU PREPARE FOR THE BAR, APPROACH THESE SIX MONTHS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. TIME
IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE.
FAIL TO APPROACH THE BAR WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY, AND YOU RISK LOSING A YEAR OF YOUR LIFE.
TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
Nevertheless, let me tell you frankly:
WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE FOUR WEEKS OF THE BAR EXAMS IS NOT YOUR SIX MONTHS OF REVIEW,
BUT THE FOUR YEARS YOU SPENT IN LAW SCHOOL.
I fought my way through the whole bar month by invoking the concepts and principles I had memorized, understood, and
mastered in law school. Much of what I read throughout the six months, I could not recall.
The six months you have is simply your opportunity to REVIEW everything you encountered in law school. It is not the
time to learn everything all over again. Six months may seem like a lot of time right now, but in the blink of an eye, it’ll be
the night before the bar exams. Time flies that fast.
The good news is that you are not starting from scratch. You already know 80% of the Bar Coverage, and you just have
to recall it all again in time for the exams.
Keep this formula in mind when planning your schedule:
20% OF YOUR TIME SHOULD BE SPENT FOR REVIEWING THE 80% YOU ALREADY KNOW.
80% SHOULD BE SPENT ON STUDYING THE 20% YOU WINGED OR DID NOT COVER DURING THE FOUR YEARS.
If you winged your way throughout Law School, adjust the proportion to a 60-40 distribution.
THE BAR EXAM IS MORE OF AN EMOTIONAL RATHER THAN AN INTELLECTUAL HURDLE. THUS, LEARN HOW
TO MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS.
Remember that it is impossible to know everything and master everything in six months. Learn how to handle disappoint-
ment when you are forced to revise your schedule, when you try to answer a sample exam questionnaire and you come
out with the wrong answer, and when others discuss matters you have no freakin’ idea about.

2. How many readings should I do?
You can do fve, four, three, two, or even one - there is no set formula. The rule of thumb is:
STUDY TIPS
READ AS MUCH AND AS REPETITIVELY AS YOU CAN UNTIL IT STICKS IN YOUR HEAD.
When I assessed myself, I realized that I was strong in the morning subjects - Poli, Rem, Comm and Civ. I was weak in
the afternoon subjects - Labor, Tax, Crim, and Ethics. So, I ! only did one reading each for the morning subjects, and at
least two readings for the afternoon subjects. In fact, I did three readings for Criminal Law. I also read original cases for
Tax.
Please note that one person can do fve readings (as CLV recommends) and yet still fail !the bar exams. Another person
even did not complete one reading, but still passed.
A person can brag about reading 300 ++ pages in one day, but could not recall a single thing. Another person can read
only up to 50 pages a day, but he knows and remembers every letter of what he read.
It all depends on your ability to process and store the information you read.
Nevertheless, here are some rules of thumb:
a. Set a personal quota for the day, whether 50, 100, or 200 pages. To me, 100 pages, at 8 hours is optimal. The next
day, go through those pages before you begin to move forward. That way, you reinforce your learning daily. By the time
you get to the end of a book, you would have read it three times.
b. While keeping up with the pace of your batch mates is fne, it's not foolproof. If a friend or batch mate needs three
readings to master the material and you need only one, then he is no less than you, and vice versa. Just check with one
another, but don’t be pressured to get ahead or along with their pace.
c. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO READING THE CODALS. IT IS YOUR FAILSAFE MATERIAL AND IF YOU MASTER IT, I
GUARANTEE YOU, YOU WILL PASS THE BAR.
d. MASTER THE LAW, AND NOT THE MATERIAL. In short, do not master the Bernas Reviewer, master the constitutional
principles enunciated therein.
e. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES OF EVERY SUBJECT. THEY WILL SAVE
YOU WHEN YOU DO NOT RECALL THE PARTICULAR LAW OR RULE IN ANSWERING A QUESTION. For example,
in my criminal law bar exam, I answered a question by discussing the differences between the classical and the positiv-
ist school of criminal law. A lot of diffcult tax exams can be answered by an understanding of the lifeblood theory, the
benefts-protection principle, etc. I answered a labor law question by invoking the principle in remedial law that "technical
rules of procedure are not applicable in labor cases.” I PASSED.
f. MAKE A LIST OF “POWERLINES” PER SUBJECT, AND MASTER THEM WITH PRECISION. By “Powerlines,” i mean
certain fundamental doctrines in jurisprudence which you should be able to state with full clarity and precision in your
answers to the bar questions. Your ability to invoke them clearly is impressive, and most likely, the examiner will give you
full points as opposed to always stating the doctrine in your own words. They give the examiner the impression that you
know your law.

Sample power lines:

STUDY TIPS
POWERLINE PUNCHLINE
“It is well-settled that certiorari is not a substitute for an, as

“Certiorari lies only to correct grave abuse of discretion,
it lies only to correct errors of jurisdiction and not errors of
not errors of law.”
law, which are the proper subject of the latter.”
“It is basic that technical rules of procedure and evidence

“In labor cases, technical rules of procedure are not
suited for judicial proceedings are not applicable in labor
required because they can be decided only with the use
cases. Therefore, labor cases can be decided on the
of affdavits or position papers."
basis of affdavits and position papers.
“Well-settled is the rule that once a party consents to

"Once a party consents, he must do all that he can to fulfll
an undertaking, he is bound to all the consequences of
his obligations to the other party.”
complying with his obligations in good faith.”
Both statements express the same point, but who do you think creates a better impression? List those doctrines down
and be ready to invoke them with full conviction.
g. THE BAR EXAM IS ALL ABOUT GENERAL RULES AND EXCEPTIONS, NOT ABOUT EXCEPTIONS TO EXCEP-
TIONS. THERE IS NO NEED TO USE VERY COMPLICATED MATERIAL.
3. What materials should I use?
Be guided by my answer to the preceding question. That being said, this is the ideal formula:
Bar Review Months:
ONE or TWO REVIEW BOOKS PER BAR SUBJECT + ONE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWER + CODE
Pre-Week:
CODE + RED BOOK I COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWER + AUDIO LECTURES (WHEN YOU CAN'T BRING YOURSELF
TO READ) + RECENT JURISPRUDENCE
There is only so much you can read in six months.
AVOID PHOTOCOPYING THE WORLD. GET NEW MATERIALS ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE MASTERED THE ONES
YOU INITIALLY ACQUIRED.
I violated the above rule, and I ended up spending more than Php 20k for a lot of materials which I eventually gave out to
people. I also wasted so much time hustling to and from Blessings to get materials I never even highlighted. The hour or
so you spend waiting at Blessings could be spent mastering the material you already have.

