Accountant in a Rush

When my thoughts and emotions overwhelm me, I write. I write sad words that would ease the ache in my soul. I write beatific words hoping my person may feel it too. Words are just words until you make them mean more.

[tessacarstrs-deactivated2022071]

You’re really my type.

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

[thegrungeways]

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

I’m sad.

These past few days have been emotionally heavy. I kept having dreams of my father and always waking up crying. I always wonder what my dreams meant. Is my father sending me a message?

Moments like this, when everybody is fast asleep, I remember him. I remember his jokes. I remember his opinions. I remember his expressions. I remember his laughter. I remember every single thing about him. I also remember the times I don’t talk to him because I had enough of his reprimands. I remember the times I answered back and said awful things to him. I remember the times I ditched his hospital appointments and left my mother and sister to fend for themselves because I had better things to do. I remember my mother telling me that he misses me and asking her why am I not noticing him. God. I remember studying for my mockboard exams instead of being with him while he suffered in the hospital. I remember the message my sister sent me when the doctor told her to tell us to go the hospital asap. I remember his labored breaths and lowered eye lids that afternoon.I remember screaming at him to fight!! I remember crying, begging for him to breathe and open his eyes.  I remember not telling him I love him so much. 

I have so many regrets. Every time I remember him, I begged God not to let my family hear me cry. I would bury my face on my pillows and sob all the sadness and regret every night. And every time I wake up from crying myself to sleep, I pray that I can get through the day without breaking down.  I begged Him to let my father know that I miss him. I begged Him to let my father know that he can stop worrying about us. I begged Him to make my father happy.

Will this pain ever go away? Will it get better? 

Every time I see my mother cry because she misses my father, my heart aches so much. I never thought the Luther’s Dance with my Father would ever affect me this much. 

Sometimes I'd listen outside her door And I'd hear how mama would cry for him I pray for her even more than me I pray for her even more than me I know I'm prayin' for much too much But could You send back the only man she loved I know You don't do it usually But dear Lord, she's dyin' to dance with my father again Every night I fall asleep And this is all I ever dream

The things in our house that didn’t seem to matter before, now just reminds me of how my father worked on it. God. I couldn’t even type right because of all the tears I cant seem to stop. 

I miss you papa. I miss you so much. Please, let me cry all this agony away. Let me shout all of my regrets and frustrations. After this, please, let me remember my father with a smile instead. 

[tumblraccountants]

May 2015 CPA Board examination

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 2,132 out of 5,959 passed the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination given by the Board of Accountancy in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Legazpi this May 2015.

The results were released in three (3) working days after the last day of examination.

Since our group is already doing this since May 2013, we have decided to continue our objective which is to give insights (based on an examinee point of view) to motivate and help each CPA aspirant regarding the recently concluded CPA Board Examination, for future reference. Credits to onceinaleahtime for granting our favor.

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Once in a lifetime, I took the CPA board.

REVIEW CENTERS Gusto ko once lang kaya para dito, twice ako nagreview. Una sa CPAR for the October 2014 batch tapos sa CRC-ACE this May. Pero tatlong review schools ang na-try ko since nag-enrol ako nung undergrad sa ReSA. Di ko naman naseryoso yung weekend classes dahil busy akong nagpaka-undergrad, kinukuha ko na lang yung handouts pero di ko naman na nasasagutan tapos after first preboard na binayaran ko pero di na-take, di na ako pumasok. Pero yung lecture notes nila, yung iba nagamit ko naman. Hindi ako loyalty awardee. Kasi lahat naman ng review schools nagca-claim na da best sila so why not try three of them?

Sa CPAR, ang dami daming tao na kapag restroom break, the line to the cr went on and on and on. Maganda seat ko that time, not very front, not very center kasi nakapagpa-reserve ako ng maaga so for future examinees, maging maagap dyan. Buti maagap friends ko, nadamay tuloy ako.

Magaling ang mga reviewers ng CPAR. Sa P1 ni Sir Christian and AP ni Dean, procedural. Wala palang separate subject para sa TOA, sinasabay na lang sa P1. Mabilisan sa CPAR, isang oras lang para sa isang chapter sa Valix ang P1, tapos after ng lahat ng e.g. receivable topics, mag-aanswer na ng TOA quizzer; sa tax rin ni Sir de Vera, ang di nagbasa, nganga. Ang nagdadahan-dahan I believe, yung Roque brothers for AT, and MS. Ang P2 under Sir Ferrer, da best na hanggang sa second review ko yung special revenue recognition topics yung mga tinuro niya nangigibabaw sa diwa ko. BL naman, kay Atty. D na yan. Naging prof ko siya nung undergrad kaya medyo nabigla ako na ang active ni sir sa klase. Dati kasi nagpapa-recite siya tapos tatahimik yung room to the point rinig ko na heartbeat ko, pero sa review walang tahimik moment. Kahit ang daming jokes ni sir, ang dami ko pa ring natututunan sa isang oras.

Magaling ang mga reviewers ng CRC-ACE. True to their claim, concept-based ang approach nila. Mas effective yun sakin kasi ang procedures na minemorize ko lang, di naman nare-retain kung di ko naman alam ang dahilan. Sa Baguio branch ako nag-enrol for reasonable reasons i.e. malamig dun at masarap pagkain. Weekend class ako that time, kasi umuuwi ako ng weekdays para tumambay mag-aral kasi ayoko nang dalhin sa Baguio mga libro ko.

Para sa mga gustong mag-weekend, hindi siya biro kasi 8 hours kang naka-upo pero maganda seats sa CRC, di masakit sa gluteus maximus. Seat ko pala very front and very center kasi at that point na nag-enrol ako, I promised magiging assertive ako sa second review, at hindi ako maghahanap ng distraction kaya dapat ang full focus ko nasa reviewer. Sa mga nagbabalak magpaka-bibo sa harap, it requires commitment, and a little pagpapanggap kasi hindi naman sa lahat ng oras kayang gumana ang brain natin, pero always try to get your diwa back nang makasunod na sa lecture after spacing out. For that, gawin ang mga quizzers and practice problems bago pa man i-discuss para kung sakaling nawala ka sa huwisyo for a while, mas madaling sundan muli yung discussion sa klase. Also, mas effective yung kinokorek mo solutions mo, instead na kinokopya mo solutions ng reviewers.

