My Top Picks : CPAR Reviewers

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Below are my preferred reviewers in CPAR, I just thought this might be of help to those of you guys who consider to review there. This is my personal pick, many may disagree but I guess this group of reviewers was a perfect blend that put me to where I am now. So here are my top picks.

* Management Advisory Services (MAS) – Mr. Rodelio Roque
* Auditing Theory (AT) & Auditing Problems (AP) – Mr. Gerardo Roque
* Business Law and Taxation (BLT) – Atty. Dela Cruz
* Practical Accounting 2 (Prac2)- Mr. Chris German
* Theory of Accounts & Practical Accounting 1 (TOA & Prac1) – Mr. Tom Siy III & Atty. Conrado Valix

Starting from Mr. Rodelio Roque. The conceptual style of Mr. Rodel has really made wonders for me during my review and in the actual board exam. Indeed knowing the “why” is better than just knowing the “how”. It applies to every subject and makes learning deeper and easier for me to retain and recall. The same with Mr. Chris German of Prac2. Yeah yeah, Prac2 is one of the most procedural subjects of the Board, but getting the logic of each procedures is better than memorizing the first, the second and up to the Nth step of the boring procedures. I hate memorizing, so I guess that explains why I exhaust my efforts squeezing out every logic I can get from various procedures, of which I’m really comfortable than the memorization process.

Down to Atty. dela Cruz of Business Law and Taxation. This is an assurance for Atty. D (as he wants him to be called), the review course will never end without you having a very good laugh, tickles to the bone. His lectures are fairly enough to study to understand almost everything about the subject. He has this diagram that extends from the east side to the west side, from the north pole to the south pole of the white board. His comic strip lecture, a term that I have heard from some of his students, is a very comprehensive one. Without exaggeration, the most comprehensive notes I’ve encountered in my whole academic life. Alright! Now you see who’s my favorite.

Mr. Gerardo Roque of Auditing Theory and Auditing Problems. I remember the first impression I had on him during the first week, not so good but not so bad. But as the review course continue, I started to like him as well. His approach to the discussion is very unique to me. Although I find Mr. Valdez of PRTC better, but I’ll the fun of discussion trophy to Mr. Roque. That hilarious character conceal in a serious face, a real kind of disguise. You’ll see what I meant when you encountered him. In regards to Auditing Problems, I honestly haven’t attended any of his discussion, but I have heard that he is better than his counterpart. (I honestly don’t attend the AP discussions because I find it too boring )

You can never get lost in the Practical Accounting 1 discussions. Both Atty. Valix and Tom Siy are good in what they are doing. I have Tom Siy as my reviewer and the impression is “OK” and that goes the same with Atty. Valix, although these two get very funny most of the time.

Alright! This is my top pick of reviewer. Most of you guys may or may not agree, but this is how things worked out for me. But always remember, reviewers are only guides, in the end, it’s always the effort that we give that help us succeed. Another but, a perfect mixed up of guidance and effort can give a virtual probability of conquering the board exam. So, Goodluck with all of you Guys!!!

Normal Life Once Again

Sigh! It seemed to be a decade since I’ve decided to depart from what they call a “Normal Life”. I’ve actually missed doing a lot of things I used to do before my official review for the CPA board exam have started. The simple mall tripping became somehow difficult to do without any worries of a bunch of topics to study. It was a choice though. A choice that I’ve decided to take to assure myself that regrets will have no room in my heart at the end of the day. And guess what? Everything proved to be worthwhile! Worth it!

So I’m back in the real world I guess. I missed slacking around, doing nothing, worry-free. The feeling won’t take long I know for I have to search for a job, but for now I’ll be enjoying this kind of environment. I’m still fiddling with my new post, about my success of conquering the board exam of course. It’s been a long while since I’ve started wanting to share some first hand success stories, and now I finally got an opportunity, I’m trying to make it worth reading, and hopefully, inspiring as well.

Another thing. I’m really grateful reading comments from you guys, especially to those who get inspired of my senseless rants I never thought this blog can make some sort of inspiration, and knowing about that, it did push me to share a lot more. Also, I’m receiving a lot of requests from you guys to post more review materials for everyone to use. Ok, I’m trying, but I can’t promise to accommodate each request because I too have a very limited resource. In fact, I’ve published my email ad for everyone to see so that they can share their resources, but sadly haven’t received anything yet. I have here an audio book that I found to be very useful in the review. This is a huge file that our internet connection here in the house could take a decade to upload. I’m finding ways making it accessible though, I’ll just keep everyone posted.