For your guidance, however, here are the materials I used (note the subjects I marked as "Unli-CODAL"):
STUDY TIPS
PRE-WEEK
SUBJECTS BOOKS REVIEWERS
REVIEWER
• Jack Jimenez Recent

Jurisprudence (2010-
• Bernas Primer 2012)
• Agra Admin, Public
• Jack Jimenez Political • Jack Jimenez Poli
Offcers, Election Law
Political Law Law Compendium Law Pre-Week Lecture
and Pubcorp Reviewers
• Sarmiento PIL Recordings (Tips to!)
• Candelaria PIL Outline
Reviewer • Beda Red Book (BRB)
or Glenn Tuazon Notes
(GT)
• Abad Compendium • Marlon Manuel

• Chan-Pre Week
on Labor Law Powerpoint Slides
Labor Law Reviewer; or
• Chan Bar Reviewer on • Marlon Manuel
• BRB or GT
Labor Law Lecture Recordings
• Jurado Civil Law

Reviewer (be wary of
typos, and overturned
• Zuniga Sectrans • Albano Recent
doctrines, but still, very
Civil Law Reviewer Jurisprudence
very useful)
• BRB or GT
• Paras Pre-Week
Handbook
• Unli-CODAL
• Mamalateo Reviewer
• Mickey Ingles
on Taxation (be wary of
Reviewer (since this is
outdated rates and
updated, use this to • Domondon Star Notes
correct them, but still,
Taxation Law correct Mamalateo rates) or
the sample questions are
• Ortega Lecture • BRB or GT
golden)
Recordings on Remedies
• Tax I and II Originals
and VAT (from Baste)
(in my case)
• Sundiang Reviewer on
Commercial Law
• Jack Jimenez
• Perez Quizzer and • Jack Jimenez
Transcripts and Jack
Reviewers (this is highly Jurisprudence
Commercial Law Jimenez Pre-Week
recommended - put (2010-2012)
LectureRecordings (Tips
them together and it’s • BRB or GT
to!)
like a Jurado of sorts for
commercial law)

PRE-WEEK
REVIEWER
STUDY TIPS
• Boado Notes of the

Revised Penal Code (No
need to read his SPL
• Ramon Esguerra
Book)
Criminal Law Jurisprudence Updates
• Reyes I & II (If you
• GT
really suck at crim like
me)
• Unli-CODAL
• Riano Civpro, • Magdangal De Leon • Albano Recent

Remedial Law Crimpro, and Evidence; Provrem, SCA and Jurisprudence
• Unli-CODAL Specpro Notes • GT
• Antiquierra Comments
Ethics • Beda Reviewer • Codal
and Cases on Ethics
4. Should I just study on my own, or should I study with other people?
For your frst reading, study on your own frst, and STUDY SLOWLY. When you're done with your frst reading, feel free to
study with others, especially by September. HINDI PWEDENG KULONG KA ALL THE WAY, UNLESS IKAW SI JAKE
TABORA AT ALAM MO NA ANG LAHAT.
5. Should I keep watch for rumored examiners?
TOTAL BS. IT'S A MONEY-MAKING SCHEME. TO ILLUSTRATE:
SUBJECT (2013) RUMORED EXAMINER ACTUAL EXAMINER

Tax / Comm Dimaampo Bunag (BROD!)
Crim / Comm Esguerra Blancaflor (BROD!)
Poli Not Esguerra Esguerra
Civ Not Dimaampo Dimaampo
KUNG AYAW MONG MANIWALA SA KIN, BAHALA KANG MAG-SAYANG NG PERA KABIBILI NG LIBRO NG
RUMORED EXAMINER.
6. Which Bar Review Program is the Best?
Here are the PROS and CONS of the Major Review Centers:
BASTE:
Pros: For 14k, you get a copy of all lecture notes, Mock bar exams is only for P150.00, with discussion after. Good line-up
of Profs, and Barrister service is great.
Cons: Library sucks.

ATENEO:
Pros: Great Venue.!

STUDY TIPS
Cons: Everything else.
UP:
Pros: Cheap enrollment fee, cheap food options, great and refreshing place for those who love greenery.
Cons: Ang layo sa Makati.
CHAN ROBLES:
Pros: Access to all review lectures and materials via the Chan Robles Bar Review site, so you can study in the comfort of
your home.
Cons: The Philippines has the worst and most unreliable broadband speed in the world.
BEST DEAL GOES TO: BASTE.
7. Should I attend all the Bar Review Lectures?
NO. Attend only those lectures for those subjects you are weak at. In fact, don’t attend at all if you feel it will be a waste of
your time. BUT ATTEND THE PRE-WEEK LECTURES.
8. Where should I study?
WHERE YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BEST STUDY.
You can study at the LSAC (if that's your thing), at coffee shops (if you can afford it), at the library (with the very noisy and
inconsiderate law students), or at home (if you can handle the monotony). In my case, I left the country to be away from
distractions. The money spent was worth it.
Rule of Thumb:
STUDY AT SCHOOL WITH OTHERS AS THE BAR MONTH APPROACHES. YOU NEED TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION
WITH OTHER BAR REVIEWEES.
9. How long should I study?
IDEALLY, 10-12 HOURS A DAY.
OPTIMALLY, 6-8 HOURS A DAY. TREAT IT LIKE A “9-5”.
RESPECT YOUR WEEKENDS. YOU NEED IT TO AVOID BURNOUT.
10. Everything you said earlier can be summed up by saying "It's up to you." But really, isthere any set of principles/goals I
should keep in mind?
In an ideal world, I would have done the following things:
1. Do at least three readings (read - repeat - master) for all subjects.

2. One review book, one comprehensive reviewer, and UNLI-Codal.
3. Take a mock bar exam after completing every subject, and get feedback regarding the way I answer.

4. Studied on my own for the frst four months, and went out into the world only during the last two.
5. Avoided studying on the night before the exam.
STUDY TIPS
6. Match my prayers with the corresponding hard work ("Nasa Diyos ang Awa, nasa Tao ang Gawa").
7. EVERYTHING I HAD PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN ALL CAPS.
See you in Part II.

ROSE ANGELIQUE DIZON

Second Honors

STUDY TIPS
• Bernas, 1987 Philippine

Constitution • Ateneo Law Central Bar
• Nachura, Antonio, An Outline of Operations
Political Law
Political Law Review, • San Sebastian Green Notes
• Sarmiento, Public International
Law
• San Beda Reviewer

• Abad, Labor Standards
• Ateneo Law Central Bar
Labor Law • Abad, Labor Relations
Operations
• Veloso, Labor Law Review
• San Sebastian Green Notes
• Jurado, Civil Law Reviewer

• Sempio-Dy, Persons and Family
Relations
• Paras, Property
Civil Law • San Sebastian Green Notes
• Balane, Succession
• Balane Civil Law Reviewer,
Obligations and Contracts
• CLV Reviewer, Sales
• Ateneo Law Central Bar

• Mamalateo, Tax Law Review Operations
Taxation Law • Pierre Reyes Reviewer, Tax 1 • San Sebastian Green Notes
and Tax 2 • Michael Montero Notes and
Slides
• Cesar Villanueva, Commercial

Law Review
Commercial Law • San Sebastian Green Notes
• Sundiang, Commercial Law
Review
• Boado, Special Notes on

