I am graduate of an island public high school somewhere in Palawan. I came from a poor family not because my parents are not employed, but because I have six other siblings whom I struggled with to afford college education, which resulted to continuous bank loans and bankruptcy.

I enrolled in Palawan State University. There are almost 350 freshmen enrolled in BSA program during my time, and had survived 13 BSA graduates in 2013. Unfortunately, I am not included. Here's why.

I juggled studying while trying to earn in my own way through writing term or thesis papers online. At first, I really don't know what Accountancy is. I just don't know what course will fit my liking that's why I just followed what my mother wanted me to take. I survived my first year in that school and I was really happy for being included in a remaining four (from 8) strong blocks. I got devastated when I learned that I cannot comprehend FinAcc 1. That's way harder than basic and ParCor, and at the same time, I can't allot enough time to study for that subject, since it will compromise the time I am spending for my other sources of income. I tried waking up at 3 am to study finacc almost everyday and still not enough for me to understand it. Maybe because I was just an average student (super close to below). It was just so intimidating to have IQ superior classmates that made our teachers' standards to get higher than the usual. I barely cope up with them. I am always at the lowest bottom of their scores. That made my BSA journey even harder. As expected, I was not able to make it to 3rd year. I have been forced to shift in BSBA Management Accounting. After shifting, I lost interest in studying. I've been active in school orgs and settled for lower grades. I end up graduating in a degree I was not supposed to settle with.

Two days after graduation, I got to work in a thrift bank in Palawan as an Accounting Clerk and after 2 months I got promoted to Branch Accountant after topping the 1 month long training sponsored by the company. I spent 1.5 years working in there.

That is where my realization hit me that I am not yet finished. I have to get out of that place where CPAs in compliance and internal audit are being followed like they do know everything. Where in fact, they are just newbie employees and fresh passers, and of course, they do have higher salaries (3 times higher than mine). We are being belittled and we work longer hours than they do. Non-CPAs in accounting world are being treated second-class citizens, way lower than CPAs. That is why I resigned and decided to study again.

I enrolled in Holy Trinity University for additional 1 year while working full time in a hotel. I am poor so I have to work harder to achieve my goals. After a year, I am finally a BSA graduate.

I came to RESA and it made me understand why I didn't make it in PSU. I have no study habits. I have no genuine interest in accounting. I am not keen on solving problems. I don't even know how to solve an accounting, auditing, and taxation problem. I just have the frustation of becoming a CPA just because of its prestige and opportunities, but I don't know how to become one. I don't have concrete and systematic plans how to get that title. I have no discipline within that will keep me on track. After the first pre-board, I am on the 400+ place. I can't even pass the pre-boards. I got depressed. I became emotionally unstable. Good thing, I have friends back then and I found my special someone. But I lost my way since I became active in night lifes in Manila. I lost interest in pursuing the boards. I failed my first attempt in October 2015, alongside my special someone.

Of course, I knew it was all my fault. I was ashamed to face my parents since they spent a lot for me to review in Manila. I asked my older sister to provide for my second review. She gladly agreed.

In my second chance, I spent planning my time table. I also involved myself in reconnecting with God. I prayed a lot. I established my discipline. Since I can't seem to focus when my loved one is demanding my time, when I supposed to study, and our relationship became so toxic. I broke up with her. I sacrificed a lot to focus. I sacrificed my social exposures and my emotional hang ups. It is also because it was my last chance to get through the title. I have to work again after that second chance because my younger siblings are in need of financial support from me since my parents are no longer financially functioning. They have to focus in their debt financing, they have to pay our angry creditors. I felt heavy pressures from my family to pass the boards. Good thing that I was able to pass the first pre-boards, I was at top 31, still in RESA. In the final preboards, I went down to 108th place but still I passed.

I made it in my second attempt in May 2016, with an average of 83.67% with no rating below 80% in any subjects.

I was really happy back then. I made my parents so proud. My family were rejoicing and my friends are equally happy with my success.

I have been through a lot of detours in achieving the CPA title. But one thing is for sure, with one's dedication and with Divine guidance, everything is possible

I am now providing for my two younger siblings in pursuing their college degree. I am also helping my family in paying our long standing debts. It makes me feel that all of my sacrifices back then in achieving my title are worth it.

Dahil kinaya ko, mas kakayanin niyo.

To iCPA, the title should be breadwinner kaso I am Pinoy kaya "ricewinner".

- Ricewinner, CPA