Breaking barriers despite his disability, Anthony Mark Emocling became the first blind person in the Philippines to pass the Bar examinations.
Emocling was among the successful examinees of the 2022 Bar examinations, whose results were released in April 2023. A total of 3,992 out of 9,183 examinees who completed the tests passed, for a national passing rate of 43.47 percent.
For Emocling, however, passing the Bar carried another distinction. The University of Baguio, where he completed his law degree, identified him as the first blind person in the country to successfully hurdle the licensure examination for aspiring lawyers.
His journey began years before law school. Emocling lost his eyesight at the age of 10 after suffering retinal detachment. Medical procedures were unable to restore his vision, forcing him to adjust to life and education without sight while he was still a child.
He nevertheless continued studying and later earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Baguio, graduating cum laude. He then enrolled in the university’s School of Law and pursued the profession despite the additional challenges of studying materials that were largely designed for sighted students.
Much of legal education depends on reading lengthy cases, statutes and other written materials. Emocling relied on assistive technology, including screen-reading programs that converted digital text into audio, to study lessons and review legal documents. He also received support from professors, classmates, family members and others throughout his education.
Passing the Bar did not come immediately. Emocling took the examination several times before finally succeeding on his fourth attempt in the 2022 Bar. His previous unsuccessful attempts did not stop him from returning to the examination until he earned a passing result.
After the results were announced, Emocling joined the other successful examinees in taking the lawyer’s oath and signing the Roll of Attorneys in May 2023, formally becoming a member of the Philippine Bar.
His accomplishment also drew attention to the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in higher education, particularly in fields that depend heavily on printed and digital reading materials. His success showed that assistive technology and accessible learning systems can allow blind students to pursue professions traditionally considered difficult to enter.
Emocling has also expressed interest in using his legal profession in areas involving human rights and the concerns of persons with disabilities.