Criminal Law Review
• San Beda Law Reviewer
Criminal Law • Boado, Special Penal Laws
• San Sebastian Green Notes
• Mickey Ingles Criminal Law
Reviewer
• Riano, Civil Procedure 1

• Riano, Civil Procedure 2 • San Beda Law Reviewer
Remedial Law
• Riano, Criminal Procedure • San Sebastian Green Notes
• Festin, Special Procedure
• Pano (outdated)
• Aguirre (outdated)
Legal Ethics
• Ateneo Law Bar Operations by
Judge Ma. Filomena Singh
Codal is included for all subjects Started studying May until October Good luck and Hope this is useful

CAMILLE ESPELETA
Second Honors, Salutatorian
1st 2nd
Reading Reading
STUDY TIPS
(May 5 - (Aug 4 - Pre-Week

SUBJECTS BOOKS
Aug 2; 14 Sept 28; (1 week)
weeks) 8 weeks)
2 weeks 1 week 0.5 week

• Bernas Primer
• Nachura (Admin, Law on Public Offce,
Election Law)
• Beda (Admin, Law on Public Offce,
Political Law
Election Law)
• Bernas PIL
• ASIL PIL reviewer
• Jack Jimenez Recent jurisprudence
• Candelaria Recent jurisprudence
1 week 1 week 0.5 week
• Azucena Green Book
• Abad Compendium on Labor Law
Labor Law
• Chan (Recruitment and Placement)
• Manuel recent jurisprudence
• Codal and IRR
3 weeks 2 weeks 0.5 week
• Jurado (Preliminary Title)
• Sempio-Diy (Persons)
• Paras (Property)
• Jurado (Property)
• Balane (Succession)
• Balane lecture notes (Oblicon)
• Jurado (Sales, Agency, Partnership)
• CLV outlines (Sales, Agency, Partnership)
Civil Law • Sempio-Diy Conflict of Laws
• Zuñiga notes (Credit Transactions)
• Jurado (Extra-contractual obligations,
Damages, Concurrence and Preference of
Credits)
• Dean Delos Angeles Land titles
• Abaño Land Titles Tables
• Codal
• Notes from lawschool
• Recent jurisprudence
1.5 weeks 1 week 0.5 week
• Virgilio Reyes (Tax1)
• Virgilio Reyes (Tax2)
Taxation • Mamalateo
• Montero notes

1st 2nd
Reading Reading
STUDY TIPS
(May 5 - (Aug 4 - Pre-Week

SUBJECTS BOOKS
Aug 2; 14 Sept 28; (1 week)
weeks) 8 weeks)

• Sundiang Commercial Law Reviewer
• CLV Commercial Law Reviewer
• Abaño Transpo Tables
Commercial Law
• Abad Negotiable Instruments Law Made
Easy
• Boado
Criminal Law
3 weeks 1 week 0.5 week
• Riano Civpro
• Riano Crimpro
• Riano Evidence
• San Beda Memory Aid Civpro
Remedial Law
• San Beda Memory Aid Crimpro
• San Beda Memory Aid Specpro
• San Beda Memory Aid Evidence
• Codal
0.5 week 0.5 week

• Antiquera
Legal and Judicial Ethics • Ateneo BarOps Ethics
• Beda BarOps Ethics
Others • UP Law Answers to Bar Examinations

IGNATIUS MICHAEL INGLES

Second Honors, Salutatorian
Ranked 1st in the 2011 Bar Examinations
General Tips:
• Set goals:
STUDY TIPS
0 Ultimate goal: Pass and do well.

0 Mini-goals:
» Night before the exam, you're confdent and relaxed, knowing you put in the hours and the work.
» After the exam, you're not crying and confdent with how you answered.
» 1st reading goal: just get it over with; get that bad boy out of the way
» 2nd reading goal: connections start forming in your head; connections make things easier to
understand and remember
» 3rd reading goal: quicker and more comprehensive recall.
• Relax. My goodness, relax and don't pressure yourself. You already know the gravity of the exams, adding useless
pressure on yourself will just make you crack. Relax.
• Don’t stress yourself out with super complicated situations and “what if” scenarios. The examiners will rarely ask
something that hasn’t been set in stone anyway. And it just adds useless worry.
• Stay with positive people. The bar is stress enough, no use having negative people adding bad vibes to you.
• Don’t get into this mindset that “I have to stop my life for the bar and that I shouldn’t have other world problems while
I’m reviewing.” The reality is, you WILL have other problems. Having that mindset will just aggravate the problem. Instead,
have people who will help and support you through the “non-bar related” problems. The world doesn’t stop for the bar,
and the sooner you accept that, the easier it’ll be to deal with non-bar related problems. With that said, you should still
prioritize the bar.
• Exercise. Sound mind, sound body. Fit brain, ft belly.
• Take breaks, for the love of mankind.
• Take mini-vacations to reward yourself.
• Bring a watch to the exam room.
Study Day:
• Schedule: Get up at 730 am. Work out. Then start studying by 9 am. Mass and lunch at 12 noon. Start again by 1 pm.
End around 6-7 pm. Closer to the bar, I’d study after dinner again, until around 10-11 pm.
• Location: Rizal Library, Katipunan, and Reno, Nevada (for three weeks)
Review Schedule:
• 1st reading: feel free to follow any order for your frst reading; I started with Poli and Labor frst since I didn't take Labor
Law review (I coupled it with Poli for no reason). I studied Tax and Ethics the last, since I was pretty confdent with Tax.
• 2nd reading: I started following the order of the exams, but in a mirror fashion. So, I studied Rem frst, and ended
up with Poli. I made it a point to fnish my 2nd reading before September ended (although I don't remember if I was
successful. Hehe)
• 3rd reading: I told myself that I'd start with my third reading in September. I did the mirror technique again, but gave
myself only one week to study the two subjects coupled together. What I didn't fnish in one week, I fnished during pre-
week. I just marked where I left off on my notes.
0 So, in the frst week of September, I studied Rem and Ethics. Second week, I studied Comm and Crim. Third
week, I studied Civ and Tax. Fourth week, I studied Poli and Labor.