Nikoy, CPA

And finally, as of now, my academic quest ends here..

I’ve conquered the CPA board exam, and now, I’m a CPA. Thanks for those who wished me luck, and for all those who prayed for me.. It is not easy, but it is not impossible..

I really want to say a lot of things, but as of now, I’ll be cherishing the victory.. I’ll be writing hopefully, something inspiring about how things turned the way it is now.. Until then..

Thank you Lord for everything. I didn’t made this on my own. You were my backbone when I felt like falling. Thank you Lord for this very wonderful blessing. Thank you. Thank you.

The Day Before The Exam

Feelings for the Day:

Nervous, excited, fired up, energized, and unexpectedly ready to start the war..

It seemed that I can no longer stop time, oh well, I really have no choice but to beat up the upcoming CPA board exam tomorrow. I have prepared a lot, I can’t remember wasting any single moment of that 6-month review. I’m ready, I guess. I’m still trying to build up the confidence though, but nothing can really stop me now. As I keep on saying, I know I will pass. I believe I can pass. I have faith that I will pass.

“If it is war they want, then it’s war they’ll gonna get.”

This has been a very long challenging path. Now I’m ready to end it and start another.

I’m wishing all the best for tomorrow until the end at October 19. Best results in October 20.

Goodluck and Godbless future CPAs.

The Final Twenty Seven

The Day of Judgement for all CPA aspirants like me is just a few waits away, 27 days left before the exam, and 37 days before I become a full-pledged CPA, hopefully. I must admit, I can’t help myself to be nervous and be excited as well. My efforts in preparing myself for the exam is near to be tested. It is a very exhausting preparation, and I know every CPA aspirant feels the same way. What keeps the drive is the thought that although this path is quite difficult to take, at the end of the road is the three-worded title that embarks the starting point of the realization of our dreams.

I’m giving my all, and honestly, with this tremendous effort that I’m giving to conquer the CPA exam, I can’t imagine myself failing, and in the worst case scenario that I don’t make it, I can’t imagine how I will take it. I’m being optimistic on everything though. I know I will pass. I believe I will pass!

I’ve been praying a lot nowadays, which I rarely do before. Without any exaggeration or hypocricy, I’m beginning to submit myself to the Almighty, letting Him take control of everything, which is a good thing, I believe. The hardship that this review experience gave me a room to grow spiritually, and I’m proud to say, “Now this is true and sincere!”. There are lots of changes in me that occur within me during this experience, which I’m so excited to write about lengthily after the board exams.

“Only God knows who deserves and who does not, and as the clock ticks, it is when everything will be revealed.”

I’m soliciting for prayers, anyone can donate Wish me luck!!

The Making of A CPA – Week 2

It’s been a while since I’ve made my last post, which is very much expected. I’m still having a hard time in adjusting in my schedules to the point that although I have some time left to blog about things, I’m too tired to do it. Anyways, these very infrequent postings will continue until the end of the October 2008 CPA Board Examination.

To document my final quest of being a CPA, hopefully this is the last, I’ve created another category for my ramblings. I named it “The Making of a CPA”. I will be publishing everything about my current review experiences, which is in CPAR. Infrequent as expected, but I hope my post will give ideas to my fellow reviewees or those who will be reviewing in the next semester how it is in CPAR. A real time documentation and not just hear says. Here is the first of the series.

Introductory Week at CPAR : The First Impressions

For every first days, everything started with a bunch of anticipation and speculations, but I guess mine was far less than the first time reviewees. My concern was the review proper, the reviewers and of course a good relationship with my review buddy. That’s all! I’m not thinking of meeting new friends, it will be just a bonus if I will have a few.

The week started with Theory of Accounts, Practical Accounting 1 and Business Law on Monday. The reviewer on ToA and P1 is Mr. Thomas A. Siy III, and honestly, I really appreciate the way he started the topics. Putting away all introductory jokes and anything, he started with the topic “Time Value of Money”. I didn’t expect it to start in that area but it was timely for my needs, and I guess for others as well. There are a few points in that topic that I’m really unfamiliar, which I was thankful that I was introduced.

