25/04/2025
𝙍𝘼𝙈𝙀𝙇𝙊 𝘿𝙀𝙇𝘼 𝘾𝙍𝙐𝙕, 𝘾𝙋𝘼
𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔 𝘼𝘾𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙉𝙏
𝙇𝙂𝙐 𝙊𝙁 𝙆𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙆𝘼𝙇𝘼𝙉 𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔
𝙎𝙊𝙐𝙏𝙃𝙇𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝘾𝙊𝙇𝙇𝙀𝙂𝙀
𝘽𝙎 𝘼𝘾𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙔 𝘼𝙇𝙐𝙈𝙉𝙄
𝘽𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙃 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟐-𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑
“Behind every success story is a journey of struggles, sacrifices, and faith. From dreaming of wearing a suit and tie to becoming a CPA and department head, Sir Ramelo’s path wasn’t easy—but with discipline, dedication, and the Lord’s guidance, he made it! His story proves that hardships are just stepping stones to greater achievements. Never settle, always strive!”
Ramelo Dela Cruz, as a child, dreamed of becoming a teacher. His vision and dreams changed as he graduated in highschool. He saw people who worked in the bank wearing suits and ties, and by that time he promised himself that he wanted to be like them someday. He was inspired by his hard working parents and family to do more or to do good. Every day, he sees how his parents work hard to earn money and provide food which strives him to pursue his dream. Ramelo didn’t continue going to college for two years as soon as he graduated from high school because his parents wanted him to pursue an agricultural program which he didn’t dreamed of and his sister is still studying. He waited for her sister to graduate before he continued going to college. Inspired by his sister’s on-job-training uniform, he wanted to enroll as a business administration student.
When Ramelo arrived at Southland College with the intention of enrolling, Sir Henly Pahilagao, the former dean, took notice of his academic records. Recognizing Ramelo’s potential, Dean Henly Pahilagao strongly encouraged him to pursue a degree in accountancy.
Concerned about the financial burden, Ramelo’s mother hesitated, admitting that she could not afford to support him in studying accountancy. She explained that Ramelo had initially intended to pursue a degree in business administration. However, Dean Henly gently pressed further, asking if she would not want to see him become a Certified Public Accountant someday. Unfamiliar with the field of accountancy and the significance of becoming a CPA, both Ramelo and his mother were uncertain. However, trusting the dean’s advice, his mother ultimately agreed, and thus, Ramelo’s journey into accountancy began.
At the start of his first year, nearly fifty students enrolled in the program. As part of the rigorous selection process, a qualifying exam was conducted, reducing the number of students to twenty. As the years progressed, the challenges intensified. By the time they reached their third year, only eight students remained, with Ramelo as the sole male student in the section. Eventually, just seven of them graduated.
Reflecting on his journey, Ramelo acknowledged the demanding nature of accountancy compared to other programs. He often observed students from other fields enjoying more free time, while he and his peers were immersed in their studies, navigating an extensive curriculum. Accountancy required a great deal of dedication, as they had to spend countless hours reading books, mastering complex concepts, and preparing for exams.
Taking an accountancy program is a rough journey, the subjects, limited resources, transportation cost, allowance and a small circle of friends makes it difficult to survive college. He didn’t have a choice but to move forward for his family. His scholarship helped him through financially in finishing his program.
Despite the hardships, Ramelo remained steadfast in his ambitions. He often reminded himself and his peers to be ambitious in a way that would push them beyond their current situation. He believed that one should not remain in their comfort zone and that witnessing the struggles of their parents should serve as motivation to aim higher. He encouraged others not to settle for simply earning an accountancy degree but to dream of becoming a CPA. With numerous opportunities waiting for those who persevere, he knew that hard work and determination would open doors to a brighter future.
Holding on to his own words, Ramelo pushed forward, determined to succeed. His journey became a testament to resilience, ambition, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.
Moving to his journey in taking the board exam, his habit of discipline in studying contributed to his success on becoming a CPA. He made time to read and practice problem solving. He does self-review in his free time and rest on Sundays. He put his review as his first priority, putting all of his effort. This dedication, preparedness and faith in God had brought him confidence in taking the exam flawlessly.
After passing the board exam, Ramelo fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a teacher. He taught for two years, sharing his knowledge and inspiring students to pursue their own dreams. However, his journey didn’t stop there. His expertise and dedication opened new doors, and he later became a City Accountant.
He was an epitome of “Do not wait for tomorrow what you can do for today”. The CPA title and being the head of a department was a privilege to Ramelo and a reflection from his hard work.
