A SCHOLAR of Vicsal Foundation who placed tenth in the recent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure examination said that “poverty is not a hindrance to quality education.”
Rieland Cuevas, who graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Carlos last March 2015, landed in the top ten with a score of 88.43%.
Through hard work and fervent prayers, the 21 year old finished in tenth place.
“I just wanted to pass… Ang pag-top kay bonus na lang gyud (Topping the board exams was just a bonus),” Cuevas said.
Cuevas was class valedictorian in elementary. When he graduated from high school at the University of the Philippines Cebu, Cuevas received the first honor award.
Cuevas lost his father at an early age and he was raised by his mother whom he fondly calls “Super Mom.”
Since his mother could not afford to pay for his college education, Cuevas applied for a scholarship at Vicsal Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Metro Gaisano.
“I wouldn’t have reached this point without Vicsal,” Cuevas said.
Cuevas said his five-year accountancy course was not a walk in the park. What inspired him to finish the course and pass the CPA board exam was his family.
“I always thought of my family as my inspiration. I also needed to study hard to prove my worth as a scholar.”
Cuevas is undergoing training in the accounting firm SGV & Co. in Cebu./Dominic Yasay