October 2012 CPA Performance - One of the Finest for the Thomasian Community

The October CPA board was released today, October 15, 2012, with 9,987 hopeful was reduced to 4,772 certified professionals, a whopping 47.78% passing rate. One of the highest in the CPA board history. But what else stood was the brilliant and excellence of the two (2) new Thomasians CPA who took the number place on this year board. (list of passers available on this link).

Thanks for making you AMV Alumni proud!

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Ateneo draws first blood, take game one in UAAP season 75 basketball finals

Ateneo won behind the brilliant performance of Nico Salva. Salva scored a career-high 30 points. Earning him as the only 3 Ateneans who scored 30+ or more, included are alumns LA Tenerio and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. 

Image from http://www.goodfilipino.com

UST lead by halftime 38-31, only to find themselves trailing by 10 (61 to 51) at the end of the 3rd quarter. That 16-0 run by Ateneo was seems to be to much to handle for the Tigers. In start of the 4th, the Tigers have their own 13-2 run and even take a 1-point lead. Until timely baskets from Tiongson. Ravena and a huge 4-point play by Buenafe keeps the Tiger at bay and Ateneo never relinquish the lead.

As Season 75 have a lot of controversies, this game is not an exception, a questionable foul called on Karim Abdul, angered UST coach Pido Jarencio, lead to Ateneo milking the clock and eventually a hard fall-away basket by Ravena to seal the deal.

Game 2 will be at Thursday to be held at Araneta Coliseum. Online tickets are available (Upper B and Gen Ad) as of the writing of this article.

Go USTe!! Game 2 will be ours!!

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World's Top Brand - Interbrand 2012 Report

The Interbrand releases its 2012 Brand Report, their survey shows that Coca remains as the world's top brand. Apple, the most valuable tech company, was at #2 from last year #8. Smartphone competitor and Korean conglomerate Samsung rose from last years #17 to #8 this year. 

Top 20 Brands of 2012 - images from Interbrand.com

To know more about the list of the top 100 brands for 2012, you may visit this link below:

2012 Top 100 Brands - Interbrand 2012 Report

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Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 - Analysis

As I was scanning in my twitter account this morning, I was astonished by the amount of buzz about Republic Act. 10175, which is also known as the (1)Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. There were even some who have changed their profile picture to full black-out image to represent their protest to this new law. 

Out of curiosity I try to search the net and tried to obtain a copy of the law for me to at least have the grasp and to at least express my own view about this very controversial topic. Here are my views:

1.   Is the law really necessary?? Is the law beneficial??

In today's environment when everything is just a click away and we can do almost everything online, my personal view is that the law is really neccessary. The Congress have done a great job on identifying the need and the initiating the passing of the law in addressing this impecable need. Moreover, with these move will enhance the ICT business in which current and prospective BPO businesses will feel a more safer with regards to safeguarding their business data and other relevant information being transmitted through internet and wireless communication. And as a matter of fact they are pushing with these law way back from the time they are still not as big as industry and having catered to this very delicate matter will boost other foreign companies to invest despite intense competition in countries such as India, Malaysia among others. Aside from the boost in some industry the law caters the need for other cybercrimes such as child pornography, cybersex and lifting patented/trademark materials without consent and permission.

2.  If the law is necessary and it contribute to the betterment of some industries, why are there protest against this law?

Based on what I have read on the law and some of the protest on social media sites. Many are questioning the legality on the basis of the "freedom of expression", that will preclude them in expressing their opinion through social media such as twitter, facebook and blogs.

The definition provided in RA 10175, is very limited and vague that many observe that will limit their expression on the context of that they are being penalized especially when they try to express their feelings and dissappointments in the goverment officials and other things that they do feel that they should not be doing.

In my opinion, the RA 10175 lacks the clarity and should adressed the penalty provision and scope of the punishable acts and the gravity of the offenses for the sake of addressing the public clamour. Though I expect that the lawmakers would release an IRR with regards to the RA considering dialogues conducted with the representative of those who are seeking clarifications with the RA. A healthy dialogue would not harm anyone but clarify things that should be clarified before hand.

Well I guess that's all that I need to say for now. As of the time being no TRO was issued for the so let's all abide by the law until a clarificatory statement from the judiciary is given.

Reference:

(1) PDF copy RA. 10175 from www.gov.ph

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UAAP Season 75 Basketball Men's Finals: UST vs Ateneo

The boys of Katipunan vs the boys from Espana! The Ateneo Blue Eagles versus The UST Growling Tigers! The later looking for its 5th consecutive men's basketball title, while UST entered its first final appearance after 5 years. Ironically, UST topples Ateneo back in 2006 to won the championship.

