The spirit of the famous 3 paragraph rule

I heard questions from some of the bar examinees asking another examinee in the previous bar examinations if they used the three (3) paragraph rule taught in Jurists. Some even texted me that some of the examinees blamed Jurists. As we went out of the bar examination site in La Salle, Taft, some say, "hey the examination was too long, I did not use the 3 paragraph rule...tsk,tsk,tsk. Hearing the comment, flow of questions entered my mind. Like how do we really apply the 3 paragraph rule during the actual examinations?

From what I encountered, I think there has been a misconception in the application of the 3 paragraph rule taught in Jurists. Actually, the application of the 3 paragraph rule can always be applied whether the examination is too long. I asked, Atty. Zigfred Diaz about this, he said that the spirit of the 3 paragraph rule is that your answer must contain the premise of your answer to the question, next is the law supporting the answer and lastly, the application of the said law to the problem given. In presenting it, it can either be in 3 paragaraph or in 3 to 5 sentences depending on the length of the examination. He further said that even if you read some of the Q and A of the previous examinatios like the answer of Atty. Abuel a topnotcher of the 1998 Bar Examination or Prof. Domondon, we can see the pattern of the 3 paragraph rule.

What caused me to write this blog, is that I just want to clear out the misconception because I also have the same misconception before =). Dear reviewees, bear in mind and understand the 3 paragraph, not by it's literal meaning but by the logic and spirit behind it. As it is written, “the letter can killeth but the Spirit gives LIFE!” - By Ma. Salud Barillo