MANILA - Nielson Pangan, a University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law graduate, has had no sleep after learning that he topped the 2013 Bar Exams. Speaking to ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda, Pangan reiterated that he did not expect to top the Bar exam because he only ranked 96th in his batch in the UP College of Law. He said he was not confident about his answers in the Criminal Law portion of the Bar, which was administered on the third Sunday of October last year. "Yung essay siguro sa amin mas OK kasi ma-a-argue namin pero yung multiple choice mas mahirap," he told the UKG hosts. Asked for his secret to topping the Bar, he said: "Siguro maliban dun sa pagbabasa ay kasama din yung panalangin." "Siguro yung paraan din ng pagsagot, talagang ipilit mong ayusin yung sulat. Yung English pilit mong ayusin kasi yun yung sa guidelines e at yun nga po, hingin sa panalangin na tulungan." Pangan is the first member of his family to become a lawyer. His father and two older brothers are engineers by profession. He was born in Tondo, Manila and was raised in Antipolo City. A devoted Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) member, Pangan plays piano for the INC choir. Pangan took up Legal Management in New Era University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. After passing the UP Law Aptitude Exam, he was admitted to the UP College of Law. He is currently employed in a law firm which specializes in corporate law. He also sidelines as a professor at the New Era University where he teaches Business, Political Science and General Education subjects. ABS-CBN UMAGANG KAY GANDA, MARCH 19, 2014