Ateneo de Davao graduate tops CPA licensure exam

A GRADUATE of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) topped the May 2013 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure examination.

Richard Baguio Saavedra garnered the highest place with a rating of 96 percent. He is the only passer from Davao Region who made it to the list of topnotchers.

Next in rank is Mikyll Hum Dalimot Narvios of University of San Carlos with 95.43 percent.

With a rating of 94 percent, Tom Braian Aguilar of University of Baguio ranked third, followed by Wendell Kho Ang of the University of San Carlos with 93.71 percent as fourth placer.

Jaymar Pelin Dumagsa of Western Leyte CollegeOrmoc, with 93.57, placed fifth.

The rest of the list are: Russel Aaron Nachor Ailes

of Ateneo de Naga University and Hazel Valerie Ngo Sy, of de la Salle UniversityManila, both ranked sixth with 93.29 percent; Jon Ngo Ong, de la Salle UniversityManila, 93.14 percent, as the seventh placer; Glen Dareen Astillero Santos, Xavier University, 92.71, placed eighth; Kathleen Rivera Samonte, de la Salle University-Manila, 92.43, ranked ninth; and Arianne Cañon Fernando of University of San Carlos and Jay Ronald Leopardas Lluvido of Holy Name University for Divine Word Tagbilaran, both placed tenth with 92.29 percent.

Only 1,553 out of 5,665 graduates passed the CPA licensure examination, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced yesterday morning.

De la Salle University-Manila was the top performing school, having 53 or 96.36 percent out of 55 graduates passing the exam.

The CPA licensure examination was given by the Board of Accountancy in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Legazpi.

The PRC announced that the registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Wednesday, June 5, but not later than Friday, June 7.

“Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016,” PRC said.

“Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals,” the office added.

Hardwork and determination

In December 2007, the 24-year-old Saavedra also figured prominently in the Nursing board examinations with a rating of 86 percent, placing sixth.

In a phone interview, Saavedra said he feels hum- bled and thankful to God for his achievements.

“Thankful gyud ko kay Lord kay naa man gud koy migraine and asthma pero during sa exam. Pasalamat gyud ko wala gyud ko gimigraine. Feeling gyud nako mao na gyud to,” he said.

After graduating with a degree of Nursing, he said he decided to take Bachelor of Science in Accountancy as he thought of having no “sense of fulfillment” in his previous course.

“Akong skills ug strength murag dili gyud siya pang nursing. Murag pang another skill gyud ko. So nag isip ko, ana ko itry nako ning accountancy, so nag basa-basa ko ug books tapos makasabot man ko mao to nag second course gyud ko,” he said. “Maski pa against akong parents initially, mao to nagpaalam ko sa ilaha, so nag enroll ko utro sa Ateneo.”

Saavedra said he was a full-time student all throughout his three years in BSA.

He said he needs to devote more time in studying the second-time around as nursing, his first degree, was a non-business related course.

Saavedra plans to work in an auditing firm, choosing either in Manila or here.

“Pero siguro Davao gihapon ko kay naa man akong family diri,” said Saavedra, the eldest in their family. His parents are both government employees.

He said there is no secret in his success, just hardwork, determination and prayer.