0 I found this "one week to study everything" technique useful for two reasons: frst, it built my confdence since
getting three readings in was my goal to begin with; and second, by the time I started with Poli and Labor, the Bar
exams for those subjects were two weeks away. So it’s like I had two weeks for my “pre-week” in Poli and Labor.
STUDY TIPS
Materials Used:
• When it came to study materials, the most important thing for me was that I only had one material to study. That’s why I
made all those reviewers – to consolidate everything that I had to know in one material. Having just one reviewer made it
easier for me to memorize and faster for me to study. It’s really hard having different books in front of you when studying.
It’s a clutter and I found it cluttered my brain as well. (That’s why I had such a hard time studying Civ, since everything
was scattered between different authors.)
• So my goal for my frst reading was to read different materials, determine which one I was most comfortable with, and
consolidate my notes in what I called my "fnal" reviewer (if you check the chart I made below, the materials with the most
readings were my "fnal" reviewers. All my notes were consolidated there). For example, in my frst reading in Poli, I read
Bernas and Nachura, and then consolidated the my notes in Bernas (meaning, I put stuff that were in Nachura, but not in
Bernas, in my Bernas book). So when it came to my 2nd, 3rd, and pre-week reads, I just had to open one book (except
Civ, which I swear had a thing against me.)
• I also made it a point to just study Ateneo reviewers. (Although I’d consult with some Beda reviewers if some points
were missing in the Ateneo reviewers.)
SUBJECTS MATERIALS READ LECTURES ATTENDED
• Bernas Reviewer (3)

• Nachura Reviewer (2 for the non- • Dean Candelaria’s Lecture on
Consti stuff like admin, etc; 1 for the Public International Law (found this
consti stuff) extremely useful especially when it
• Ateneo Poli reviewer (3 for the came to treaties)
non-Consti stuff, I used this as my • Atty. Jack’s pre-week lectures
Political Law 'fnal' reviewer for non-consti stuff; 1 (absolute must for me, he goes
brief read-through for the consti stuff, through practically all the case
mostly for updates on cases) doctrines, which stuck with me during
• Jimenez’s updates on the exam)
jurisprudence (3; Jack's notes are • Atty. Agra’s pre-week lecture on
defnitely a must - easy read and non-consti subjects
updated, available in the admin)
• Azucena’s Everyone’s Labor Code
(3)
• Atty. Manuel’s Pre-week lecture
• Alcantara (2 for Social legislation; 1
(good review for labor relations, but
for labor)
Labor Law don’t forget to study labor standards)
• Ateneo Labor Reviewer (3)
• I think I attended a lecture on
• Mickey notes on jurisprudence (3)
updates on jurisprudence as well
• Ateneo updates on Jurisprudence
(1)


STUDY TIPS
• Persons:
° Regina Reviewer for Dean
Del’s Class by Gurrea and
Maniego (3)
° Codal (3)
° Sempio-D y (1)
• Property
° Regina Reviewer for Dean
Del’s Class by Gurrea and
Maniego (3)
° Codal (3) • Atty. Sta Maria’s Pre-week on
° Mickey Reviewer (2) Persons
° Jurado (2) • Justice Hoflena's Pre-week on
• Succession Property (but stepped out once in
Civil Law ° Champ Reviewer (3) a while, and I think I skipped some
• Oblicon stuff. Did it mostly for updates on
° Codal (3) jurisprudence)
° Jurado (1 or 2, don't • Dean Angeles’ Pre-week on Land
remember) Titles
• Sec Trans
° Zuniga notes (3)
° Mickey notes (1)
° Codal
• Agency, Partnership, Sales
° CLV's outline (2)
° Ateneo reviewer (2)
° Codal
• Land Titles
° Dean Angeles' notes (3)
• Mickey Notes (3)
• Co Untian (2) • Atty. Montero’s lecture on updates
• Mamalateo (1, but only for certain on jurisprudence
Taxation Law topics) • Atty. Geronimo’s pre-week lecture
• Ateneo reviewer (2, for basic (but only attended the frst few days;
principles of taxation which aren’t in mostly for basic principles of taxation)
the Mickey notes)
• Sundiang (3)
• Abad Nego Made Easy (3)
• CLV (1 for Corporation and
Insurance Law case doctrines)
• Jack notes on Banking and other • Atty. Jack’s Pre-week lectures
Commercial Law related laws, etc (3) (again, super helpful; Atty. Jack is a
• Jack notes on updates on reviewer god)
jurisprudence (3, available in the
admin)
• Glenn Tuazon notes on Jack’s
lectures (2 for Nego)
Criminal Law
• Boado on Special Laws (1)


STUDY TIPS

• Ateneo Reviewer (3, but just for
Evidence and Spec Pro)
• Ateneo updates on jurisprudence
Remedial Law • Atty. Tranquil’s Pre-week
(1)
• Festin (2, for Spec Pro)
• Riano’s Books for Remedial Law –
Civ Pro, Crim Pro, Evidence (1)
• Ateneo reviewer (3)
• Codal (3)
Ethics • Justice Hof's Pre-week
• Ateneo updates on jurisprudence
(1)
Study Period:
Started studying May ½ all the way up to the October exams.
Number of Readings:
3 readings + preweek
Feedback on Ateneo Review Classes

It's up to you what you want to attend. If you're confdent with your grasp of the subject matter, no need to attend the
review classes. However, updates on jurisprudence lectures and preweek lectures are a must.
(See table on the lectures that I attended)
Hardest Subject
Hardest subject to study: Civ (because the materials were kalat)
Hardest subject to answer: Tax/Labor
Easiest Subject
Easiest subject to study: Poli and Tax
Easiest subject to answer: Poli
Night before the Test

Don’t study. I stopped studying Saturday lunch, and spent the afternoon reading comics and playing video games. Every
Satrurday went like this: mass at night, good dinner with the wife, made sure exam permit was in place, and then slept
early.
Things to Avoid
1) Panicking. You panic, you're halfway to losing.
2) Forgetting your exam permit. Photocopy it in color to be sure.
3) Drugs. Drugs are bad.
Best Kind of Help

Prayer and family.

FILEMON RAY JAVIER

Second Honors, 3rd in the batch
Ranked 2nd in the 2010 Bar Examinations
General Tips:
In preparing for the bar exam it is important to PLAN, STUDY, FOCUS, and ENJOY.
STUDY TIPS
It is crucial to have a plan or strategy when one is to take a monumental task, such as taking the bar exam. It is a must to
have a study schedule as it will guide you during the entire period of your bar preparation. You may not be able to follow
your schedule strictly, but at least try to go back on track and catch up for the lost time.
Be physically ft. Exercise. Take vitamins. Eat nourishing food. Pray. Sleep.
Enjoy. The bar experience is a wonderful experience. Enjoy every single day of it.
Focus. My father died during the frst month of my review. I took good care of my pregnant wife during the entire review
period. Those factors could have easily distracted me. I was still able to focus. You can also.
Study Schedule:
If you are a "fast-reader", I suggest that you try to have four (4) or fve (5) readings. If you are the more deliberate type,
two (2) or three (3) readings should be enough. Do what worked for you during your years in law school. Do not change
gear just for the bar exam. Your study schedule should ft you. Hence, your assessment of yourself is important.
I had four (4) readings excluding pre-week (hence, I had 5 readings in total). I read the text books that I used when I was
still in law school.
First Reading: Overdrive / Assessment
My frst reading was quick and crazy. It was intended to put me in an overdrive early. For my frst reading, I gave myself
only twenty-four (24) days to fnish everything. My plan was to test myself whether I am ready to take a bar exam on the
25th day. Hence, on 19 April 2010 (April 18 was our graduation day) I took "my bar exam". I used the questions in the
past bar exams for this exercise.
When I objectively reviewed my answers, I felt that I should be able to pass the bar exam but the quality of my answers
will not be enough to give me a slot in the top 10.
Assessment: I may have a good chance of passing the bar, but if I want to top it, then I must study harder.
SUBJECTS NUMBER OF DAYS ALLOTED DATES
Ethics 2 days March 25 - 26

