By: Gabby Balcos
Evita Aberilla, the TOP 10 of the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Exam (CPALE). Photo layout by: Maverick Rhoy De Vera / The LANCE
When the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the results of the October 2025 Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants, one familiar name stood proudly on the list. Evita Lane Aberilla, an Accountancy graduate from Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Manila, secured a spot in the Top 10 CPALE passers nationwide.
Within hours, Letran was quick to congratulate Aberilla and her fellow passers, celebrating not only their success but the dedication and resilience they embodied.
For Aberilla, the recognition marked the culmination of years of struggle, growth, and faith.
A Matter of “Fate”
Evita Lane Aberilla did not always know that she was destined to be an accountant. As a child, her ambitions shifted as quickly as her interests.
“As a kid, I really did not have a solid idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up,” she said. “My answer would always vary depending on what I liked at a certain point of time.”
Even in her college applications, she was unsure of what path to take. But when the time came to fill out her scholarship form, something pushed her toward a decision that would change her life.
“During my scholarship exam, we were instructed to fill out an application form. For some reason, I wrote Accountancy for both choices,” she said, recalling it as a moment that felt fated.
Still, the early years were far from smooth. The transition from an honor student to an Accountancy freshman tested her self-confidence. “Getting such a low score was a huge surprise to me and a larger hit on my pride,” she admitted. “The low score I was saying was not just low like I did not make it into a passing score, but low as in zero.”
Those failures, though difficult to accept, became turning points. She learned patience, humility, and endurance—the kind of lessons that textbooks cannot teach.
The Decision To be Practical
Before choosing Accountancy, Aberilla had imagined herself studying Political Science as preparation for law school, but financial realities reshaped her options. “I was forced to get a program that was more practical at that time—which was Accountancy,” she said.
Letran was also not her first choice. Yet what began as a pragmatic decision evolved into something bigger. Inside the walls of Colegio, she discovered not only academic rigor but also a sense of belonging that would later define her college life.
Her Letran journey, like her decision to take Accountancy, was something she describes as “meant to be.” It became the foundation where she built not only her skills but her character.
Discipline and Balance
When it came time to prepare for the CPA Board Exam, Aberilla found herself more measured than during her undergraduate years.
“I was more lenient on myself during the review season,” she stated. Her days began late in the morning and stretched into the night, alternating between focused study hours and well-deserved breaks.
On her most intense days, Aberilla recalled studying for up to eleven hours, skipping meals, and pushing herself to absorb as much as she could. But over time, she learned that productivity did not always mean exhaustion. Finding balance became essential.
Her review season, according to her, was not about perfection but about pacing. It was about knowing when to rest and when to push harder; a discipline that came from experience and self-awareness.
The Strength of a Letranite
For Aberilla, Letran was more than just a campus. It was a training ground for both intellect and spirit. “Every bit of my foundation knowledge was from my stay at Letran,” she looks back. “My professors were the main reason. They did not only instill academic knowledge in me but also practical lessons I could use to battle against life.”
Her faith deepened during her college years. “The most important attribute of being a Letranite which helped me a lot was to have trust in God’s plans for you and lift everything up to Him,” she said. That trust carried her through moments of uncertainty, from difficult exams to the pressures of board review.
Even in hindsight, she acknowledged that success was not a product of one person alone. “Many would think that the school where you are in would play the biggest part but for me it was the people I met and learned from,” according to her.
She expressed hope that the program would continue to grow, especially through its teachers. “I think what was good from Letran’s program was their choice of professors,” she said. “I hope the institution invests more in the quality of education.”
Becoming the Change
With the title of CPA now beside her name, Aberilla looks forward to what lies ahead. Her words remain grounded in humility and purpose. “I know it takes a village to make an impactful change,” she said, “but I believe that change starts from a single person.”
She hopes to make her mark through integrity and service. “What I can promise is that I will do my duties with integrity while bringing with me the values I have learned not just from Letran but even those I learned after graduating.”
Her story, like many Letranite journeys, began with uncertainty. But through faith, effort, and grace, she proved that what starts as practicality can grow into passion; and that even the most unplanned paths can lead to greatness.
Colegio Pride
Alongside Aberilla, other Letranites also passed the October 2025 CPA Board Examination, further proving the strength of the institution’s Accountancy program.
The Colegio recognized Joshua D. Alvarez, Jannel Zaira F. Baggao, Eroll M. Briones, Nathaniel B. Consebido, Ian Harold Espineli, Rio Gabales, Antonette Pura, Joyce Pamela Siquijor, Beatrix Eden Te, Sharewish Teaño, Caitlyn Valencia, and Mervin Halili.
For Associate Professor Kenji Asano, Dean of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), their achievement is both validation and inspiration.
“It’s living proof that the quality education of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy still exists and is moving on,” he said. “Being part of a top-notch list among thousands of examinees proves that our curriculum, our instruction, even our faculty, is above par.”
Dean Asano, himself a CPA, shared that he was the first to know the results in the early morning hours. “Through [the] GC, I felt the shouting congratulations of the faculty,” he said.
He extended his congratulations not only to the passers but also to those who continue to prepare. “We wanted to be happy for all the passers, but we also wanted to extend support to those who did not pass yet,” he reassured. “Do not lose hope because hope is the only asset that you have. It’s never a measure of who you are. It’s a matter of timing and preparedness.”
Addressing the new CPAs, he offered a message of both pride and challenge. “You are now free to enter the world of accounting,” he said. “Being a certified public accountant is an honor, but it is also the beginning of a bigger challenge. Translate your license into professional work, ethical accounting, and integrity in the community.”
Together, Aberilla and her fellow passers embody what Dean Asano calls dugong arriba—a Letranite’s mark of excellence grounded in competence, integrity, and faith.