The Business Law and Taxation reviewer came out of the box. He is Atty. Dante O. Dela Cruz. A very witty and jolly old man. The “Ultimate Berde” as Mr. Thomas Siy said yesterday. Why? You’ll know what I mean when you hear most of his jokes. Nevertheless, those jokes never goes out of topic. They are always related to a particular explanation, making things easier to understand. As per first impression, the hear says that CPAR has a very good BLT reviewer is quite surprisingly true.

Down to Practical Accounting 2 by Christopher I. German. The first meeting isn’t that remarkable. I actually doubt that he is a good reviewer. But those thoughts vanished when we meet again last Thursday. Unexpectedly, he presented topics in a way anyone can really appreciate. He highlight important points and keeps reiterating those to keep us reminded. Damn! I hope that flow will continue until cost accounting. I’m really zero-knowledge on that particular field, thanks for my l*** undergrad professors.

I cannot say more about our Auditing Theory reviewer Gerardo S. Roque because we didn’t actually start the review proper during the first meeting. It’s much more of an introduction.

With no offense, I was really disappointed to our Management Advisory Services reviewer Dean Apolinario D. Bobadilla. Compared to Mr. Franklin Agamata when I was still in PRTC, I don’t think he presents discussions wherein his reviewees could easily comprehend. This is just a first impression though, things might change as we go along the review.

Auditing Problems is led by Dean Archimedes E. Ibay. Nothing remarkable on the first meeting. I wasn’t actually impressed on how things are presented to us. That was the same impression I got from the reviewer of PRTC in AP. There may be a few reason why. One reason is that AP is too procedural that presenting it interestingly without going through the boring step by step computations is too difficult for reviewers.

Okay. I guess I’ve documented all of my first impressions in all of the subjects. As I have said, those are just first impressions and will eventually change as I go along the review. As much as I can, I will try to document weekly experiences here in my blog. Also, I will be posting some CPA review materials given by our reviewers here. I’m seeing few google searches about that and I guess it will be very helpful if aspirants will find things that they are looking for here.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature Campaign Updates

Just an update on how the poll is going. So far, our three entries have made it to the top 7 of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Topped by Tubbataha Reef at second place, Chocolate Hills at number four, and our Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park at number 6. Oh, another entry that I didn’t found during my previous post is Mayon Volcano, which is on the tenth spot right now. Whew!! Filipinos are really supporting this campaign. Pinoy Bloggers are sharing their influence too! I hope this continue until the end of the poll.

Brief Overview of all of Our Entries

Mayon Volcano

The Mayon Volcano is an active stratovolcano in the Philippines on the island of Luzon, in the province of Albay in the Bicol Region. The near perfectly cone shaped volcano is situated 15 kilometers northwest of Legazpi City.

Mayon is classified by volcanologists as a stratovolcano, or composite volcano. Its symmetric cone was formed through alternate pyroclastic and lava flows. Mayon is the most active volcano in the country, having erupted over 47 times in the past 400 years. It is located between the Eurasian and the Philippine Plate, at a convergent plate boundary: where a continental plate meets an oceanic plate, the lighter continental plate overrides the oceanic plate, forcing it down; magma is formed where the rock melts. Like other volcanoes located around the rim of the Pacific Ocean, Mayon is a part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. It was known and famous as a “Perfect Cone” volcano because of it’s almost perfect shape.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world’s longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills is an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. It is composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills, all about the same size, spread over an area of more than 50 sq km The hills are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, giving them the name “Chocolate Hills.”

Tubbataha Reef

Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature Link Love

I just thought of giving some link love to those who have supported our entries. Here they are:

• MONACO
• Pinoy Ambisyoso
• Neil
• arcola.interactive.journal
• talksmart
• Panaon Dot Com
• Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD
• Calvin
• Joan Joyce
• Mukamo
• Glitchline
• JP Simbulan
• rhyannefranz
• tutubi
• Buddy dela Cruz
• thepalawantimes
• Pinoy Blogger
• GreenPhils
• Abby
• Pinoy Adobo
• Pusang Kalye

This is a short list. I just included the first four pages of Googles’ Search Results Page. If your a blogger and wanted to be included in this list, just inform me through our comment section below.