And I am rooting for!!! of course UST! A forever proud alumni of the Black-Gold Black-White!! Thomasians are gonna be Champions again!! Claim it!!

From SM Tickets:

Ticket selling for UAAP Finals Game 1 will be this WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 8:00AM at MALL OF ASIA ARENA (Coral Way Ticket Booth) ONLY. No selling in outlets.

2 TICKETS PER PERSON ONLY. No buying for friends. Everybody must line up. Regardless of numerous IDs or documents, 2 TICKETS will only be given to each person who lined up to buy tickets.

Due to limited tickets for sale, selling will be limited to ADMU and UST students/alumni only. Student ID/Alumni ID must be presented in order to buy 2 tickets. for those with representative, photocopy of the student ID/Alumni ID and authorization letter must be presented.

TICKET PRICES

PATRON 350
LOWER BOX 300
UPPER BOX 175
GENL ADM 100

TICKETS AVAILABLE

PATRON 50
LOWER BOX 200
UPPER BOX 500
GENL ADM 700

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The Philippine CPA Board Exams: Assessment

The CPA exams have traditionally been tagged as one of the most difficult licensure exams in the country. It has been associated numerous time in the likes of the BAR exams and the Physician Licensure Exams.

However, in the past few years there has been an increase in the number of board passers and a substantial increase in passing rates, raising questions such as:  Is CPA exams still competitive and reflective of the competence required in the profession?  Are the examination being administered and given by BOA a true measure on how qualified the new CPA board passers are? Is the increasing passing percentage, than the usual, a sign of an easier way to become a CPA?

There are two possible factors supporting the increasing trends: it is either (1) Candidates are well prepared and are knowledgeable enough to pass the exams, as the result of good undergrad training and rigirous review before the actual exams or (2) the questions being administered by the board of accountancy were out-of-date and are repetitive in nature resulting to a lower level of difficulty than the usual.

Table A: Number of Passers, Examinees and Passing Percentage from Oct 2006 to May 2012

	Passers	Examinees	%
Oct-06	1,597	6,499	24.57%
May-07	1,406	4,654	30.21%
Oct-07	2,299	6,213	37.00%
May-08	1,268	4,651	27.26%
Oct-08	2,442	6,663	36.65%
May-09	1,231	4,262	28.88%
Oct-09	2,888	6,929	41.68%
May-10	1,886	4,772	39.52%
Oct-10	3,978	8,216	48.42%
May-11	2,130	5,259	40.50%
Oct-11	4,066	8,525	47.70%
May-12	1,995	5,315	37.54%

Exhibit B: Line Graph - Passing Percentage (CPA Board)

From 2006 to early 2009, the median passing percentage falls roughly around 30% to 37%, change in Oct 2009, the passing percentage surge into an averege of 40% to 47% with the exeption of the May 2012 exams.
There was also an increase to the number of examinees from 6,400 in October 2006 to 8,500 in October 2011, brought about by the increase in demand in the accountancy and finance profession, here and especially abroad.


As a very delicate profession that are bound by integrity, confidentiality and competence when rendering our services to our clients, the board should ensure that only the best of the best, the "cream of the crop" should enter the profession otherwise there will be a lot of issues that they might face moving forward.

To summarize, having a higher passing percentage and a higher number of passers and candidates will help the CPA profession to be more recognized, here in the country as well in abroad, on the context that those who passed are qualified and competent enough and the metrics for accepting candidates are up-to-date and reflective on how they can contribute to the practice.

The prestige and priveldge of being a CPA should live on each and every licensed member and should never be compromised for any other reasons that are within our controls.

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Bohol: The City of Friendship

Recently, me and my girl, traveled to Bohol. This was a planned trip from last year. Since we avail the promo fare offered by Cebu Pacific.

The travel goes as planned we book a resort at Panglao, which i will later evaluate in a separate post. We avail of the package including the city and sea tour. The city tour includes major tourist spots in Bohol which includes Blood Compact, Python, Tarsier Conservatory, Lunch at Loboc River and the Chocolate Hills to name a few.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the chance to go on with the sea tour due to a high and strong waves. The sea tour includes Dolphin Watching and Island Hoping among others.

I personally recommend Bohol for tourist here and abroad. Well enough said here are some of the pictures we have taken during the trip:

Welcome Greetings from the City of Bohol

The renowned Chocolate Hills

A view at Panglao Beach

Baclayon Church - 200 years to built! Awesome

Miracle of Padre Pio - Spot the Face!

Loboc River

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