Criminal Law 2 days March 27 - 18
Labor Law 2 days March 29 - 30
Commercial Law 4 days March 31 - April 3
Political Law 2 days April 4 6
Civil Law 4 days April 7 - 10
Taxation Law 2 days April 11 - 12
Remedial Law 5 days April 13 - 17
Practice Bar Exam 1 day (6am-11pm)
April 19
(2000 Bar Exams)

Second Reading: Cover to cover
My second reading was slow and deliberate. I read every page (from preface to the last page). I encircled the page
STUDY TIPS
numbers (sometimes the entire chapter) of my book that I felt I need not read again. This strategy helped me weed-out
unimportant pages/chapters of the text book or those portions which I already mastered during my four years in law
school and during my frst reading. My subsequent readings became manageable because of this approach.
Ethics 3 days April 20-22

Political Law 12 days April 23 - May 4
Labor Law 6 days May 4 - 9
Civil Law 12 days May 10-21
Taxation Law 6 days May 22 - 27
Commercial Law 12 days May 28 - June 9
Criminal Law 8 days June 10 - June 17
Remedial Law 10 days June 18 - 27
Third Reading: Studying more
Second Reading: Cover to cover
Only because I did not waste the frst three months of my review, by the end of July, I was already confdent that I will
pass the bar.
I encourage you to do the same. Take your frst months of review very seriously.
Political Law 5 days June 28 - July 2

Labor Law 4 days July 3 - 6
Civil Law 5 days July 7 - 11
Taxation Law 4 days July 12 - 15
Commercial Law 5 days July 16 - 20
Criminal Law 4 days July 21 - 24
Remedial Law 7 days July 25 - 31
Ethics 2 days August 1 - 2
Practice Bar Exam (2001-2008 Bar 1 day
August 3
Exams)
Fourth Reading: Studying to top the bar
An offcemate (who ranked 3rd in 2009 bar exams) once said that one should prepare to top, not just to pass. In my fourth
reading, I memorized case titles and important provisions of law.


STUDY TIPS
Remedial law 4 days August 4 - 7

Criminal Law 3 days August 8 - 10
Commercial Law 4 days August 11 - 14
Taxation Law 3 days August 15 - 17
Civil Law 4 days August 18 - 21
Labor Law 3 days August 22 - 24
Political Law 4 days August 25 - 28
Materials/books used in each subject
SUBJECTS BOOKS/REVIEWERS
Bernas, Primer (3 readings) Nachura (1 reading)

Political Law Jack updates (4 readings) Bernas updates (4 readings)
Memorize important provisions
Azucena, Everyones (4 readings) Manuel notes/updates
Labor Law
(4 readings)
Paras, Obligation and Contracts (2 readings) Balane,
Succession (2 readings)
Sempio dy, Persons and Family (2 readings) Sta. Maria,
Civil Law
Family (1 reading)
De Leon, SecTrans (1 reading) Jurado (cover to cover; 2
readings) Memorize important provisions
Mamalateo, Tax Law Reviewer (2 readings) Mamalateo,
Taxation Law Income tax (1 reading)
Co untian, Tax law reviewer (1 reading)
Perez, Commercial Law Reviewers (3 readings each)
Commercial Law Villanueva, Commercial Law Reviewer (1 reading)
Catindig, Commercial Law Reviewer (1 reading)
Reyes, Volumes 1 and 2 (1 reading)
Criminal Law Boado, Reviewer and Special Penal Laws (2 readings)
Memorize important RPC provisions
Regalado, Volumes 1 and 2 (3 readings) Memorize Rules
Remedial Law
of Court (at least try)
Pano (1 reading)
Aguirre (1 reading)
Ethics
Memorize code!
Forms - Atty. Nava's hand-outs San beda notes
There is no shortcut to passing (or topping) the bar. If you want to pass on your frst take, then you will have to work for it.
But if you want to top it, then you must be willing to sacrifce more. You will not top the bar just because you are brilliant.
There are equally brilliant law graduates who will be taking the bar with you. The only way you can out shine them is by
being better prepared. Do not waste time. Study now.

ELLIE CHRIS C. NAVARRA

Second Honors
Schedule of Readings
STUDY TIPS
DATE MATERIALS
April 22 - 24 Fr. B Primer + Abad Labor

April 25 - May 12 CLV Commercial Law Reviewer + Boado
May 13 - 26 Jurado + Mamalateo* (*Caveat for outdated provisions)
May 27 - June 9 Riano Civpro, Provrem, SCA + Aguirre Ethics
June 10 - 16 Riano Crimpro, Evidence, Specpro
June 17 - 24 Nachura + Azucena
June 25 - July 3 Sempio- Diy + Paras Succession + UP Tax Reviewer
July 4 - 12 Sundiang Commercial Law + Regalado I
July 13 - 26 Regalado II + Agpalo
Nego Reviewer + Agra Pointers + Labor Manuel + Land
Titles + Sundiang + Catindig + Sectrans + Pre-week Crim +
July 29 - August 5 Mamalateo Reviewer + Domondon Reviewer + Jack Poli +
Cande Recent Jurisprudence + Labor Disini + Top 400 Civ
Provisions (Compilation of Bar Reviewers c/o Blessings)
August 6 Abad Labor Standards
August 7 - 8 PIL Sarmiento
August 9 - 10 Fr. B Primer + Nachura Poli (topics other than Consti)
August 11 - 12 Abad Labor
August 13 Jurado
August 14 - 15 Ingles Tax Reviewer
August 16 - 17 Commercial Law Red book
August 18 - 20 Labor Law Red book
August 21 Beda Ethics Memo Aid
August 22 - 24 Remedial Law Red book
August 25 Ethics Red book
August 25 - 26 Sundiang
August 27 - 28 Boado
August 29 - 31 Civ Red book
September 1 - 12 UP Past bar exams
September 13 Specpro + Montero Reviewers
September 14 - 16 CLV and Dy Outlines
September 16 -19 Crim Memo Aid
September 19 Ethics Memo Aid
September 20 - 21 Rem Red book
September 22 - 23 Comm Red book

DATE MATERIALS
STUDY TIPS
September 24 Civ Red book

September 25 Tax Red book
September 26 - 27 Poli Red book
September 28 - 30 Labor Abad + Red book
Note: For the whole month of October, Red books + Codal.