Ang P1 ng CRC under Sir Mike Tiu, mag-uumpisa sa concepts tapos straight problems ang dinidiscuss sa class. Hindi nagmamadali, kaya mas madaling maunawaan yung topics. Hindi rin ako nabigla sa actual board na Aud Prob-type yung mga tanong, kasi sanay na akong makakita ng questions like that. Also, yung mga na-discuss na ni Sir Mike, di na uulitin ni Sir Jek. Si Sir Jek sa AT and AP namin. Admittedly, naghabol kami kasi first class namin sa AT after ng first preboard.. weeks after it tapos hindi pa si Sir Jek pero magaling rin si Sir Jesse Meneses na pumalit that time, taas ng energy ni sir. Kahit ang AP/AT namin ang pinaka-sabog na sked, ang galing kasi preweek namin diniscuss ni Sir Jek yung buong AT nang wala pang halfday. Sa AP, na pagkatapos i-discuss ni sir yung pre-week, di ko na nafeel na kailangan kong i-resolve yung handout on my own kasi malinaw na sakin lahat. Amazing.

Sa MS under Sir Guia, kakaiba yung approach niya, in a good way. Kasi ang pinaka-pinasukan ko sa ReSA, MS. Maihahalintulad yung approach ng ReSA under Sir Aljon sa approach ni Sir Roque ng CPAR. E.g. sa standard costing, parehas na AFOH-BAAH-BASH-SHSR sa ReSA at CPAR pero kay Sir Guia, to the left and standard, to the right ang actual tapos nasa gitna ang flexible budget. Walang memorization, ang mag AFOH-BASH maba-bash ang fezlak. Pero syempre joke lang yan. Madaming joke si sir, dami ring hugot tapos may pagka-recollection yung preweek namin, very very pastor lang my dearest brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Sa TOA namin, ang bongga under Ma'am Ledesma. As in yung accounting process, 2 days diniscuss, naloka ako dun. Pero gets na gets ko naman na yung concept ng single entry, panis na panis. May mga di pumapasok kay ma'am, their loss. Sa BL, okay si Ma'am Sagana kasi mahinahon yung pacing tapos mas madaling magmemorize since summarized na sa booklets yung discussion. Gamit na gamit ko booklets ko ng BL pero nag-Soriano pa rin ako on the side. Sa tax under Sir Morante, madali ring magmemorize e.g. OPT taxes GPS FAWISCO BF or sa estate deductions ELIT PP VD STD RM SSS.

Sa P2, yung first half si Sir Oli tapos second half si Sir Roel. Magaling si Sir Roel, pero may kakaiba ring approach i.e. sa CPAR may whichever is higher sa FV of INAS na kinalimutan ko na kasi ang may choice kung anong gagamitin e ang parent company. Or yung sa Gain on BPO on bizcom na nasa SFP zero ba? Sa ReSA, 0 kasi wala namang gain na line item, kay Sir Roel meron nakalubog lang sa retained earnings. Sound naman kasi parehas pero anong approach ng examiner though? O.o Gusto ko rin na may summaries bawat lecture sa P2, para yun na lang binabalikan ko nung malapit na exam.

Okay talaga sa CRC, problema lang yung scheduling lalo’t maraming branches. So I suggest lalo na sa weekend classes, mag-advance. Pabor ako dati sa pagka-move ng board exam kasi may mga hinahabol pa kaming topics. Pero di na-move so a week before the first exam weekend, yung weekend class sa BL, 12 hours nagklase sa Nego. Ang hardcore nun. Preweek din namin sa TOA, naging 90% habol topics on NCAHFS, gov grant, agri etc. So heed my advice, mag-advance. May mga typos din sa quizzers and preboards, so be vigilant, pag di makuha using the concept you know, at hindi ka okay sa solution pag nagworkback ka, 1. Ask the reviewers 2. Google it 3. Stick to what you’ve learned.

Isa ding pagkakaiba ng mga review centers ay yung bases ng grade sa preboards. Sa CPAR at ReSA, 50 based. Sa CPAR dati, kahit feel na feel kong nagsabog yung exam ko, nasa 82 palagi average ko. Pero sa CRC ACE, pinapangarap ko ang 82 kasi zero based. Nagsabog ako nung first preboard doon sa P1, 65 ako (Final preboard ko sa CPAR nasa 85 sa P1). Ang sakit sakit sa pride so double effort ako on TA/P1/AT. Sa final preboard nasa 90 na. Double yabang like yeah. So consider this din, malaking bagay kasi ang preboard para malaman kung ready ka na. Mahirap kasi sa 50 based, masarap sa pakiramdam so may tendency to be complacent. Mahirap naman sa zero based, masakit sa pride pero what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?

EXAMS/REFERENCES I tried not to think about the exams habang di pa tapos lahat ng subjects. I tried not to think of the exams habang wala pang resulta. I was asked by one of the admins of Tumblraccountants to make a review of sorts ng board exam. Why not naman kung makakatulong sa iba? So here I am trying my hardest to dig out repressed memories.

