CITY OF BALIWAG, Bulacan — NU Baliwag proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of Fermina Kassandra D. Dela Cruz, an alumna and SM scholar who placed Top 12 at this year’s Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination (CPALE) recently.
Her exceptional accomplishment is being celebrated as a proud milestone for both her alma mater and the Bulacan community — a proof of NU Baliwag’s commitment and dedication to academic excellence.
While Fermina’s triumph is a result of years of hard work and devotion, her path to becoming a topnotcher was far from easy. At the height of her review, her grandmother, who had helped raise her, fell ill. Putting family first, she temporarily paused her studies to care for her, unsure whether her CPA dream would still be attainable.
Yet through faith and perseverance, Fermina overcame adversity and achieved success in the board exam.
“When I returned to my books, something deeper had taken root—a belief that purpose is bigger than adversity. God really sustained me through it all. Kahit na ano ‘yung bagyo during the review, talagang kinaya, and unexpectedly, nakapag-top pa sa board exam,” she shared.
As an SM scholar, Fermina credits the SM Foundation Scholarship Program for helping shape the confidence and sense of purpose that got her through this achievement.
“I want to pay it forward. That is also because of the education and confidence SM Foundation instilled in me. I follow the 3Ds: Discover, Develop, Demonstrate. Discover your purpose, develop your skills, and demonstrate them to others,” she said.
For Fermina, placing among country’s top CPALE passers proved something bigger than a personal milestone: that the roots planted early by family, faith, perseverance, and by the support of a scholarship, hold even through the hardest seasons.
Fermina’s inspiring story reflects the strength of NU Baliwag’s academic programs, the dedication of its faculty, and core values of integrity, resilience, and innovation that the university continues to nurture in its students.
Her success further highlights NU Baliwag’s role in shaping globally competitive professionals while proving that with determination, faith, and the right support system, dreams can become reality. (UnliNews Online)
