DAGUPAN CITY - University of the Philippines College of Law Valedictorian Joan de Venecia, sister of Councilor Alex de Venecia, topped the September 5 bar exam as she scored 87.20%.

Joan took her legal management degree at Ateneo University before taking the law proper at UP.

A para-legal assistant of Sycip, Salazar, Gatmaitan, Joan is the 10th daughter of former Judge Tony and Norma de Venecia and a niece of Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.

Atty. Joan expressed her gratitude to the good Lord and the guidance and support of her parents and her brothers and sisters, namely: Alex, city councilor; Eric, banker; Ramon, businessman; Perry, medical technologist from Florida; Agosto, immigration officer; Rosette, pediatrician in Cagayan de Oro; Blanca, immigration officer; Nenuca, businesswoman from Los Angeles; Toni Anne, B.S. Biology cum laude graduate in Ateneo University.