Cebuano in 2025 bar top 10 list is son of fisherfolk

CEBU, Philippines – Jeowy Loyloy Ompad, among the top 10 passers of the 2025 Bar Exams, is the proud son of a fisherfolk family from Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island, Cebu.

The Cebuano bar passer said in a press conference on Wednesday, January 7, that he grew up in an impoverished community and that his experience living on an island outside mainland Cebu molded his determination to succeed in life.

His parents, Breza and Jose Ompad, are fisherfolk hailing from the islet of Moamboc in the southwestern area of Bantayan. Ompad is the second eldest child among four siblings and the first in his family to become a lawyer.

“When I was a kid, I fished for a living. I helped my father with fishing until I finished high school,” Ompad said.

In his younger years, he recalled waking up early in the morning to catch fish with both of his parents, relying on the day’s catch for meals at home and at school. Ompad added that there were days when he would skip classes to help his parents earn money, spending more time at sea rather than inside a classroom.

This, however, did not stop him from wanting more in life.

“I wanted to dream more and get out of the island, to explore the city,” Ompad said, adding that becoming a lawyer had been on his bucket list since childhood.

His determination brought him to Cebu City, where he sought scholarships and part-time work to help him through college at a Cebu university, where he studied accountancy and later passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Exams in 2008.

After attending law school at the University of San Jose-Recoletos, where he graduated as valedictorian in June 2025, Ompad took the bar examination in September 2025 and ranked among the top 10 passers, achieving the 6th spot with a rating of 91.25.

Fight for fisherfolk rights

Now, already a father of 3 and a soon-to-be lawyer, Ompad believes that he hasn’t achieved everything yet. For him, there’s still more work to be done.

Ompad announced in the press conference that he was ready and open to working with organizations to help less fortunate families, especially those coming from fishing villages.

As a proud fisherman himself, Ompad said he understands the situation that his fellow fisherfolk are facing, recognizing how under-represented his community is in cases being pushed against them.

Ompad vowed to represent his fellow fishermen and advocate for their rights from the courts of Cebu to the rest of the country.

“Justice is hope. I believe that on these challenges we’re facing in our country, with this new set of lawyers, it will give hope to the people,” Ompad said. 

On February 6, Ompad and his fellow board exam passers will take their oath as full-fledged attorneys. – Rappler.com