2 Cebu grads top CPA exams

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Jose-Recoletos has produced two topnotchers in the May 2024 Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants.

With a rating of 89.83 percent, Mae Pearl Secuya is Top 6 while Clark Peter Castillo (89.33 percent) was Top 9.

With 41 others from the school joining them as passers, USJ-R has a 62.32 percent passing rate, thus consistently making it above the national passing percentage, which this time is 30.28 percent.

Of the 10,421 examinees nationwide, just 3,155 examinees passed the examinations, whose results the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released yesterday.

In a press conference, Secuya and Castillo said they never expected to end up as topnotchers of the examinations. Both are on top of their class.

“Struggles gyud mentally kay top mi sa among batch. Grabe ang pressure, but nikalma ra ko pag-exams na. Makaya ba ni nako? But, nonetheless, gikaya nako whatever the results,” said Secuya, who hails from Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu.

Castillo, on the other hand, said he just stayed home and played computer games sometimes instead of going outside.

“I have no love life. I am also an introvert. Unya wala pud mi budget para laag. So, kung walay lingaw mag-study na lang,” he said.

“I stayed at home and found something to entertain me,” added Castillo, who, like Secuya, is also a scholar.

The pressure on the two is especially high because aside from being at the top of their class, USJ-R produced a first placer in the same licensure exams last year in Hebban Tawantawan, also a magna cum laude like them.

“Super proud of you both. Saw your potential sa una pa and I always knew nga kaya ninyo,” said Tawantawan in a Facebook post.

“May their achievements continue to serve as an inspiration and motivation for the Josenians to continue pursuing excellence in their academic journey. Congratulations,” said the USJ-R Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, also in a Facebook post.

Both Secuya and Castillo said they would pursue law but would like to rest for a while and save money for it.

They thanked their respective families, friends, and teachers for the unwavering support.

Dr. Edgar Detoya, dean of the USJ-R School of Business and Management, announced during the press conference that Secuya and Castillo will receive P375,000 and P300,000, respectively, and each would also get a brand-new laptop for their feat.

Kristine June Uy, USJ-R CPA Review Center director, said it was her who recommended for Secuya and Castillo to be given scholarships, after seeing their potential to really excel.

Dr. Rolando Martinez, USJ-R of Accountancy and Finance Department chairman, on the other hand, recalled that in 1959, USJ-R, then the CSJ-R, was the first school to produce a CPA board topnotcher and first placer outside Manila.

He said that since then, the school has produced CPAs and CPA board topnotchers, including first placers in 2010 and in 2023.

“We have this history of regularly producing CPAs and CPA board topnotchers,” Detoya said.

He cited the collaboration of the Accountancy and Finance Department, the CPA Review Center, as well as support of the religious administration as key to this. — (FREEMAN)