By Jiann Delumen

Far Eastern University (FEU) Bachelor of Science in Accountancy students Vincent Noel Cuaresma and Leonardo Galang II emphasized the value of long-term discipline over short-term preparation after securing top placements in the 27th Search for Outstanding Accounting Students of the Philippines (SOASP) held at Makati Diamond Residences last March 20.

Cuaresma emerged as this year’s champion, while Galang ranked fifth, following a series of rigorous qualifying rounds that tested competencies aligned with the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Exam (CPALE).

The competition gathered 516 participants from 113 colleges and universities nationwide, with only 25 advancing to the final stage.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, the Tamaraws shared that their performance was rooted not in competition-specific review, but in sustained preparation built across semesters.

“I wasn’t actually able to prepare specifically for SOASP… I was only reviewing during commute time, break times, and while I am working out at the gym,” Cuaresma shared, who was juggling his full face-to-face internship at the time.

Rather than intensive review, he attributed his win to years of consistent study, grounded in a long-term approach focused on CPA board readiness.

Meanwhile, Galang, who is set to take the October 2026 CPALE, maintained a similar routine — working through practice problems and daily flashcards alongside his on-the-job training (OJT).

“In my mind, the goal has always been the CPA Licensure Exam… Thus, all I did [was] follow my own study routine… maximizing all the time I have left after my OJT,” he noted.

Both students were endorsed to represent the University based on their performance in the Integrated Review, where top performers were selected through internal screening.

Despite their placements, both identified key challenges in navigating the competition’s pressure and technical demands.

For Cuaresma, the qualifying exam proved to be the most demanding due to its level of difficulty and time constraints, while Galang pointed to the adjustments needed to adapt to the competitive atmosphere.

Beyond recognition, they framed their results as indicators of growth rather than definitive measures of excellence.

“Strangely enough, I didn’t think of the result as that of a big deal… There are still ‘gaps’ in my knowledge and thinking… I don’t trust that I am at the ‘pinnacle’ just by being the SOASP Champion… [but rather] winning has made me even more cautious,” Cuaresma reflected.

He added that the experience reaffirmed that he has yet to reach the level he envisions for himself, with the win further intensifying his drive to learn.

Similarly, Galang viewed his Top 5 finish as both affirmation and motivation, citing it as a product of his steady preparation.

“It’s a reminder for me that I still have a long way to go… at the same time, it’s also a sign that I have already come a long way, and that my efforts [in] studying [are] slowly paying off,” he remarked.

Organized by P&A Grant Thornton, the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry, and the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, SOASP serves as a national benchmark of readiness for CPALE.

(Photo courtesy of FEU IABF - Accountancy)