Street Sweeper Dad Is Immensely Proud Of Daughter, 9th Placer In CPA Board Exams

Romelyn Sarmoy Gabanto’s life will never be the same now that she has secured 9th place in the September 2023 Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Licensure Examinations with an impressive score of 88.7 percent. Romelyn, a graduate of Central Philippine University (CPU), shared with news agencies, “When I saw my name in the Top 10, I couldn’t believe it. I immediately woke my parents up to share the good news.”

Romelyn is the youngest of four siblings at 24-years-old. Hailing from Barangay Hibao-an Sur in the Mandurriao District, Iloilo City, her parents are 61-year-old Roland, who works diligently as a street sweeper, and 53-year-old Milagros, a homemaker.

“Dako gid nga bugal. Daw sa ano bala nga manugsilhig lang ko [It’s a significant source of pride, even though I’m just a street sweeper],” said Roland, who has been working as a street sweeper for the past six years.

“Nagkadto ko sa Mahal nga Diyos, nagpasalamat ako nga ginbuligan bata ko [I went to church and thanked the Lord for guiding my daughter].”

“Depende na sa iya, siya lang na ka kuwan kung ano gusto ya; masunod lang man ko kung ano gusto sang bata ko kay te palangga ni namon, ginpaninguhaan ko gid [It’s up to her to choose her path; I’ll always support whatever she desires because we love her],” Roland emphasized.

Roland didn’t complete high school while Milagros was able to. “Ang akon mga magulang wala sila nakatapos, ang second brother ko nakatapos lang siya sa high school [My eldest sibling didn’t finish their studies, but my second brother graduated from high school],” she shared.

However, Romelyn is unwaveringly proud of her parents, saying, “Kung paminsaron mo, nakaya sang father ko nga patapuson ako sa college nga amo na lang ubra ya [Considering his occupation, it’s admirable how my father managed to send me to college].”

She further expressed her gratitude to her parents: “Sila ang nagabulig gid sa akon kung ano problema ko; ginahatag nila sa‘kon ang makaya nila [My family has always supported me in every challenge; they’ve given everything they can].”

Romelyn also shares how discipline played a crucial factor in her academic success. She advised, “Inculcating discipline during reviews and developing routines are essential. This ensures that, even if unmotivated, you’re accustomed to studying for extended hours. It’s also best to minimize social media usage as it often distracts.”

As a board placer, she offers advice to other students, reminding them that everyone progresses at their own pace and that setbacks should not discourage them.

Romelyn was also invited for a courtesy visit to Iloilo officials on October 10, during which Mayor Jerry Treñas revealed his intentions to offer her a position.

“Initially, I offered her a job as a contract of service [employee] because she has yet to take her oath. Once she has taken her oath, she will be a regular in our Accounting [department]. We are very happy, we are very proud. This is our homegrown,” Mayor Treñas said in an interview.

City officials also praised Romelyn, showcasing their pride in the accomplished Ilongga.

The Professional Regulation Commission announced that out of 8,734 candidates, 2,740 passed the CPA licensure examination conducted by the Board of Accountancy.