BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Romelyn Sarmoy Gabanto is on cloud nine after ranking 9th in the September 2023 Licensure Examinations for Certified Public Accountants (CPA). The Central Philippine University (CPU) graduate achieved a rating of 88.7 percent.
“When I saw my name in the Top 10, I couldn’t believe it. I immediately woke my parents up to share the good news,” Gabanto shared.
Hailing from Barangay Hibao-an Sur in the Mandurriao district, 24-year-old Romelyn is the youngest among four siblings. Her father, Roland, 61, is a dedicated street sweeper, and her mother Milagros, 53, is a housewife.
“Dako gid nga bugal. Daw sa ano bala nga manugsilhig lang ko [It’s a significant source of pride, being just a street sweeper],” said Roland. He has been ensuring the cleanliness of Plaza Mandurriao for the past six years.
Upon hearing of Romelyn’s achievement, an emotional Roland revealed, “Nagkadto ko sa Mahal nga Diyos, nagpasalamat ako nga ginbuligan bata ko [I went to church and thanked the Lord for guiding my daughter].”
“Depende na sa iya, siya lang na ka kuwan kung ano gusto ya; masunod lang man ko kung ano gusto sang bata ko kay te palangga ni namon, ginpaninguhaan ko gid [It’s up to her to choose her path; I’ll always support whatever she desires because we love her],” Roland emphasized.
Romelyn’s father didn’t complete high school, while her mother did. “Ang akon mga magulang wala sila nakatapos, ang second brother ko nakatapos lang siya sa high school [My eldest sibling didn’t finish their studies, but my second brother graduated from high school],” she pointed out.
Unwaveringly proud, Romelyn said, “Kung paminsaron mo, nakaya sang father ko nga patapuson ako sa college nga amo na lang ubra ya [Considering his occupation, it’s admirable how my father managed to send me to college].”
Further expressing her gratitude, she said, “Sila ang nagabulig gid sa akon kung ano problema ko; ginahatag nila sa‘kon ang makaya nila [My family has always supported me in every challenge; they’ve given everything they can].”
For Romelyn, discipline plays a crucial role in academic success.
“Inculcating discipline during reviews and developing routines are essential. This ensures that, even if unmotivated, you’re accustomed to studying for extended hours. It’s also best to minimize social media usage as it often distracts,” she said.
Emphasizing perseverance, the CPA topnotcher reminded students that everyone progresses at their own pace, and setbacks should not discourage them.
During her courtesy visit to Iloilo City officials on Oct. 10, Mayor Jerry Treñas disclosed his intentions of offering Romelyn a position.
“I’ve proposed a role for her at the Iloilo City Hall. Initially, as a contract of service, but upon her formal oath as a CPA, she’ll be inducted into our accounting department,” Mayor Treñas told Panay News.
City officials also praised Romelyn, showcasing their pride in the accomplished Ilongga.
The Professional Regulation Commission announced that 2,740 out of 8,734 candidates passed the CPA licensure examination conducted by the Board of Accountancy.
Another notable achiever is Kate Wenjie V. Basoy, a graduate of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV)-Iloilo. She secured the 7th spot with an impressive 89 percent rating, sharing the position with Aira Nicole Altres Sabornido from UPV-Tacloban City./PN
