Two college graduates who shared a room while preparing for one of the Philippines’ toughest professional licensure examinations ended up taking the top two spots nationwide. Jayson Ong Chan and Jomari Jess Sacendoncillo Abellar turned their shared review experience into a remarkable achievement in the May 2018 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination.
Both graduates of Saint Paul School of Professional Studies in Palo, Leyte, Chan and Abellar became roommates while reviewing in Manila for the CPA boards. After months of preparation, their names appeared side by side at the top of the national rankings.
Chan secured first place with a rating of 92.50 percent, while Abellar followed in second place with 91.67 percent, according to results released by the Professional Regulation Commission.
Their achievement stood out in an examination where only 2,843 of 9,830 examinees passed, representing a national passing rate of approximately 28.92 percent.
Both had already demonstrated strong academic performance before taking the licensure examination. Chan graduated cum laude, while Abellar, who supported himself as a working student, graduated summa cum laude and earned recognition as class valedictorian.
Following the results, Chan credited hard work and prayers for his achievement. He also acknowledged the discipline developed through his accountancy education, which helped prepare him for the demands of the examination.
Abellar, meanwhile, planned to begin his professional career at an auditing firm in Metro Manila after securing the second-highest rating in the country.
Their story drew attention for an unusual coincidence. Two graduates from the same school who became roommates during their board exam review eventually emerged as the country’s first- and second-highest scorers.
Their achievement remains a memorable example of how two aspiring professionals who shared the same living space and preparation period went on to reach the highest ranks of their profession’s licensure examination.
