University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The 2025 Bar Examinations, regarded as one of the most rigorous professional licensure examinations in the country, were conducted on September 7, 10, and 14, 2025 in testing centers nationwide. In January 2026, the Supreme Court announced that 5,594 out of 11,420 examinees successfully passed the examinations, posting a national passing rate of 48.98 percent. Of these successful examinees, 72 were graduates of the University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi.
Among the nation’s highest-performing new lawyers was University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi alumna Atty. Mae Angela D. Locsin, CPA, who placed 16th in the 2025 Bar Examinations. Her achievement added another chapter to the University’s tradition of excellence in legal education producing topnotchers, and the formation of competent and principled legal professionals.
For Atty. Mae Angela D. Locsin, placing 16th in the 2025 Bar Examinations was never the goal. Like many law graduates awaiting the results, she simply prayed to pass.
“When I learned that I placed 16th, I felt a deep sense of relief. ‘Thank you, Lord’ was the only thing I could say over and over again,” she recalled. Behind the achievement is a story of diligence, discipline, faith, and perseverance. Those are values that carried her from a quiet town in Albay to becoming one of the country’s top-performing new lawyers.
Atty. Locsin grew up in Pioduran, Albay, a municipality known for its rural charm and tranquil pace of life. She describes herself as a diligent student but just as ordinary as anyone else. A natural introvert, she found contentment in simple things.
“Having spent my formative and early school years there shaped my simple outlook on life,” she shared. “Even as a child, I thought having a decent job and a loving family would be more than enough.”
Law was not initially part of a grand plan. In May 2018, she and several colleagues decided to take the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhilSAT). At the time, she was convinced she had failed, particularly because she was unable to finish the reading comprehension section. Looking back, she remembers asking God for a sign.
“If I passed, I would pursue Law. I passed with a grade of 75.”
That unexpected result became the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead her to the Bar. Law school proved both challenging and rewarding. As a working student, balancing academic responsibilities with work and personal commitments became her greatest challenge.
“To endure law school, I had to make sacrifices. Less time for leisure and hanging out with friends,” she said. The demands of legal education were not without moments of struggle. At one point, the pressure became overwhelming enough for her to reduce her academic load. “I decided to under load my subjects, just so I would not drain myself so much.”
Yet despite the difficulties, she continued moving forward. The same determination carried her through the Bar review period, which she describes as a battle fought not only through books and notes but also in the mind and heart.
“The most difficult part of the bar review is the nagging feeling that you are not prepared despite all the hours spent studying,” she shared. “It is a mental and emotional burden that stays with you until the very last day of the Bar.”
To overcome that burden, she anchored herself in faith. She would always turn to God, praying unceasingly and telling Him, “Bahala ka na po, Lord.'”
She also drew strength from her family, knowing that their support was not dependent on any result. “I knew that pass or fail, nandyan naman sila parati.”
Whenever the pressure became overwhelming, she would remind herself to step back and see the bigger picture. “I would ‘zoom out’ my perspective and realize that my problems are just a mere speck in the universe.” Her journey to becoming a lawyer is closely intertwined with her formation at the University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi.
“I wouldn’t be a lawyer if not for UST-Legazpi,” she said. She credits the University and its professors for helping prepare her for the demands of legal practice and the Bar Examinations.
“I am forever grateful for the education and mentorship I received from our dedicated professors.”
It was only during the Bar review, she admitted, that she fully appreciated the countless readings and rigorous recitations that once seemed daunting. She described it as a form of tough love from their teachers to help them, law students, become their colleagues. For Atty. Locsin, becoming a lawyer is not merely an achievement or a title.
She is a firm believer that being a lawyer is more of a responsibility than a privilege. For her, it is not just about knowing and understanding the law, but it’s more about ensuring that the laws are properly implemented for the benefit of the community. Today, she continues to live out that responsibility through her work as a State Auditor, where she applies her legal education and training in public service.
“As of now, I am using my legal education and training in my work as a State Auditor, to ensure that public funds and properties are utilized efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the ordinary Filipinos.”
Throughout her journey, her family and friends remained a constant source of encouragement and stability. They serve as a reminder that “All is well. Their unwavering love and support fueled me especially during the bar review and exam days.”
More importantly, they never placed expectations on her shoulders. No pressure, just pure and simple encouragement to give her best, which provided her the comfort and peace of mind she needed to focus. Reflecting on the values she carried into the Bar Examinations, these three stand out: diligence, discipline, and faith.
“To be successful in any endeavor, you have to work hard and pray harder. Ora et Labora.”
To aspiring Thomasian lawyers preparing for law school or the Bar, her advice is simple but enduring: “Embrace the challenge. There will be a lot of days when you would feel like giving up. Rest and cry if you want, but do not quit.”
And perhaps the most important reminder of all: “Just trust the process, it will be a worthwhile journey.”
From the quiet town of Pioduran to becoming one of the country’s top Bar passers, UST-Legazpi’s Atty. Mae Angela D. Locsin’s story is a journey of what diligence, discipline, faith, and perseverance can achieve. More than a personal triumph, her success reflects the Legazpi Thomasian commitment to excellence, service, and the responsible practice of the law for the common good.