Two Cebu grads top CPA board

CEBU, Philippines — Two graduates from Cebu topped the Certified Public Accountant licensure examination given by the Board of Accountancy last May 12, 19 and 20.

Jacob Rizada from the University of San Jose- Recoletos ranked 6th with a rating of 87.33 percent while Jimwell Sitoy from the University of Cebu- Lapu-Lapu Mandaue copped the 9th place with a 86.67 percent rating.

Rizada said that his ultimate inspiration to be a topnotcher was his promise to his father who he died of cardiac arrest on 2017.

“My number one inspiration is my father kay ni-promise man ko niya nga mag topnotcher ko after siya nawala dayon,” Rizada told The FREEMAN in a text message.

Upon learning that he ranked 6th, Rizada said that he had mixed emotions because some of his batchmates did not make it.

“Minutes before the results were released, our review director called me to inform that I was one of the topnotchers but my initial reaction was mixed because I was also told that the passing rate for first takers was only 57 percent,” Rizada expressed.

The May 2019 examinations yielded one of the lowest percentage of passers with only 1,699 passers out of 10,319 takers, or 16.46 percent nationwide.

Rizada said that he is planning to work in one of the biggest audit firms in the country to build his career.

For the future accountancy board examination takers, Rizada advised them to commit themselves to studying and sacrifice the usual relaxed life even just for a year, and keep the faith in God.

Meanwhile, two graduates from Cebu also topped the Chemical Engineering licensure examination, placing 8th and 9th.

Armel Jay Mercado who graduated from the University of San Carlos landed 8th place with a rating of 80.50 percent while Ariel Danielle Anjelu Suico ranked 9th with a rating of 80.30 percent.

Mercado and Suico are among the 313 passers out of the 616 takers in the May 2019 Chemical Engineering board exam given in Cebu and Manila. (FREEMAN)