Audit theory I do believe maraming nadalian since one hour to go, marami nang lumabas ng exam rooms. Isa ako sa kanila, and at that point na sinubmit ko paper ko, naka-apat naman akong balik. Sabi nga ni Sir Jek, “Panis.” Karamihan ng tanong, yung topics sa first half ng libro nila Sir Jek—Aud planning, Pre-engagement ganyan. Wala naman yung nakakagulo sa utak sa internal control consideration, or relationships sa substantive testing. Kung meron man pero di ko lang matandaan, kayang kayang sagutan. Wala rin masyadong RA 9298, IRR or Code of Ethics. Ang ginamit kong textbooks for AT e yung book nila Ma'am Ireneo at Sir Jek et al. Text-heavy yung kina Ma'am Ireneo kaya feeling ko dati ang hardcore mag-aral ng AT, may outlines pa ako dati per chapter. Di ko sinagutan yung questions sa book so I wouldn’t know kung may galing ba doon. Sa book naman nila Sir Jek, di ko na nafeel the need na gumawa ng outlines. Magandang pagpractisan yung book nila. Yung 2014 edition mas maraming questions kaysa sa 2009 ed or 2011 I believe. Ginamit kong reviewer yung Roque plus CPAR and CRC materials. Pamilyar naman yung questions, that is at some point nakita ko na sa mga reviewers na ginamit ko. I can’t tell which though. Pero sa preweek namin may mga lumabas.

Theory of accounts Maraming nagsasabi na galing daw ReSA at CPAR yung questions. Wala akong pre-week nila this batch so I cannot attest to that, pero may lumabas na nasa preweek quizzer ng CRC. Kalat naman yung questions. Para sa mga magtatake pa lang, pay attention sa concepts, di lang para sa TOA, pero para sa Aud Prob and Prac 1 na rin, puhunan din yan. Okay yung booklets ng CRC sa TOA, though mas concise yung book ni Valix so pinili ko na lang mga binasa ko sa booklets namin. Yung mga handouts sa CPAR, galing lang sa book nila Valix so to save time, answer either but not both.

Practical accounting 1 Aud Prob ang peg ng P1. Sa lahat ng in-exam, ito ang hindi ko nabalikan lahat for checking, kasi nag-fixate ako sa isang situational problem na kulang sa details na hindi naman posibleng masagutan, 3 or 4 questions ata tinanong so di ko rin naman masisi yung pagka-praning ko right then. But for all future takers, do not follow my example. Ihuli ang mga items na ikaka-sira ng confidence at sanity, tapos kung ang problem ay hindi naman talaga kayang humanly i-solve, kumbinsihin ang sarili na bonus sila. YAY. Also, it pays to work back from the choices. Ginawa ko yun at isa-isa lumabas yung most logical answer bawat item. Kung across the board ang pag-add for bonus items, eh di double points. Double yay. Kalat yung questions, may nakapagsabi sakin CPAR daw kumuha (yung preweek last batch ang meron sakin.) For P1, ang ginamit ko lecture handouts, preweek materials ng CPAR and CRC plus yung Prac 1 ni Valix.

Management Services Before the board, bali-balita na ito daw ang pinaka-mahirap. It turned out the exam in MS was unworthy of bonggang attention. AS IN INCREDIBLY UNWORTHY of all the kapraningan it caused me. So as a tip to future examinees, do not fall victim sa mga sabi-sabi. Pito ang mga subjects sa board exam, wag ibuhos ang atensyon sa isa lang dahil sa chismis. May nagsabi sakin na exact pre-week daw ng CPAR yung lumabas. Good for them. Di naman ako na-bitter kasi carry naman ‘yung questions. Madaming theories, yung solving na short questions, operational budgeting nga lang eh, tapos sa situational, FS analysis. Nakakagulo lang dun kung anong gagamitin like sa ROA, operational assets ba o total? So I suggest alamin ang concepts ng formula, para madali na ring matandaan.  For my first review, nag-stick ako sa Roque para di ko na gawin yung quizzer ng CPAR. Sa second, nag-Agamata ako para sa theories at mas gusto ko yung formatting ng Agamata, di ko na kailangang magpalipat-lipat ng pages for the answers. Of course, gamit na gamit rin booklets ng CRC.

Auditing Problems Admittedly, on the second week, fixation ko ang P2 kasi dun ako mahina. Para sa Aud Prob, umasa na lang ako na ‘yung naaral ako sa TOA and P1 would carry me through. It did. Kasi may problem na ang hugot revenue recognition principles; meron din sa presentation ng fs. Tapos syempre lahat ng nasa choices pwedeng lumabas from the given, sa huli nanindigan na lang ako sa concept na alam ko. May AT questions din pala na kailangang manindigan sa audit opinion. Also, it pays to assert yourself. Kwento ko lang, kasi yung proctor naming for AP/P2, dinadaldal yung kasama niya. Yung first problem sa AP, hindi ko ma-absorb kasi tuwing susubukan kong pakinggan sarili ko habang binabasa yung problem in my head, yung boses ng proctor ko naririnig ko. Hindi ko kayang buong araw ako magtitiis sa ingay, so lumapit ako at nakiusap na kung sana wag nang mag-usap sa room. Magalang naman ako.  Nanahimik ang room at matiwasay na nairaos ko ang AP. Huzzah.

Roque ginamit ko on both reviews plus CPAR and CRC Materials. Undergrad ginamit ko naman Ocampo. Ang problema ko lang sa Roque, yung latest ed (2012 or 2013 ata), yung application ng PIC on demolishing cost di naman reflected, kaya I skipped questions sa self-constructed assets dun. May revenue problems sa pre-week namin pero hindi yun ang lumabas, magandang practice na rin. Hindi ko alam kung saan kumuha sa subject na to, hindi pamilyar yung problems.

Practical Accounting 2 Nasabi ko kanina na ang P1 lang ang akong di nakapagcheck lahat ng answers. Sa P2, maraming beses ako nagpabalik-balik… kasi wala na akong maisagot. HAHAHuhuhu. Naknampucha forevs. Yung 248 questions sa business combination/consolidation sa libro ni Dayag, tinapos ko nung holy week as my hardcore penitensya pero after everything, kalbaryo pa rin ang Prac 2. May forex hedging-options din tapos maraming costing problems na wala namang sagot. After ng exam, nagtext ako sa admin ng review school at ini-reklamo ang numbers 30-50 para i-contest at ipa-bonus. Di ko alam kung na-bonus nga talaga, pero pumasa ako right? Tip din yan for future examinees, imbes na magreklamo sa mga friends na wala namang sagot sa problems, idulog na lang ang reklamo sa pwedeng makapagpa-void ng questions. UPDATE: 86 ako sa P2 so alam kong madaming bonus. I do believe yan din ang sanhi ng mataas na passing rate.

