In April 1985, right after my admission to the Philippine Bar, I was invited by Dean Neptali A. Gonzalez (deceased) of the Institute of Law of Far Eastern University in Manila -- my high school and law alma mater - to teach various law subjects thereat. (Dean Gonzalez, who was like a father to me, later became the President of the Philippine Senate in the late 1980s).
When I started teaching law from 1985, I noticed that the percentage of female law students in my classes was an insignificant 15% to 20%.
However, from 1995 onwards, the percentage of my female law students increased to about 40% to 50%.
It showed the escalating interest of Filipinas to study the law and to be part of the justice system. A law degree is also a sure step towards socio-economic progress and recognition.
This phenomenon is a happy development, as far as I am concerned.
[My oldest daughter herself, Machelle Laserna-Adricula, is an active law student and an editor of the student organ of the College of Law of the University of Perpetual Help Rizal (UPHR) in Las Pinas City under tutelage of retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Isagani Cruz, a hard-hitting political columnist of the respected Philippine Daly Inquirer].
According to a report issued by the Office of the Bar Confidant of the Philippine Supreme Court covering the period 2004-2006, the number of female bar examinees from 2004 to 2006 was as follows: 2,437 for 2004; 2,536 for 2005; and 2,882 for 2006.
On average, the number of male bar applicants was only 9% higher that female bar applicants. Not bad.
About 40% of successful bar examinees are females while 60% are male.
The trend seems to be increasing.
In the 2003, the number of females admitted to the Bar increased by 5%.
In the same year, the number of males admitted to the Bar comprised about 56%.
From 2004-2005, the number of females admitted to the Bar increased by 4% from 44% in 2003.
From 2003 to 2005, the annual increased in the number of females admitted to the Bar was very steady, according to the report.
