A legacy of resilience: how a 59-year-old father finally conquered the Bar Exam on his 11th attempt

• Eduardo Rivera Regio, 59, successfully passed the 2025 Bar Exams after first attempting the test in 1993
• His journey survived the "five-strike rule" and multiple "near-pass" scores of 72% and 73% in previous years
• Regio attributed his persistence to his desire to inspire his five children, proving that quitting is never an option
• Out of 11,425 examinees, Regio emerged as a symbol of hope, reminding the public that age is no barrier to professional success

When the list of the 2025 Bar Examination passers was displayed on the LED screens of the Supreme Court courtyard on January 7, 2026, it didn’t just mark the end of a grueling season for 5,594 individuals—it signaled the end of a thirty-year odyssey for Eduardo Rivera Regio.

Now 59 years old, Regio’s story is a profound masterclass in the human spirit's refusal to break. His pursuit of the legal profession began in 1993, a time when many of his current fellow passers were not yet born.

Read also

Woman visitor arrested after an illicit substance was found on her during Quezon City jail visit

Over the next three decades, his journey was marked by a series of "near misses" and legal hurdles that would have discouraged even the most stoic candidates.

Regio’s path was notably blocked by the now-defunct "five-strike rule," which once capped the number of Bar attempts allowed in the Philippines.

It wasn't until the Supreme Court lifted this restriction in 2014 that Regio saw a flickering light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Returning to his law books after a decade-long hiatus, he faced heartbreaking scores of 72.93% and 73.94%—inches away from the 75% passing mark.

What kept a man in his late 50s returning to the grueling three-day examinations? For Regio, a former public servant and current employee of Land Bank of the Philippines, it wasn't about the prestige of the title.

"I wanted to stop," he admitted in a tearful interview, "but I chose to take it one last time so that my children would have a legacy of persistence to follow."

With five children watching, Regio surrendered his eleventh and final attempt to faith. When his name finally appeared on the roll, it wasn't just a personal victory; it was a living testimony to his favorite mantra of "Habang may buhay, may pag-asa" (As long as there is life, there is hope).

Read also

James Deakin expresses frustration as LTO clarifies rules on reckless driving

Regio’s success on his 11th try serves as a beacon for "perpetual" examinees nationwide, proving that while the timeline of success varies for everyone, the destination remains reachable for those who refuse to surrender.

In other news, a 32-year-old woman’s attempt to visit her partner at the Talipapa Police Station in Quezon City ended in her own arrest after a female officer discovered illegal narcotics during a standard security frisk. The search yielded approximately two grams of suspected methamphetamine (shabu), which has an estimated street value of ₱13,600. The suspect tested positive for narcotics and admitted ownership of the sachets, though she claimed the drug$ were for her personal use and not intended as a "gift" for her incarcerated partner. Following the discovery, the visitor was immediately processed for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug$ Act, trading her freedom for a cell in the same facility where she had planned to be a guest.

Still in other news, a dump truck hauling gravel turned into a deadly projectile in Siniloan, Laguna, on January 5, 2026, after its brakes reportedly failed, causing it to plow through a utility pole and several residential structures. The wreckage claimed the lives of two individuals—a 16-year-old student and an adult woman—while at least five other bystanders and residents were hospitalized with serious injuries. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the driver and his assistant were reportedly cornered and assaulted by local residents who were overwhelmed by the devastation in their neighborhood. The 52-year-old driver is now facing multiple criminal charges, including reckless imprudence resulting in double homic1de, as investigators evaluate the roadworthiness of the heavy vehicle.

Source: KAMI.com.gh