Tips: Ateneo + Beda + Aleitheia + Utopia

PIERRE MARTIN D. REYES

Second Honors
As to study schedule, we started last week of april

1st Reading - Last week of April to 2nd week of July
STUDY TIPS
(includes making of reviewers, hence, the longer period plus you should take your time for the 1st reading, cover
everything)
2nd Reading - 3rd week of July to Last week of August (a more focused and limited review, less materials, concentrate on
the key concepts and relevant and new jurisprudence)
3rd Reading- September (similar to the 2nd reading but on a much faster pace, same materials essentially as the 2nd
reading)
correction: 3rd Reading - 1st to 3rd Week of September (fnish or not fnish)
Pre-week starts at the 4th week of September
start with poli/labor
As to pre-week, focus on codal plus one material and latest jurisprudence
I do not recommend studying extensively on a Monday during pre-week. Allow yourself some time to recuperate
As to the hours per day of study, 8 hours a day is recommended. Allow some time for recreation. It is okay to drink
alcohol. And if you’re tired, do not force yourself to study. If you do not meet the 8 hours, make up for it for additional
hours the next day
No studying on Saturdays and Sundays
Get plenty of sleep
It is recommended that you do not study alone. And if you do, fnd time to go out with friends. Isolation is detrimental to
your health, which, in turn, will affect your bar.
Study with people who compliment your study habits. try to stay away from those who study too intensely. That will just
stress you out.
Do not compare your study habits with others.
MATERIALS FOR BAR REVIEW

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
1ST READING 2ND READING 3RD READING PRE-WEEK
Bernas Primer*
Nachura Reviewer
Constitional Law
Others (Admin, Election Law, etc)
Exclude: PIL
UP BarOps Political Law Reviewer*
Jack Political Law Jurisprudence*
San Sebastian Recent Jurisprudence

LABOR LAW
STUDY TIPS
Chan Labor Bar Reviewer*

Abad Compendium on Labor Law
Veloso Labor Law Reviewer
Chan Labor Pre-Week*
Manuel Powerpoint / Notes / Jurisprudence*
Codal
CIVIL LAW
Paras I (Persons and Family Relations)*
Paras II (Property)*
Paras III (Succession)*
Paras IV(Oblicon)*
Paras V (Special Contracts)*
Aquino Land Titles (selected parts only)
Paras Civil Law Pre-Week*
Dean De Los Angeles Land Titles Powerpoint*
Codal
TAXATION LAW
PM Reyes Bar Reviewer*
Codal (Casasola NIRC and other Tax Laws)*
Mamalateo
Domondon Star Notes
Domondon General Principles
Domondon Transfer Taxes and VAT
Domondon Income Tax
COMMERCIAL LAW
Weigand Bar Reviewer*
Sundiang Commercial Law Reviewer
Perez Reviewer Corporation Law/Secreg
Perez Reviewer Transportation Law
Perez Reviewer Negotiable Instruments et al

Perez Reviewer Insurance

Salao Intellectual Property Law
STUDY TIPS
CRIMINAL LAW
Reyes Crim I
Reyes Crim II
Sandoval Pointers in Criminal Law*
San Beda Criminal Law Reviewer*
Esguerra Recent Jurisprudence
Prosecutor Inovejas Jurisprudence*
REMEDIAL LAW
Riano CivPro Volume I
Riano CivPro Volume II (ProvRem and SCA)
Riano CrimPro
Riano Evidence
Festin SpecPro
Mickey Ingles Reviewer CivPro*
Mickey Ingles Reviewer ProvRem, SCA, Crim-
Pro*
Justice De Leon ProvRem and SCA Reviewer*
Justice De Leon SpecPro Reviewer*
Ateneo BarOps Reviewer (Evidence)*
Tranquil Rem Law Review Transcript
Tranquil CrimPro Transcript
Codal*
ETHICS
Pano
Cosico
Antiquerra*
Code of Judicial Conduct Annotated*
Hoflena Powerpoint/Notes*
Ateneo BarOps Reviewer*
Codal*
Those with asterisk (*) are considered "essentials."

KRISTEL TIU
3rd WEEK
SUBJECTS 1st READING 2nd READING
PRE-WEEK
STUDY TIPS
Consti – Bernas,
Gorospe;
Admin and Election Law

- Nachura, Agra;
Ateneo BarOps, Recent
Political Law Ateneo BarOps
Jurisprudence
PIL – Bernas, Dean
Candelaria’s Review
Notes;
Jac Updates
Labor 1 and 2 -
Azucena;
Social Legislation –
Chan;
Notes, Recent
Labor Law Manuel Lecture on Labor Ateneo BarOps
Jurisprudence, Codal
Standards
*Sometimes I'd use

Veloso’s book as a cross-
reference
Conflicts - Sempio-Diy
Persons and Family

Relations – Sta. Maria
Property – Mickey
Reviewer
Oblicon – Balane
Codal and law school
Civil Law Codal
notes
Succession – Champ
Cred Trans – Zuñiga Pre-

Bar and Supplement
Land Titles – De Los

Angeles Notes
Tax I – Mamalateo; Mamalateo,

Pierre Reviewer, Montero
Taxation Law
Tax II – Mickey Notes, Ateneo BarOps

Boado – RPC I, II and

Boado;
SPL;
STUDY TIPS
Criminal Law Peralta Notes; Beda Memory Aid, notes

Peralta Notes
Beda Memory Aid
Letters of Credit, Trust

Receipts, Negotiable
Instruments, Insurance
– CLV
Jac’s handouts, recent
Transportation – Perez
Commercial Law Ateneo BarOps jurisprudence, Ateneo
BarOps
Corporation Code,
Securities Regulation,
Banking, IP, AMLA, FIA –
Sundiang
Civ Pro, Crim Pro,

Evidence – Riano
Spec Pro – Regalado

Remedial Law Beda Memory Aid Notes, codal
Peralta Notes
San Beda Memory Aid
Paño; Paño; Ateneo BarOps, past

Legal Ethics
Ateneo BarOps Ateneo BarOps exams
SCHEDULE
Set a schedule for but be flexible. Don't pressure yourself to follow your schedule rigidly. You don't need the added
stress. At the very least, your schedule is a template, a guide. If you don’t reach your quota at the end of the week, adjust.
Allot time from your rest day to fnish off some pages or pick it up in the second read.
FIRST READ:
• Duration: After graduation until mid-July
• Materials: Read the books you used in law school and the notes you made. Generally, it’s harder to use a new book
but if you read fast and you feel like it’s important, go for it.
• Tips: Don't rush! The objective of the frst read is to cover everything. Don't feel pressured if you have friends who
fnish ahead of you. People read at their own pace. Don't panic if you don't feel like you've mastered the subject. At this
point, you aren't expected to. Ask if you have any questions or clarifcations.
SECOND READ:
• Duration: Mid-July until 3rd week of September
• Materials: Reviewers
• Tips: The objective of the second read is recall and memorization. What you've read in your frst read should be
coming back to you. Start memorizing.