On both reviews, Dayag ginamit ko pero di ko natapos lahat, plus CPAR and CRC materials. Maganda siyang pagpractisan. Yung mga explanations sa solutions, paka-tandaan at yung mga entries ay i-master.

Business Law and Taxation Wala masyadong nego. Hurrah! Carry lang din yung questions for both BL and Tax, kalat rin naman. Ang di ko in-expect sa tax, may question on discount ng senior citizen, sa review materials kasi namin wala kaming notes on it. Basic lang naman, yung 20 percent discount sa restaurant. Alam ko lang i-apply since senior citizen mama ko (UPDATE: or akala ko lang alam ko i-apply. Lowest ko kasi BLT) Meron ding lumabas on VAT on goods pero wala namang answers if gagamitin ang revenues to compute for output tax. Lastly, may lumabas on donor’s so wag mamaliitin yun. Sa BL, Soriano and CRC booklets plus CPAR quizzers. Sa Tax, since aminado akong tagilid ako dito, first review textbook ni Reyes at kay Sir de Vera, reviewer ni Ampongan. On my second review, San Beda Memory Aid para sa bar examinees, reviewer ni Reyes plus materials ng CRC. Pero ang pinaka-naghanda sakin yung preweek ng CPAR, dami kasing tanong.

Honestly, yung mga tanong sa BL, kahit wala kang ginamit na reviewer, kayang sagutan so long as nakapagbasa ka. Sa tax, mukha siyang basic pero apprarently nagsabog ako dun.

Yung mga nababalitaan ko kung san kinuha yung exam, naririnig ko lang naman yun, not that I actively sought them out. I suggest for future examinees to do the same kasi wala naman nang magandang idudulot ang paghahanap ng ikaka-praning mo during, and after the exam.

As an end note, gusto ko lang i-share yung napulot ko okay Coach Chot Reyes na narinig kong mag-talk sa isang event. Sabi niya, success can be achieved with the first five letters of the alphabet, na may sarili kong interpretation. I believe effective siya since nasa 86.71 naman average ko (Yes, proud ako. Pagbigyan at pinaghirapan ko to :) ).

A for Attitude - Pumasok sa klase ALWAYS. - GV lang. Ang issue ng mundo ay di mo issue at the moment. - Mag-adjust sa review. May mga parties na di kailangang attendan, may mga pagkaing di -pwedeng kainin dahil nakaka-antok, may mga tv shows na pwedeng i-youtube na lang after ng board. Nabasa ko somewhere, “You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.”

B for “be brilliant at the basics” -Nakakatamad mag-entry pero yan ang pinaka-basic eh. Dyan mo pwedeng simulan ang kwento ng mga problems. - May quote na tumatak sakin by Jim Rohn, “Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.” Yes, redundant pero you get his drift.

C for strengthening your core - Spiritual, yung sarili mo tsaka yung physical core mo rin.  - Kung di optimal ang health mo, di rin optimal and function ng brain. Basta wag mong ide-deprive sarili mo pagdating sa tulog at kain.

D for Drills - Practice lang yan. Ang time pressure and any other pressure, kinakasanayan.

E for Execution - Sabi ni Coach Chot, pagka-tapos mong ma-achieve ang ABCD, ready ka na for execution which is the most critical of all. For his last point nung talk niya, pina-panood niya samin yung video of a buzzer beater shot, champion yung team. I believe Purefoods yun, but I can be wrong. Anyhow, execution can make or break you, pero maintain your optimism, remember the basics, keep the faith, treat the exam like you treat your drills. Kalma ka lang, kaya mo yan.

With that, I’m out. Byers!

UIOGD

[paultronus-blog]

“7 Mistakes a CPA Examinee Usually Commits.”

Did you know that the Board of Accountancy has an army of mean geniuses who are actively plotting to ensure you fail the CPA Board Exam as we speak? They are sitting in a dark window-less room creating questions after heinous questions. When they created one that’s truly diabolical, they read it aloud and cackle with evil, maniacal laughter thinking of the years the added stress is taking off your life. It’s true - I’ve seen it.

Well, that may not be “exactly” how questions are developed, but I’m sure more than a few of you have felt this must be the case at one or two times during your studies.

In truth, they are protecting the profession by preventing those who are unprepared from being able to put CPA after their names. Given this barrier, you owe it to yourself and those who are close to you to make your own game plan to prove you a worthy of the CPA title.

I scribbled the “7 Mistakes a CPA Examinee Usually Commits.” Hope you’ll find it helpful.

CPA Board Exam Mistake #7: Not Studying How the CPA Board Exam Questions are Structured.

Ang mga tanong sa CPA Board exam ay sobrang tricky, kaya kailangan mo talaga ng matinding focus to each and every word of the question and multiple choices.  Like this:

Maria Regina Cristina Jennigail Mania Pili Co. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nutrilin Bottling, Co. Maria Regina sold P1,000,000 of Cristina Jennigail to Nutrilin Bottling, Co. during 20XX. Maria Regina had P4,000,000 of Cristina Jennigail on hand at the end of 20XX and Nutrilin Bottling, Co. had P200,000 of bottle inventory it had purchased from Maria Regina on hand at the end of 20XX. Nutrilin Bottling, Co.’s gross margin rate is 10% and Maria Reginal’s gross margin rate is 50%. How much intercompany profit in inventory should be eliminated from Nutrilin Bottling, Co.’s financial results at the end of 20XX?

