THERE is no argument that one of the most difficult licensure examinations in the Philippines is the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) board exams. It remains to be so as the May 2019 exam produced 1,699 passers out of 10,319 candidates. To all the passers, congratulations!
For new CPAs, the dream job is becoming part of the staff of any of the major accountancy firms, which usually is the stepping stone toward financial executive positions in private companies. In my case, I started as a junior auditor in a private company and just before I left for New Zealand, I got to work as director for Deloitte in Cebu, thanks to former Board of Accountancy chair Chit Manabat and Gerry Sta. Ana.
When I became national president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, I had the chance to meet some of the important figures in the profession who’ve contributed toward the development of accountancy in the Philippines to be at par with more advanced countries in the world.
Of the many leaders in the profession I’ve encountered, there are three that I take my hats off to—Noe Quiñanola, Carmen Piramide and Challoner Matero.
Currently the chairman of the Board of Accountancy, Dr. Noe Quiñanola is the personification of a total CPA, having served in all the four sectors: government, education, public practice and commerce. Other than being a CPA, he is a professional industrial engineer. He started as a staff auditor of SGV, became an accountant overseas, then plant manager in MEPZ and served as president of Southwestern University.
Carmen Piramide was one of my accounting teachers in the University of San Carlos. She once served as councilor of Cebu City but she was never a politician. She has done more serving the public through USC’s “Kapamilya, Negosyo Na!,” a mentorship program to people who want to be entrepreneurs. The program not only alleviated the economic status of those who participated, but has been recognized, as attested to by various awards.
Dr. Challoner Matero served as dean of the USC School of Business and Economics, transforming the College of Commerce into one of the most prestigious schools in the Philippines by producing numerous CPA Board topnotchers. It was during his incumbency that the business school marked its 80th founding anniversary in 2018, recognizing distinguished alumni led by John Gokongwei Jr. and with an accompanying 276-page coffee table book.
What make these three individuals admirable are their traits of selflessness and humility and their relentless pursuit for excellence. What joy to have known them.