A play of numbers
by Cielo Erikah Mae Cinco
The night of judgement came. With shaking hands and sweaty palms, Alfonso Solomon Magno anxiously opened the website of the Professional Regulatory Commission — eager to see if he has made it to the cut.
Several minutes had already passed, yet all he sees is the infuriating loading screen. His fingers are drumming to the beat of his nervousness.
After an eternity of agony later, the updated Professional Regulation Commission’s website has finally come into view. One laborious breath after another, he scrolled through.
Then everything blurred but the list.
For minutes, he just stared blankly at the screen, trying to discern if everything is real. Before, the thought of not being able to pass the licensure examinations gnawed at him during the long excruciating months, waiting for the results. And now, he is at loss for words, his self-doubts melting away as the website blinked his name at the top of the list.
“My belief turned upside down… With my heart filled with bliss, I realized that God really answers prayers, only in Yes’s or Not yet’s. There were and will be setbacks in our lives, but He is always be with us in this kind of situations,” Solomon said in an exclusive online interview with TomasinoWeb.
The top spot for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure examinations has been elusive to the Thomasians for the last 5 years, and with Solomon breaking the streak with his 91.33 percent mark, he does admit that being a topnotcher bears pressure on him.
“Pressure is not something that we can eliminate. Everyone experiences pressure, but it is up to us on what to do with it,” he said.
“As for me, knowing that placing at the top conceives new expectations, I look at pressure as a motivational force. There is no greater joy than surpassing other people’s notion of one’s capabilities,” the topnotcher added.
With pressure as constant companion, Solomon shared the most important tip in surviving this battle: Breathe.
“I am not the type who studies everyday, and stays late at night burning the midnight oil in the library, coffee shops, and dining places. I did not restrict myself from using social media and playing online games,” the young CPA said.
“Reading tons of books and answering a lot of review materials are important, but understanding the concepts behind the texts is paramount. To those who will be taking the Board Examination, study, but make time for yourself. When you feel tired, go out and breathe some fresh air,” he added.
Strength of numbers
With CPA at the end of his name, Solomon wishes to use this honor to inspire others and spark change in this profession he is about to take.
“To AMV-ians, remember, the fire that melted the stone is the fire that hardened the egg. But beyond the message lies the most important lesson: no matter how one is affected by the fire, the moment a person decides to face it is already something admirable and worth the recognition. Also, no dream is achieved overnight. It takes a lot of time. AMV might cause scalds but never let the fire burn your drive to achieve your goals.”
The newborn CPA has also experienced downfall before this outstanding feat. Yet he rose stronger than ever, wearing his battle scars as armor.
“.001, that is how close I am to becoming Magna. After 5 years of hardships, the one thing I desired the most slipped through my hands. Painful it was and doubts become inevitable. But what hurts most is knowing that I failed those who believed in me.”
“Later on, I have come to realize that settling in this thought will not do anything good, and I still have one more shot to prove myself- the CPA Board Examination. Through the help of my family, friends, college faculties and staff, I am able to rise up from this fall,” Solomon said.
As for him, having CPA at the end of his name is more than just a title — it is a commitment to the service of humanity.
“Ask yourselves: “Why am I doing what I do?” There’s an enormous difference between working only for the actualization of our personal desires in life and serving humanity. The call to respond to the problems that the country is facing must reach ears and hearts of everyone,” he said.
“Today’s accounting profession had been tainted by yesterday’s scandals involving fraud, and the public’s trust was seriously damaged. This should never be allowed to happen again, otherwise the profession will not be tracking the route of going concern,” Solomon ended.