A. P500,000

B. P400,000

C. P100,000

D. P20,000

Look closely at the question sa taas, if you can notice, kung anu-anong information ang pinaglalagay ng examiner pero di naman lahat ay may kinalaman sa tanong. Minsan gumagamit sila ng mga pangalan ng companies na nakakalito… Those words/phrases are meant to distract you para matest talaga ang kalaliman ng kaalaman nyo sa mga accounting theories.

You do not need to know how much was sold during the year, how much inventory Maria Regina had on hand or what Nutrilin Bottling Co.’s margins were. If you start this question by reading the last sentence, yung misming tanong before reading all the other facts at the beginning of the question, you can more easily pinpoint the information you need.

First, the only two pieces of information you need are Nutrilin Bottling Co.’s ending Cristina Jennigail inventory related to purchases from Maria Regina and Maria Regina’s margin rate.

Second, they switched the order in which they provide information about the two companies. In the first part of the question, Maria Cristina is listed first. In the last part, Nutrilin Bottling Co. is listed first. If you are not careful, you will apply Nutrilin Bottling Co.’s margin rate to the ending inventory and get to an incorrect answer.

Third, the incorrect answers are all combinations of various numbers used in the facts of the question. Minsan imumultiply lang sa 2 or divided by 2.

Sa exam, they will not use colorful, memorable scenarios, like Maria Regina selling her backyard Cristina Jennigail.  They’ll make it as boring and mundane as possible, with names like “Company A” and “Company B” or “Mel” and “Charo.”  If you do not pay careful attention to the names, you can easily pick up the wrong information which will lead you to the incorrect answer.

Kaya kahit mahirap makapgfocus pag nasa actual board ka na dahil sa kaba and paranoia. (Based on experience). Dapat chillax lang.

Always ask the Lord for the wisdom to stay focused during the exam. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

By the way, the correct answer is C.

CPA Board Exam Mistake #6: Not Focusing on the Way You Learn Best

If you are currently reviewing for the CPA Board Exam, malamang graduate ka na sa College, unless you are taking an undergrad review, so I believe you know what it takes para pumasa sa mga exams. And lahat tayo ay may iba’t-ibang ways on how to study.

During the review days, most of the reviewees are using the “Tips on How to Study Effectively for the CPA Board Exam” given by the professors in every review centers. Madalas iniiba nila ang study habits nila at nakakalimutan nila kung paano nila yun nagamit para masurvive ang College life. Keep in mind na there are millions of ways to study effectively, and it varies from individuals to individuals.

Maybe you learn best by listening. Pwede ding by writing. Maybe by watching instructional videos. May mga nagsusummarize din ng topics and kung minsan may paflashcards pa (or even yung ring binded color coded index cards). Whatever method has made you successful during college days is what you should focus on for the CPA exam. Pwede din namang magpractice ng additional habits para mas maging effective ang pagrereview.

You should also consider the schedule you will attend in the review centers. Kung Nocturnal ka and mas nagpprocess ang utak mo twing gabi, or sadyang mas active ang katawang lupa mo ng ganung oras, I suggest na magtake ka ng afternoon class. Para may tulog ka sa morning, review classess sa hapon, then self-study na mgadamag sa gabi. Kung day person ka naman, pwede ka magattend ng review classes during the morning tapos by afternoon ituloy mo na sa bahay or library ang pagaaral then rest sa gabi. Note: These schedules are not according to studies blah blah, those are just my suggestions. In the end, ikaw pa din naman makakaalam ng swak na time to study. Do not conform sa trip ng tropa mo, hindi dahil sa morning session ang bestfriend mo ay magmomorning session ka na din; hindi porke may maganda.gwapo sa afternoon session, magaafternoon session ka na din (hmmm… Actually pwede din pala. Haha)

Just always remember that time is of the essence, sabi nga diba it takes 21 days for an action to be a habit, eh iilang days lang ang review perod mo babawasan mo pa ng 21 days para magpalit pa ng study habit. Maintain the way you study, syempre yung mga effective ways lang, kung wala ka talagang study habit nung college, abah e ibang usapan na yun.

I believe na alam mo naman sa sarili mo ang tamang technique na swak sayo. Just do it!

CPA Board Exam Mistake #5: Using Outdated Review Materials

Madalas dahil sa pagtitipid or kawalan ng resources, many of the reviewees or even undergrad students use older versions of review materials or books. This is understandable but I highly discourage you in doing this for two reasons.

First, walang forever kahit sa mga accounting standards, pronouncements and regulations. These things change frequently. Pwedeng yung mga standards na applicable last year ay di na applicable this year.

Second, updated review materials give you a glimpse into testing trends. The way a certain examiner throws questions and principles. It also gives you focus in the topics that are important and not yet obsolete. Yan ang major advantage ng page-enroll sa review centers. The instructors get updates from different regulating bodies on what areas are likely to be important.

Using old review materials will send you to the wrong path and have you focus on the wrong topics.

Any money na matitipid nyo sa paggamit ng mga oudated review materials or review books is more that offset by what you stand to lose by not being well prepared for the exam. The high risk you are taking is likely to result in more study time, retakes and extra exam fees

Yes, makakatipid ka nga somehow, kaya lang your future is at risk. The investment you will make today may result to a greater outcome. If di talaga kaya, madami namang paraan, it’s up to you kung pano ka didiskarte. If there’s a will, there’s a way.

CPA Board Exam Mistake #4: Focusing on Your Strengths Instead of your Weaknesses

Bakit ba masarap aralin ang Cash & Cash Equivalents, Partnership, Job Order Costing, etc.,? - Syempre kasi madali.

Eh bakit halos mapilipit utak natin makita pa lang ang salitang Derivatives, Process Costing, Income Taxation, etc.? - Kasi nga ang hihirap. Nakakapanghina.