THIRD READ:
• Duration: 3rd week of September and throughout October
• Materials: Reviewers, recent jurisprudence, selected hand-outs from the pre-bar and pre-week lectures,
STUDY TIPS
past bar exams

• Tips: Study smart. There are favorite topics for each bar subject. I referred to past bar exams or Lex Pareto and made
a checklist of what I needed to understand perfectly. This helped build my confdence.
REST PERIOD
I would generally study from 8am-9pm Monday to Saturday and use half of Sunday to read or answer past bar exams.
Rest is really, really important. Get 6-7 hours of sleep everyday and take breaks whenever you need to and for however
long need them. I can’t emphasize how important pace is. One of my main goals in bar review was to not burn out. After
4 years in law school you practically know everything there is to know because you have a really good foundation and
you’re prepared, but if you’re sick and tired by the time the bar comes along none of that will matter.
LECTURE
It depends on what kind of learner you are. If you’re an auditory learner, go for it. But if you aren’t (like me) pick the ones
to go to or drop in to see if there’s anything new. Jac’s lectures are a must, especially for Poli. Dean Candelaria’s Poli
lecture was helpful, too. I also liked Montero for Tax and Manuel for Labor (gold!!). Go to Guevarra for Rem if you didn’t
have him in Remedial Law Review.
However, don’t feel obligated to stay, even for the good ones. Once I noticed that the lector was just reading off slides or
handouts, I left and got a copy since I wanted more time to read.
RUMORS
You'll hear all kinds of rumors during pre-bar and pre-week. Don't take it too seriously. We heard a lot of rumored examin-
ers and were told to focus on their favorite topics but that didn’t really factor in because the Chairperson had a hand in
picking a lot of the questions for the bar and they didn’t turn out to be the “favorites” of our rumored examiners. The top-
ics that came out in the past bar exams were more reliable.
Good luck with review!!! You've gotten this far so you clearly know what you're doing. Pace, never ever doubt yourself,
stay positive, and pray a lot!

DIANNA LOUISE R. WILWAYCO

Second Honors
Ranked 2nd in the 2013 Bar Examinations
GENERAL POINTERS
• I studied at least 8 hours a day Monday-Friday. The only time I studied on weekends was when I foresaw that I would
STUDY TIPS
not be able to reach my weekly quota. I also made sure that I had adequate exercise (7 hours a week from May to
August, and 1 hour from September to October. Yes, I exercised during Pre-Week). I always had a hearty breakfast, a
heavy lunch, and a very light dinner. During the actual Bar examinations, I avoided starch and limited myself to brown
carbs. I also ate 1 big Fuji apply during lunch breaks.
• My weekly quota depended on: (1) the subject I was reviewing for, (2) the number of review materials I had selected
for a particular subject, and (3) the number of pages each of my materials had. Considering these factors, I read about
100-150 pages every day. On a very good day, I could read up to 250 pages (this happened only, like, twice. Hehe).
Depending on the text, I could read 15-25 pages per hour.
• Early on I decided to do only two full readings, excluding Pre-Week. Even if I read 2-3 books on a particular subject, I
still considered it as one reading. I tried to avoid “peaking” too soon. In law school, I stuck with two readings for class and
for exams, and so I relied on the same technique that worked for me.
• For my frst reading, I spent two weeks on the major subjects, and one week for minor subjects. I followed this
schedule strictly, except for Civil and Remedial Law, to which I allotted two and a half weeks each. I gave myself
allowances just in case I had “off” days.
• I started reviewing on May 4. Following my study strategy as mentioned above ensured that I fnished my frst reading
by the end of July.
• For my second reading, I dedicated one week each per subject. This time, I followed the mirror method. By the time I
fnished my second reading it was already Pre-Week.
• During Pre-week, I also followed the mirror method. For the frst week, I studied Labor Law on Monday morning until
Tuesday night, followed by Political Law from Wednesday until Saturday noon. For the succeeding weeks, I took half the
day off on Mondays. Consequently, I started reviewing for the minor subject Monday afternoon until Wednesday morning
(give or take, this will spill over to the afternoon). Then from Wednesday afternoon until Friday night, I would be studying
the major subject.
• During the entire Bar review, I listened to various study playlists. I had an upbeat playlist (mostly Zedd, David Guetta,
etc) to wake me up. I also had an intense playlist that altered my brainwaves so that it would be in the zone (Joe Hisahi-
shi’s compositions. If you know Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, or Princess Mononoke, you’ll know the music. Oth-
erwise, if you go to Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen, that’s the playlist). Be careful though, because my intense playlist is really
intense. After listening to it for 4 hours, you’ll probably need to take a break. Seryosong intense siya.
• As much as possible, I no longer studied on Saturdays. I tried to relax and meditate at least 30 minutes before I slept.
Lights off at 9pm, and I was asleep at 10pm at the latest. I drank 1 capsule of 5HTP before bed. I woke up 4am every
Sunday. I performed exercises to wake up my body (this is comprised mostly of a series of pokes on selected pressure
points so that my brain and body are awake and in the zon e). I drank two cups of green tea with honey, Berocca, 1000mg
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and 1000 mg B-12.

POLITICAL LAW
• Fr. Bernas, Primer
STUDY TIPS
• Justice Nachura, Political Law Outline

1st Reading
• Justice Agra, Admin/PubCorp/PubOff/LocGov Powerpoint Presentations
• Atty. Sarmiento, PIL
• Fr. Bernas, Primer
• Justice Nachura, Political Law Outline (those included in the Syllabus that were
2nd Reading
not part of the Primer; non-Consti topics)
• San Beda Memory Aid
• Fr. Bernas, Primer (only Arts. III, VI-IX)
• Justice Nachura, Political Law Outline (non-Consti topics)
Pre-Week
• San Beda Memory Aid (scanned new jurisprudence only)
• ASIL PIL Reviewer
Saturday Night NONE
LABOR LAW
• Abad, Labor Law Compendium
1st Reading
• Chan, Labor Law Reviewer
• Chan, Labor Law Reviewer
2nd Reading
• Ateneo BarOps Reviewer
• Chan, Labor Law Reviewer (with cut-outs from Ateneo BarOps Reviewer that
Pre-Week
were missing from Chan)
• Chan, Labor Law Pre-Week: I was NOT able to read this anymore since I got it
Saturday Night at around 8pm. Stick with the book since it’s much more comprehensive anyway
though a little outdated.
CIVIL LAW
• Dean Del Castillo, Regina Persons Reviewer (supplemented by Sempio-Dy and
updated by my Victoria notes/charts)
• Dean Del Castillo, Regina Property Reviewer (updated by my 2nd year Victoria
Property Reviewer)
• Balane, Jottings and Jurisprudence on Civil Law (Succession)
• Balane, Dot Nava ObliCon Reviewer
• Dean Villanueva, Sales Outline
• Dean Villanueva, Agency, Trusts, and Partnership Outline
1st Reading
• Zuniga, Credit Transactions Reviewer
• Sempio-Dy, Conflict of Laws
• Jurado, Lease
• Jurado, Torts and Damages
• Padilla, Damages (only to clarify some topics that were not thoroughly discussed
in Jurado)
• Dean Delos Angeles, Land Titles Notes and Powerpoint Presentation
• Codal: For everything
• Dean Del Castillo, Regina Persons Reviewer
• Dean Del Castillo, Regina Property Review
• Balane, Champ Notes (Succession)
• Balane, Dot Nava ObliCon Reviewer
2nd Reading
• Codal
• Note: I just studied the big 4 subcomponents of Civil Law. I was pressed for
time since I had only 1 week to fnish my second reading for Civil Law, so I had to
rely on the Codal for everything else