Keep Supporting our Entries! Happy Blogging!!

The Making of A CPA

It’s been a while since I’ve made my last post, which is very much expected. I’m still having a hard time in adjusting in my schedules to the point that although I have some time left to blog about things, I’m too tired to do it. Anyways, these very infrequent postings will continue until the end of the October 2008 CPA Board Examination.

To document my final quest of being a CPA, hopefully this is the last, I’ve created another category for my ramblings. I named it “The Making of a CPA“. I will be publishing everything about my current review experiences, which is in CPAR. Infrequent as expected, but I hope my post will give ideas to my fellow reviewees or those who will be reviewing in the next semester how it is in CPAR. A real time documentation and not just hear says. Here is the first of the series.

Introductory Week at CPAR : The First Impressions

For every first days, everything started with a bunch of anticipation and speculations, but I guess mine was far less than the first time reviewees. My concern was the review proper, the reviewers and of course a good relationship with my review buddy. That’s all! I’m not thinking of meeting new friends, it will be just a bonus if I will have a few.

The week started with Theory of Accounts, Practical Accounting 1 and Business Law on Monday. The reviewer on ToA and P1 is Mr. Thomas A. Siy III, and honestly, I really appreciate the way he started the topics. Putting away all introductory jokes and anything, he started with the topic “Time Value of Money”. I didn’t expect it to start in that area but it was timely for my needs, and I guess for others as well. There are a few points in that topic that I’m really unfamiliar, which I was thankful that I was introduced.

The Business Law and Taxation reviewer came out of the box. He is Atty. Dante O. Dela Cruz. A very witty and jolly old man. The “Ultimate Berde” as Mr. Thomas Siy said yesterday. Why? You’ll know what I mean when you hear most of his jokes. Nevertheless, those jokes never goes out of topic. They are always related to a particular explanation, making things easier to understand. As per first impression, the hear says that CPAR has a very good BLT reviewer is quite surprisingly true.

Down to Practical Accounting 2 by Christopher I. German. The first meeting isn’t that remarkable. I actually doubt that he is a good reviewer. But those thoughts vanished when we meet again last Thursday. Unexpectedly, he presented topics in a way anyone can really appreciate. He highlight important points and keeps reiterating those to keep us reminded. Damn! I hope that flow will continue until cost accounting. I’m really zero-knowledge on that particular field, thanks for my l*** undergrad professors.

I cannot say more about our Auditing Theory reviewer Gerardo S. Roque because we didn’t actually start the review proper during the first meeting. It’s much more of an introduction.

With no offense, I was really disappointed to our Management Advisory Services reviewer Dean Apolinario D. Bobadilla. Compared to Mr. Franklin Agamata when I was still in PRTC, I don’t think he presents discussions wherein his reviewees could easily comprehend. This is just a first impression though, things might change as we go along the review.

Auditing Problems is led by Dean Archimedes E. Ibay. Nothing remarkable on the first meeting. I wasn’t actually impressed on how things are presented to us. That was the same impression I got from the reviewer of PRTC in AP. There may be a few reason why. One reason is that AP is too procedural that presenting it interestingly without going through the boring step by step computations is too difficult for reviewers.

Okay. I guess I’ve documented all of my first impressions in all of the subjects. As I have said, those are just first impressions and will eventually change as I go along the review. As much as I can, I will try to document weekly experiences here in my blog. Also, I will be posting some CPA review materials given by our reviewers here. I’m seeing few google searches about that and I guess it will be very helpful if aspirants will find things that they are looking for here.

The New Seven Wonders of Nature: Tubbataha Reef Campaign

I’ve watched the documentary program of GMA 7 entitled “SISID” and I was really amazed on the underwater sceneries that they have featured there. It’s really uplifting to know that amidst the abuse of natural resources here in the Philippines, although not every part of it in general, there are still small oasis of paradise which we can really be proud of. In fact, three of our small paradise were nominated to be part of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. And you know what? As of the time I published this article, these three were on the top 15 of the most voted nominees, with the Tubbataha Reef leading at the 8th spot, followed by the Chocolate Hills at number 9 and Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River National Park at the 15th place. The Poll for the New Seven Wonders of Nature is currently ongoing, and a single vote can really make a difference.

