Country’s oldest bar examinee passes exam

By Jun Guiang

LAOAG CITY — Jose Roy B. Raval is probably the country’s oldest successful examinee in the bar examination administered by the Supreme Court in September last year. The list of the successful examinees was released over the weekend.
Raval, 60 years old, said it is his longtime dream to become a lawyer just like his father, Castor Raval, who was appointed governor of Ilocos Norte after the 1986 EDSA People Revolution.

Roy finished his law course at Northwestern University, one of the oldest educational institutions in this city.

It’s pure coincidence that the elder Raval, now 90, is also reputed as the oldest practicing lawyer in Ilocos Norte.

He was a classmate of former Sen. Jovito Salonga at the University of the Philippines’ law school.

Lincoln Asencion, son of Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge Marciano Asencion, also passed the recent bar examination, which was said to be one of the toughest tests in the last few years.

Other bar passers from Ilocos Norte include Rhoesel Ammiel Santos, William Arimboyutan Jr., Maribel Barut, Robespierre Cu, Melchor Dumlao, Dhylyne Enchon Espejo, Michael Garces, Aries John Lagmay, Harlynne Monnette Manuel, Mari Khris Pammit, Jason Bader Perera, and Maria Catherina Rubio.