CAPIZ – A Capisnon made history by placing eighth in the May 2025 Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (CPA), according to results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Rizza Mae Balasa, a graduate of Filamer Christian University (FCU) in Roxas City and a resident of Sitio Pagutok, Barangay Cagay, earned a rating of 89.67%, making her the first-ever topnotcher from a Capiz-based school and the lone topnotcher from Western Visayas in this year’s CPA board exam.
“Overwhelmed gid ako. Wala ko gin-expect nga mangin topnotcher kay kabudlay sang exam. Online review lang ako. Nagapasalamat gid ko sa tanan nga nagbulig sa akon nga matuman ang akon handum, labi na gid sa akon ginikanan,” Balasa said in an interview, expressing her disbelief and.
According to the PRC, a total of 3,156 out of 9,533 examinees successfully passed the CPA board exam.
John Elrich Ramirez Gamboa from the University of the Philippines Diliman topped the list with a 92.87% rating. He was followed by Aleya Francis Romanes de Guzman of De La Salle University-Manila with 91%, and Jianna Chelsea Suarez Iral of Holy Angel University with 90.83%.
Balasa’s achievement marks a proud moment for both her university and the province of Capiz./PN
