All About Winning

CEBU, Philippines – When University of the Visayas 4th year BS Accountancy students Roy Anthony P. Genilla, Jib L. Aguillon and Mabelle J. Arellano competed in the Level 2 Accountancy Quiz Bowl at the Ayala Center Cebu last July 21, they were confident that they have done their best in preparing for the contest. They thought that finishing in the top 5, among 10 schools, is enough for them. They did not expect, however, that their preparations were enough to catapult them to No. 1!

"We really did not expect to win. We aimed to finish in the top 5 and were very surprised when it was announced that we were the champions. This is the first time for UV to win in the Level 2 competition in 20 years," said Jib, who, aside from being a full time student, works part time at Jollibee Oriente.

The interschool quiz bowl was among the many activities in celebration of the annual Accountancy Week last July 18 to 24. The event was spearheaded by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Cebu Chapter in coordination with the Cebu Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (CF-JPIA).

The three senior accountancy students were also joined by two Visayanians who were already reviewing for the board exams, Eralyn Elic and Regie Baoy.

According to the students, their preparation for the competition involved studying topics that were assigned to them. Roy was tasked to study Practical Accounting 2, which involves costing systems and matters about partnerships and corporations. Jib was assigned to study Business Law and Taxation while Mabelle was given the Theory of Accounts and Auditing Theory topics, which covers financial accounting.

All three were quick to say that they are not good in Math. "You do not have to be good in Math to be good at accounting. Accounting is more on analysis," said Roy, who added that he did not have any special preparations for the competition.

Jib, meanwhile, felt the pressure because he was also working. "I had to manage my study time," he said.

And their good work paid off. The UV delegation breezed through the Easy and Moderate rounds of the quiz bowl. "The fight was really close so we had no idea that we were already leading," said Mabelle.

When the results were announced, UV students in the audience and even the contestants themselves broke out into shouts of joy and victory.

"We were so happy and proud at the same time that we have proven to other schools that we can do it," Mabelle shared.

Jib added that their efforts paid off and now they are considered celebrities in school, and him, at the workplace. "My workmates were so happy and proud for me. It boosted my confidence."

Roy, meanwhile, said that winning in the competition is good for their school. "We inspired other Visayanians to do good in other competitions."

The win, also meant that they have the chance to meet the top officials of the university. "We were able to shake hands with the Executive Vice President, Dr. Jose 'Dodong' Gullas," Mabelle proudly declared.

According to NBA star Larry Bird, "a winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." The UV students who competed in the Level 2 Accountancy Quiz Bowl certainly put their God-given talents and acquired skills to good use. (FREEMAN)