CIVIL LAW
Pre-Week • CODAL, CODAL, CODAL!!!
STUDY TIPS
• A. Sta. Maria, Updated jurisprudence for Persons

Saturday Night
• CODAL
TAXATION LAW
• Co-Untian, Tax Digests
1st Reading • Mickey Ingles, Tax 1 & 2 Reviewer
• Sacdalan-Cassasola, Codal
• Pierre Reyes, Tax 1 & 2 Reviewer
2nd Reading
• Pierre Reyes, Tax 1 & 2 Reviewer
Pre-Week
Saturday Night • San Sebastian Survey of cases (forgot who prepared it)
MERCANTILE LAW
• D ean Villanueva, Commercial Law Reviewer
1st Reading • Sundiang-Aquino, Commercial Law Reviewer
• Dean Abad, Negotiable Instruments Law Made Easy
• Sundiang-Aquino, Commercial Law Reviewer
2nd Reading
• Starr Weigand, Commercial Law Reviewer (selected topics only)
• Sundiang-Aquino, Commercial Law Reviewer
Pre-Week
• Dimaampao, Commercial Law Reviewer
Saturday Night • Dimaampao, Commercial Law Last Minute Notes (23-page handout)
CRIMINAL LAW
• Gregorio, Criminal Law Reviewer (take note that this was last edited in 2008, and
there has been plenty of jurisprudence and laws that have been passed)
1st Reading
• Codal
2nd Reading
• Codal
Pre-Week
• Codal
• San Sebastian updated jurisprudence
Saturday Night
• Codal
REMEDIAL LAW
• Dean Riano, Civil Procedure 1 & 2, Criminal Procedure, Evidence
1st Reading • Festin, Special Procedure
• Codal
• San Beda Memory Aid (had to edit portions of it because some were misleading
2nd Reading and outdated already)
• Codal
• Dean Riano, Civil Procedure 1 & 2, Criminal Procedure, Evidence (I just scanned
Pre-Week the headings and read only the portions I highlighted)
• Codal
Saturday Night • San Beda Memory Aid (SpecPro only)

ETHICS
• Agpalo, Legal and Judicial Ethics
STUDY TIPS
• Antiquerra, Legal Ethics

1st Reading • Pano, Legal Ethics
• Codal
• Antiquerra, Legal Ethics
• Pano, Legal Ethics
2nd Reading
• Codal
Pre-Week • Ateneo BarOps Reviewer
Saturday Night NONE
Last minute tips:
• Do NOT panic. Relax. You survived law school. You'll live through this.
• Make sure you have enough sleep to sustain you for at least 12 hours for the actual Bar examinations.
• Also, make sure your penmanship is legible. Write in PRINT instead of script. Practice your penmanship if necessary.
• Manage your time well. Make sure that when you answer the exam, you have enough time to review your answers.
During the actual Bar examinations, I read all of the questions frst before I wrote my answer on the exam booklet. I wrote
short answers on the questionnaire as I scanned the exam (For example, I wrote "No, violates separation of powers
doctrine). Whenever I got stumped in one question, I immediately moved on to the next. Scanning the entire examination
also allowed me to see if the possible answers to the earlier questions were found in the latter part of the questionnaire.
• Your answer should follow ALAC: (1) Answer, (2) Legal basis, (3) Analysis, and (4) Conclusion. The frst sentence
should briefly state your categorical answer to the question. Take a stand as early as possible. For example, if the
question asks whether a governmental act is constitutional, you should answer like this: "No, the proposed bill is
unconstitutional, because it violates the doctrine of separation of powers and the equal protection clause." Your Legal
basis should cite the applicable principle, statute, or jurisprudence as is. The third part of your answer should explain
how the legal basis you cited applies to the present case/issue. Your last sentence should reiterate the stand you made
in the frst sentence.
• Be mindful of the examiner. The examiner only has 2-5 minutes to check your exam booklet. Make his/her job easier
by: (1) writing legibly, (2) answering direct to the point, (3) organizing your thoughts before answering, and (4) using key
words.
• Always pray for guidance before every exam. Always give thanks after every exam, regardless of your feelings on how
you answered.

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2015 BAR REVIEW PRIMER

RAOUL ANGELO d.F.ATADERO

OTHER GENERAL TIPS

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

dozing off at the library (usually around 15-30 minutes).

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

During Bar Review Season

1. How do I approach the Bar Review season?

I will say this repetitively all throughout this guide:

THERE IS NO FIXED RULE FOR PREPARING FOR THE BAR EXAMS.

Nevertheless, let me tell you frankly:

Keep this formula in mind when planning your schedule:

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2. How many readings should I do?

Nevertheless, here are some rules of thumb:

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Sample power lines:

“It is well-settled that certiorari is not a substitute for an, as

“It is basic that technical rules of procedure and evidence

“Well-settled is the rule that once a party consents to

3. What materials should I use?

Bar Review Months:

There is only so much you can read in six months.

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• Jack Jimenez Recent

• Abad Compendium • Marlon Manuel

• Jurado Civil Law

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• Boado Notes of the

• Riano Civpro, • Magdangal De Leon • Albano Recent

4. Should I just study on my own, or should I study with other people?

5. Should I keep watch for rumored examiners?

TOTAL BS. IT'S A MONEY-MAKING SCHEME. TO ILLUSTRATE:

SUBJECT (2013) RUMORED EXAMINER ACTUAL EXAMINER

6. Which Bar Review Program is the Best?

Cons: Library sucks.

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Pros: Great Venue.!

Cons: Everything else.

Cons: Ang layo sa Makati.

BEST DEAL GOES TO: BASTE.

7. Should I attend all the Bar Review Lectures?

8. Where should I study?

WHERE YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BEST STUDY.

9. How long should I study?

IDEALLY, 10-12 HOURS A DAY.

OPTIMALLY, 6-8 HOURS A DAY. TREAT IT LIKE A “9-5”.

RESPECT YOUR WEEKENDS. YOU NEED IT TO AVOID BURNOUT.

In an ideal world, I would have done the following things:

1. Do at least three readings (read - repeat - master) for all subjects.

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015

ROSE ANGELIQUE DIZON

SUBJECTS BOOKS REVIEWERS

• Bernas, 1987 Philippine

• San Beda Reviewer

• Jurado, Civil Law Reviewer

• Ateneo Law Central Bar

• Cesar Villanueva, Commercial

• Boado, Special Notes on

• Riano, Civil Procedure 1

ATENEO LAW BATCH 2015