It’s okay na magexcel in a certain subject or topic, iba din kasi ang feeling pag inaaral mo na yung mga alam mong alam mo na ang sisiw na sisiw na sayo. Pero when you are reviewing for the CPA Board Exam, you are going to be assessed with 8 Board Subjects. Hindi lang sa P2-Partnership part or MAS-Variable Costing. You will take all the board exam subjects. Having limited time to prepare for the battle, you should be focusing sa mga bagay na di mo pa alam or nahihirpaan ka pading intindihin hanggang ngayon,

Bawasan mo ang time na ginugugol mo sa mga topics na undergrad palang ay master mo na at kahit nakapatiwarik ka pang magexam ay sure na masasagot mo. Allocate most of your time sa mga topics na kahinaan mo. Hindi mo naman matutunan ang Derivatives kung di mo aaralin. Kahit anong gawing mong pagtakas sa mga topics na nagka-cause ng internal hemorrhage sa utak mo, one thing is certain… You have to study it in order for you to learn.

Board exam is not a matter of how many topics you have already mastered, but it’s all about how well you understand those topics. Hindi din yun paramihan ng mag questions na alam na alam mo ng sagutin kahit pagbaligtarin pa ang mga choices. It’s about how deep your understanding is sa mga accounting principles and their application.

“Success can be achieved by practicing your strengths and working on how you can overcome your weaknesses.” - P2 Atienza (Iba toh!)

CPA Board Exam Mistake #3: Not Taking Breaks

Parang pagwoworkout. If you are working out everyday, it will be counterproductive. Your body needs a chance to rest and recover after working out in order for you to see the improvement.

Praparing for the CPA Board Exam is an intense mental workout. Make sure na you give your mind and soul a chance to rest and recover as well. Even the Lord took a rest when He is creating the Earth. Sabi nga sa Mark 2:27 ““The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”. Taking a day-off sa pagaaral to take some rest is understandable. Unless android ka na di napapagod.

When I was reviewing, there is a day talaga na hindi ako nag-aaral, my “Me-time”. Para akong may 1-day pardon from imprisonment. I am free to do everything I want, Attending to church services, malling (Pag may budget), nood ng Game of Thrones, kain, meeting with friends, but most of the time, tulog talaga. Provided that I have already finished what has been booked in my calendar. If may topics ako na hindi nasunod (which I considered as “utang”), I compensate those topics by studying it in my Me-time.

Your brain can process as much. Para yang external drives na may certain capacity. If you’ll pour everything jan baka maglog and magreformat. What you have to do is to refresh it as often as possible.

Another discipline of resting your precious brain is by taking an in-between-study-breaks. Pwedeng after 1 hour of reading e tumayo ka, take some refreshments then go back to work after 10 or 15 mins. It’s up to you. Point is, you have to take a rest.

And remember not to feel guilty pag nagpapahinga ka, lalo ka lang masstress pag inisip mo na nagaaksaya ka ng oras doing nothing. Keep in mind na you had done your task kaya ka nagkaroon ng time to rest.

“Remember that one of the Human Fatigue is one of the inherent limitations not just in audit, but in everything,”

CPA Board Exam Mistake #2: Not Making a Personalized Study Plan

During undergrad days, I believe we are all guilty of having a study schedule at the beginning of the semester. Yung todo effort pa tayo ng paglayout ng schedule natin somewhere, pero halos maalikabukan lang come 2nd week of classes. This habit ay dapat ng itapon kasabay ng mga alala ng aming nakaraan (#Hugot).

As I’ve said sa recent post ko, the span of time to prepare for the CPA Board Exam is really limited. Wala namang narerentahan na “Silid ng Kaluluwa at Panahon” katulad ng nasa templo nila Dende na mabagal ang takbo ng oras. Magugulat ka nalang isang linggo nalang pala ang natitira bago magboard exam.

To make the most out of the limited time, you should have planned from Day 1. Here are some tips on what and how to make an effective study plan.

1. Assess your self

Connected ito sa #4 CPA Board Exam Mistakes, before ka pa sumabak sa first day ng review dapat alamin mo na ang mga topics na dapat mong aralin. Kung saan ka malakas at mahina, para maallocate mo ng maayos ang mga dapat mong aralin. You may take a self-test na based lang sa mga naalala mo pa for the past 4 or 5 years before starting the review. No pressure, kasi self-assessment naman yan and alam mo naman sa sarili mo ang mga bagay na alam mo na.

2. Choose an appropriate schedule that suits you

Connected din sa #7 CPA Board Exam Mistakes, kahit allowed ang pagsi-sit-in sa mga review centers, advisable pa din na the day you are on the counter, paying your tuition fee, you already know what schedule you will take. You should consider everything, mula sa proximity ng review center from your house/dorm; perfect time na nasa “lucid interval” ang iyong utak; and everything else.

3. Place to study

Hindi lang dapat timing ang nasa plan mo, pati nadin ang location. Kung sa bahay o sa library ka ba magaaral; Kung sa Starbucks Dapitan or Mcdo P. Campa ka ba tatambay para magreview; kung may study area ba ang dorm na rerentahan mo; kung conducive ba na magaral kasama ang maiingay at makukulit mong classmates sa dorm, etc.

4. Your calendar

Kailangan mag-allocate ka na ng appropriate time per subject/topic. Nung ako ngrereview, I called my style “The Combo”, hindi ko pinagsasabay ang theories in one day, baka makatulog lang ako for 100 years. Hindi ko din puro problems lang in a day, I’m afraid na baka ikabaliw ko naman yun. What I did is, I study 1 theory subject and 2 practical subjects per day. Or depende sa topics. Basta laging combo para balanced and hindi magsabaw or matuyot ang utak ko

5. Disiplina

A plan will never prosper if not executed well. Wala kang ibang aasahan kundi ang sarili mo. Hindi mo pwedeng icompel ang nanay mo na lagi kang iremind na sundin ang schedule mo. You should do it yourself kaya nga “Personalized Study Plan” eh. Designed by you… for you.

Bottomline is that if you really have the hunger to succeed, you should prepare. Sabi nga nila, “Failing to prepare is preparing to FAIL.”