This is a call to the hundreds or even thousands of Pinoy Bloggers out there. Now is the time to make use of our influence, or our blog’s influence I should say. Let us spread the word. Make our readers aware of the ongoing poll and encourage them to vote on our own National Treasures. Bring them to www.new7wonders.com to cast their vote, and of course with top priority of supporting our own entries. In participating the poll, each voter is given 7 votes, with no allowed repeat of votes in a particular nominee. You are obliged to make seven votes to complete it for submissions. These were my votes: On My Top 3

• Tubbataha Reef
• Chocolate Hills
• Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Leading Nominees that I’ve voted

• Ha Long Bay in Vietnam
• Cox’s Bazar, Beach in Bangladesh
• Ganges River in India

Final vote to complete the seven-vote requirement

Jeita Grotto in Lebanon

All of the entries are undoubtedly very fascinating, and choosing among the hundreds of entries will not really be that easy. I encourage every Filipino to vote for our three nominees, and for every Pinoy blogger to spread the word and make use of their blog’s influence to support our National Treasures. To make this more effective, aside from voting our three nominees, I propose that everyone vote for the Top 3 in the list. Those on the highest spot are no longer a competition, but those who are near to the eighth spot, ranks 4-7. To complete the vote, choose from those that ranked far away from the 15th place, where our Puerto Princesa is located, in my case, I chose Jeita Grotto from the 77th spot.

I hope at least one of our entries make it to the Top! Everybody, give your support now!

Setting Up The Study Table

Vacation is coming to its end, and it’s really approaching really fast. In a way, I wanted to stop time so I can have a longer time to rest and practically to be idle in some point, but on the other hand, I’m looking forward to what’s coming up ahead, which is the start of my CPA Review classes. I’m starting to condition myself to the very hectic schedule I’ll be facing.

This is not my first formal review actually. During my final semester in school, I enrolled at the Philippine Review and Training Center (PRTC) located at Claro M. Recto, Manila. It was really fun because I’m relearning a lot of things, but due to some unfavorable experiences, I was forced to stop attending the review classes. Guess what? Because of too much exhaustion of attending the review classes simultaneously with my enrolled subjects at school, my body’s immune system gave up. Over fatigue caught me and made sick for a couple of months, 3 months with a terrible cough, which is really very awful. What’s the cause? A very strict schedule. The fact that I didn’t conditioned myself before religiously following the schedule that I have made for myself is my main suspect for my Review class “tragedy”. After the first pre-board exam, I voluntary ended my review session and concentrated to my remaining subjects in school.

Anyways, lessons have been learned from there. First thing in line, condition myself for the upcoming Review classes. How do I do it? I’ve been adjusting my sleeping habits a little. I sleep at exactly 11:00 pm and wake up at 7:00 am. Ok, that seems to be too much hours spent in sleep, but I’m gradually conditioning myself to wake up a little earlier. My target waking time is 5:00 am. 6 hours of sleep is enough!

Organizing resources is another major factor to consider. I have lots of review materials and handouts in my organizer because of the previous Review classes that I have attended, and now I have a problem. It’s organized, I have no doubt with that, but what is still useful? Ehem, I think I have lots of sorting to do..

Luckily for me, my brother built a separate room purposely to be use as an office for our freelance projects. There are no computers there yet, no office furniture, just a small bed made out of bamboo with a foam to cushion me a bit, and a study table, a bookshelf and a chair. The atmosphere is very conducive to learning, very quiet and serene, no other people passing back and forth, no disturbance, just me and my books.

Another thing, lessen my blogging habits. Blogging really consumes me a lot of time, although I love blogging a lot, it’s not really proper to exhaust my limited time blogging rather than reviewing my materials. So I guess, I’ll be blogging less frequent now. One post in a month? Hehe I’ll just think what I can do so that my blog will not die because of inactivity.

Anyways, goodluck to me and my fellow CPA aspirants. By the way, only two days left before the May 2008 CPA board exam. I wish all my friends who will take the exam goodluck, and hopefully they’ll be CPAs after two weeks time. The same also to all the examinees.