MARKING the official transition to its new slate of officers for the academic year, the SBCA chapter of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) held its general assembly at the Rosendo Herrera Hall last Aug. 28. 

With the theme “Opening the Books of the Accountancy World,” Rafael Anselmo Olorga (III-BSA), JPIA president, welcomed and thanked the attendees of the assembly, most notably the freshmen of the department, while also expressing his anticipation for the academic year ahead.

After a short activity to break the ice and help ease the students into the event, Accountancy Department Chair Prof. Maria Exequiel Panaguiton-Reyes, CPA, discussed and addressed the policies of the department.

“The accountancy department is unique from other departments and courses because we have such an interesting retention policy,” she noted. 

With an emphasis on the first-year students, she discussed the aforementioned retention policy, which requires students to pass specific major accounting subjects before they are eligible to take the qualifying exam based on their respective year level. The aspiring accountants then need to pass the said exam before they are allowed to proceed to the succeeding year. 

She cautions the students, as she admits that the course is a challenging journey. Talking specifics, the accountancy chair reminds them that attaining a grade of 69 and below on accounting subjects stated in the retention policy means they are barred from the course and must shift to another. She then adds that every year, the number of students who take the course, most notably the regular students, significantly decreases.

 “Sa lahat ng board exam, masaya na kami kapag nakakuha ng 30% passing rate,” she said. 

After the discussion, Olorga discussed the organization’s initiatives and projects for the next few months. This included Mock It Up: The Accounting Edition, Accountability Day: Audit Yourself, and the Testimonial Dinner to celebrate the Bedan Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination (CPALE) passers. 

Capping his role as president of the previous year, Sean Joseph D. Mendoza (IV-BSAIS) delivered his farewell speech, describing it as a bittersweet feeling to be standing in front of the crowd that day. He gave his final thanks to his officers while recounting his experiences with the organization over the past year.

“Now, I step down as president, and I can rest easy because you are in good hands,” he said.

The turnover of the former officers and an introduction to their new set then followed, along with the oath-taking and their formal recognition.

Olorga extended his heartfelt gratitude to the officers of the previous federation, aiming to preserve their legacy and strive for greater heights.

“Leadership, as I see it, is about service. Service to the members, service to the goals we stand for, and service to the greater community we aim to impact,” he said. He also acknowledged the role of his seniors, friends, and colleagues in his journey towards being president. 

“As we close, let us carry the spirit of Puso, Utak, at Talino into the year ahead,” JPIA newly elected Secretary Mosela Medina (II-BSAIS) said as she gave her closing remarks, concluding the assembly.

In an interview with the BEDAN HERALD, Olorga admitted his hopes and expectations for the upcoming school year: “My hope for this school year is to have a strong bond between me and my officers. I also hope to establish a connection with other organizations within and outside the institution. I expect that this school year will bring us new challenges and opportunities.”

When asked about how he felt about the event, the JPIA president shared that despite encountering a multitude of challenges both before and during the assembly, he believed it was a great experience for all. “The success of the event was because of all the hard work that my officers have exerted. They have been the key factor of the event's success,” he added.