CPA Board Exam Mistake #1: Relying on Your Own Knowledge

Madalas pag nasa battle tayo lalo na pag exam, nagrerely tayo sa sarili nating kakayahan. Sa sobrang tiwala natin sa sarili natin nakaklimutan natin ang tunay na source ng lahat ng wisdom and knowledge.

We’re trying to make ourselves believe na kaya na natin magexam kahit deep inside alam nating kulang pa, madami pa tayong di naaral. And yung bagay na feeling natin ay kulang is our Faith with the Lord. We are not trusting Him 100%. We are not believing how Great He is na kaya nya tayong ipasa sa Board Exam.

It’s okay to trust in yourself, but do not be too confident with yourself. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”. Sino ba ang gumawa ng examiners ng CPA Board? Di ba si Lord, so just trust Him na He will do anything for you to be successful. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Okay, let’s say na it is given na sobrang galing mo na as in daig mo pa si Einstein or Jimmy Neutron, pero there are still uncontrollable factors around us. Factors to hinder us. Pwedeng ma-mental block tayo during exam; pwedeng may magyari along the way and malate tayo sa exam; pwedeng mataranta tayo and all. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” - Matthew 6:33

Hindi sila Valix, Dayag, Tamayo, etc. ang source ng wisdom natin. They are just instruments used by God to prepare us for the CPA Board Exam. Those books and review materials are just like powerbanks na limited ang source of wisdom, that one thing is certain, na lahat yan mauubos eventually. But if we are plugged in the ultimate source of wisdom, which is Jesus Christ our Lord, we will never experience any wisdom shortage. All it takes is to believe.

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

#NOTETOSELF

[tumblraccountants]

October 2015 CPA Board Examination

As requested by my co-admins. :-)

To be honest idk what this blog post should contain kasi sa pagkakaalam ko iba naman na yung exam ng next batch and last na kaming makakaranas ng 7 deadly subjects in a board exam. But then maybe this would help, somehow, hopefully. :-)

Before the board exam, there are actually rumors, actually a lot of them. Most of them sa mga items na lalabas daw sa board exam, kung saang review center kukuha, pero yung iba in general, like magiging madali raw yung exam kasi last na nga kami. Well, I would tell you kung alin talaga ang totoo at alin ang hindi later.

Let’s do it one by one,

1. Auditing Theory - Well, lowest subject to. 83 ako. Like wtf, favorite ko to eh. Anyway, this subject is not as hard as my result. Marami lang talagang hindi familiar like most examinees are expecting. Talagang concept talaga ang hugot dito unless taga RESA ka kasi sabi dun daw mostly galing which I can’t say kung totoo kasi taga CPAR ako. So baka nga kaya mababa ako. Haha! 

Difficulty: From 1 - 5, 5 being the most difficult, 3

Read this: For this subject, you can’t really rely on familiarity. Napakadaming pwedeng itanong at kaya nilang mag construct ng totally different question pero yun pa rin naman concept, so if you want this in the bag, better be sure na naiintindihan mo sya at hindi lang basta memoryado. Lastly, at least marunong kang umintindi ng English. Haha!

2. Theory of Accounts - See Auditing Theory. 

Seriously, magkamukha lang ang maipapayo kasi hindi rin talaga pamilyar yung mga tanong pero answerable sya. Valix lang naman kasi ang reviewer ng halos lahat sa TOA. So ayun, concept pa rin talaga. :-)

Difficulty: 2

3. Management Advisory Services - Okay, what can I say about this subject? Di mo kaylangang tapusin si Roque, Bobadilla, Agamata at Cabrera to pass this subject. Di ko minamaliit yung subject or what. Siguro masyado lang naging mahirap yung approach ko nung undergrad na parang killer sya tas pagdating mo sa actual, halos basic lang ang itatanong. As long as alam mo yung takbo ng mga problem, kaya mong sagutan. The problem with this subject? The theory part. It’s either alam mo o talagang hindi mo alam. Ganon naman eh. Haha! So try to focus din sa theory.

Difficulty: 1

Read this: Please, don’t underestimate the subject just because sinabi kong madali, syempre depende rin yan sa preparation mo. Siguro nakatulong din na batak ka sa problem nung undergrad para mas okay kapag basic na lang ang tanong. 

4. Practical Accounting 1 - The shocking P1. Haha! Dito na yung mejo napag-isip ako na, wait. Board Exam na talaga. Kasi the construction of the questions, hindi mo talaga aakalain. Why? Situational sya, consisting of 3-4 questions BUT independent problems. Yes, you read it right, independent. Pinagsama sama lang sya para may gulat factor pero iba iba yung company and iba iba yung topic. So para rin syang separate problems yun nga lang nakakalito yung pagkaka present. 

Difficulty: 3

Read this: Ito yung isa sa mga subjects na mukhang may mga na condi. Why? Kasi nga nakakagulat sya. Pero kaya naman basta may concept kang hawak and natapos mo kahit si Valix lang. 

5. Auditing Problem - Practically you would expect long problems and complicated na practical accounting 1. But the actual board exam is not what we are expecting. Syempre may mga kontrabida na tanong, yung feeling mo perfect mo na yung exam then may isa o dalawa kang problems na nag-struggle ka. Haha. Ayun yon eh. Pero mayron talagang mga pamigay na tanong. Sarap. Haha! Kaso may mga grammar question which is double-edged sya kasi kapag okay ka sa grammar, easy point yun and lesser problem ang sasagutin mo kasi may grammar question halos every after the problem. Yun lang kapag mahina ka sa English, yari ka. 

Difficulty: 2

Read this: Be prepared ano man yung lumabas. Mahalaga yung may mga natapos kang reviewers kahit isa nga lang eh. Pampalakas ng loob yon. Bakit? Kasi di mo naman talaga matandaan totally yung sagot eh or yung procedure, kakapit ka na lang sa lakas ng loob na kahit ano lumabas, kaya mo kasi praktisado ka. Also, kung itutuloy, mahalaga yung okay ka sa grammar. Di naman gagawa ng essay, madadaan naman sa kutob eh pero kung kaya mong aralin para na rin sa job interview mo. Go!

