BACOLOD CITY — City officials here led Bacolodnons in congratulating University of Saint La Salle (USLS) law graduate Mark John Simondo for topping the 2017 Bar examinations, based on the results released by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that Simondo’s feat is a proud moment for Bacolod.
“We salute Mark John Simondo. We have proven that we have local talents who are at par with the best in Manila and elsewhere,” the mayor said.
“Simondo will be a source of inspiration to the people of Bacolod in general and the law students in particular,” he added.
In its official Facebook page, the USLS posted an announcement of the achievement of its alumnus, and congratulated its 12 new lawyers led by Simondo, who graduated as valedictorian of the USLS College of Law Class 2017.
Councilor Em Ang said in her Facebook post that Bacolod City is proud of its latest topnotcher, who is the son of retired Senior Police Officer 4 Noli Simondo.
Dean Roseann Juliana Gonzaga of the USLS College of Law said in her Facebook account that Simondo earned the “Best Thesis” award and was also a member of the law school’s Moot Court team for three years.
He had represented USLS in the Stetson Environmental Law, the ICRC International Humanitarian Law, and the Philip Jessup International Law Moot Competitions.
Simondo, the lone USLS graduate and among the four from the Visayas who landed in the top 10, garnered an average of 91.05 percent to clinch the top spot.
He is the first from Bacolod to place number one in the Bar examinations.
He said in a media interview that he took up law to stay in the country since his parents had wanted him to work abroad as a nurse.
Also included in the top 10 are three graduates from the University of San Carlos Cebu, namely, Christianne Mae Balili, who placed second with a rate of 90.80 percent; Ivanne D’laureil Hisoler, who landed in fourth place with a rate of 89.55 percent; and Rheland Servacio, who ranked seventh, with a rate of 89 percent.
Others were Camille Remoroza of Ateneo de Davao University, third place (90.7); Monica Anne Yap of San Beda College-Manila, fifth (89.45); Lorenzo Luigi Gayya of University of Santo Tomas, sixth (89.1); Krizza Fe Alcantara-Bagni of St. Mary’s University and Algie Kwillon Mariacos of San Beda College-Manila, eighth (88.9); Klinton Torralba of University of Santo Tomas, ninth (88.65); and Emma Ruby Aguilar of University of Santo Tomas, tenth (88.4). (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
