Cebu graduates dominate CPA board

CEBU, Philippines — Eleven graduates from three universities in Cebu dominated the May 2018 board exam for Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Of the Top 10 highest scores in the exam, the University of San Carlos produced eight while Southwestern University PHINMA and University of San Jose - Recoletos produced one each, respectively.

From USC, Stewart Herbie Tan Po placed third with 91 percent; Erra Kaye Heruela Doble placed fourth with 90.83 percent; Peliza Faith Dayucan Cabañero and Irish Abella Kabingue placed seventh with 89.83 percent; Charisse Michaela June Quilicut Catiel and Miguel Albert Morantte Taberos placed eighth with 89.50 percent; and Angle Joy Tui Go and Richmond John Tui Rockwell placed ninth with 89.33 percent.

SWU's Fritz Amiel Lamis Disabille placed also ninth while USJ-R's Princess Obregon Gumanit and Ma. Lucille Velasco Ferrer placed eighth and 10th, respectively. Ferrer earned a rating of 89.17 percent.

Speaking with The Freeman, Kabingue said she did not expect to top and even thought she did badly in the exam.

"After the boards, I felt really low because I knew I did really bad. I just continued praying na, Lord, pass or fail… everything I achieve, I offer them all up to You. And, thankfully, He gave me more than enough. Pasar pako, na top pa jud. I will be forever grateful to our Lord for giving me such a blessing," she said.

Disabille, meanwhile, is the second from SWU to top the CPA board.

"I'm still trying to get over the fact that I finally did it. Parang di pa ako makapaniwala. All the years of hardwork and sacrifice and it finally paid off. I am so happy that it's all over and I'm so excited to be in the profession," she said.

Gumanit was a working scholar for two years before graduating magna cum laude from USJ-R.

"Dapat kaila ka sa imong self…Let your mind lang jud be conditioned.. if dili kaya sa imong mind for that day then take a rest and nindot jud nga daghan ka ug gibasa while undergrad pa ka. Know yourself lang jud and himo ka og imong own technique for studying," she advised future accountants.

Another magna cum laude graduate, Ferrer gave credit to her teachers for their mentorship and belief in her.

"Grabe kaayo sila og support and ikaw nalang ang maikog nga dili ka maninguha… if padung board kay makig-meet jud sila," she said.

USJ-R President, Rev. Father Christopher Maspara, OAR, also acknowledged the efforts of the teachers in the school's accountancy program.

"I am very happy and proud because for the past four years our students from the Department of Accountancy really were able to produce topnotchers; they landed in the top ten four straight years. Also, very happy because ang sacrifices sa atong mga teachers, chairpersons, and dean, nagbunga gyud. It means the quality of instructions of the department is really good," he said. — Cris Rheanne S. Sacay and Kris Imea C. Ruales, UV Interns and Anjel N. Co, STC Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)