6. Practical Accounting 2 - Okay. This is it. Haha! Dito maraming bumagsak or na condi I think. Why? kasi mahirap naman talaga ang P2. Dahil na rin sa forex and buscom. Sabi nung previous daw, yan yung madaming lumabas so syempre most of the students, jan nag focus. Unfortunately, hindi kagaya nung samin. Nag focus sya sa basic, like partnership and installment sales. Oo IS! Dito maraming nahirapan. Dalawang mahabang problems on Installment. Akala nila di lalabas so hindi na naaral. Ayun, mejo nahirapan. Hay. Sayang.

Difficulty: 4

Read this: Yes, mahirap yung subject but don’t panic. Kaya naman as long as nakaaral ka ng basic at alam mo yung concept. Wag lang i take for granted yung mga topics na madalang lumabas baka kasi magsisi ka sa huli, masasayang lahat ng efforts mo kung sasabit ka sa P2. (89 pa ako dito kahit na hilaw ako sa forex. Haha! So don’t be afraid)

7. Business Law and Taxation - Another killer subject. But not during our time. Yes swerte kami. Eto talaga yung kabado ako kasi alam kong kulang ako lalo na sa Tax. Pero sige lang. Tapos ayun nga, basic yung Law. More on ObliCon and ParCor. Walang Sales! And konting Nego lang. As in maiiksi pa yung tanong, tricky lang din siguro sakin kasi di ako nagbalik sa ObliCon kasi akala ko di lalabas. Haha! Sa Tax, kalma lang din sya. May situational problems mejo di usual yung tanong dapat familiar ka sa BIR form pero kaya naman. Di rin masyadong beastmode yung examiner kaya simple lang yung mga requirement. Ang nakakatawa pa, may mga tax tables pati donor at estate tas di naman ginamit. Haha!

Difficulty: 3

Read this: Sa Law, basta matiyaga ka magbasa at marunong umunawa ng English, kaya mong makuha yung rationale nung Law. Then kaya mo na sya masagot. Though minsan terms lang yung tanong, continuous reading lang okay na. Sa Tax, practice talaga and be aware sa real world ng tax. Di pwedeng textbook approach lagi. Learn to imagine the reality. Waht. 

- - - - -

I hope this could help you picture out kung paano nangyari nung October 2015 CPA board. And above all sana makatulong sa mga mag-take pa lang ng board. 

As promise, about sa rumors, yes totoo na marami kang maririnig na ganyan but practice professional skepticism. Mayrong mga items na sabi lalabas, which is ayun kahawig nga. Idk kung san ang source pero siguro totoo rin yung sinasabi nila yun daw yung mga pinapadalang tanong mga review centers but mind you, konti lang talaga yung lumabas. So wag kumapit dito. Mapapariwara ka. Haha. Kasi kami nakinig kami, Alam mo yung the night before the board exam, nag aaral ka kasi sabi lalabas daw tapos hindi naman. Mapupuyat ka lang. Kaya ako nun talagang antok sa board exam. 5 out of 7 subjects nakatulog ako. :( P1 at P2 lang talaga ako gising the whole exam kasi sakto lang yung oras. So please, get enough sleep. But I don’t recommend na one week or the day before wala ng aral aral. Haha. Kapag may chance ka pa, sige lang. Nakakataranta oo pero malay mo yun yung winning point mo, last minute nabasa mo. Minsan God’s will din kasi. Diba?

Last words from a CPA. Waht. Yes 1 week na akong CPA. Haha! :-)

The CPA Board Exam is not as hard as we think as a student. As you can see wala akong nilagyan na 5 as the most difficult. Kaya syang ipasa as long as mag-aaral kang mabuti simula undergrad pa lang and gagalingan mo pa sa review. Tiwala sa sarili. Iba yung magagawa nyan. At syempre makukuha mo lang yon kapag nag-aral at naghanda ka. Next, tiwala sa prof at reviewers mo. Tutulungan ka nilang maabot mo ang pangarap basta makikipag cooperate ka. And lastly, tiwala sa Kanya. Kasi Sya pa rin ang magdedesisyon kung ibibigay Nya ba sayo o hindi. :-)

Good luck future CPAs! Just like you, I was once a dreamer, but now I achieved it. Alam kong kaya nyo rin to. Bonus na lang ang mag top. Tandaan nyo lang kung para kanino nyo ginagawa yan at kung ano talaga yung goal nyo - to become a CPA, and you will achieve it. :-)

God bless tumblraccountants!

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

#NOTETOSELF #CPA2017

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

Guilty pleasures #books #2015bookhaul #loveletterstothedead #thebeginningofeverything #theswordofsummer

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Finished piece for my friend @niiniiken #disney #disneyfeature #disneyartspotlightfeature #belle #books #draw

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Watch: Ahmed Mohamed speaks out about being arrested 

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Pretty book cover.

[elysianxreveries]

Anong mas masakit? Iwan ka ng taong mahal mo? O maiwan mo ang calculator mo tapos may exam pala kayo?

BSA Feels~

[polmoisesclamor]

‎6 Reasons why GOD is the BEST ACCOUNTANT:

1. He looks upon the SUBSTANCE of a person rather than its FORM. 2. He promised us a GOING CONCERN life after death.  3. He waives all our LIABILITIES to Him if we reconcile. 4. He keeps all things in BALANCE. 5. He gives us BONUS for every GOOD WILL we do. 6. He REDEEMED us from the COST of sin. The best part in Accounting is knowing that GOD is our Best Accountant. :D

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

I thought I didn’t care

When I decided not to care about people, I thought it would be easy. At first, I was okay with the decision. I was thinking all of its pro

[sapiophilesheadintheclouds]

I don’t know how

I tried understanding what sad is. I tried understanding what happy means. I t