���������� Here is my bio, to fill in for those years I kept silent from you guys.=)

After UP High, I was supposed to enroll in Diliman for BS Bus. Ad and Accountancy, but I figured that it would take me 5 years to finish college. I believed I didn't have that much time (since I know at the middle of the course, I'd most definitely get tired and would probably shift to another course), and money (though I'm an only child, I was raised single-handedly by my mom and my grandma. Mom and my stepfather separated when I was in high school. As to my search for and ultimate bonding with my biological father and three younger brothers, I'll talk more about it in the last part of this story).

So I decided that since USJ-R is more accessible to commuting from home, I'd enroll Accountancy there. There were 3 of us, Arlyn Casela and I in Accountancy, and Happy Bunac in Com Sci.

It was both fun and challenging, because we got to meet new faces and built new friendships, and we got a taste of what it was like to be discriminated (considering we come from UP High). You see, even in USJ-R, at the first year, some teachers discriminate against those who did not come from USJ-R High School. It wasn't really insulting, but I felt I had to prove something, since these teachers would challenge us to make it to the top of the class, otherwise, they say, we have less chances of making it since it would be hard to adopt to their so-called standards. Frankly, it's rewarding to raise these teachers' eyebrows, and to hear them say, "Oh, you got a high score! What school are you from?�Ahh, UP High diay ka.

During my first and second years, I got active in several school organs, except that of my own course. I also joined in semestral quizzes, both in Accounting and other minor subjects.

In the middle of all these, remember I come from a poor family, so I had to maintain the Academic Scholarship I got since second semester of my first year. On money matters, things got better when I started availing of the Academic Scholarship, and more so, when I got accepted to the NEDA Scholarship in the third year.

It was in the third year that my life changed. I began to get active in the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants. For both my third and fourth year, I was one of our school chapter representatives to the Cebu, Regional and National Federations (I say "amen" to Shepoy's learning of talking out loud will take you many places!). We went on Congresses and Conventions in Iloilo, Dumaguete, Tagaytay, Batangas, Cavite and Baguio. We joined regional and national quiz bowls, extemporaneous speaking contests, games, tall tales, and other competitions. (Gamay ra man baga ug nawong sa among group sa USJR JPIA, mag-solicit ug mo-participate, so, naapil tawon ko kay medyo tabian lagi.)=) We hosted one convention in our very own Cebu, and amidst all the solicitations (or rather, "tulisitations" as we called it), we were able to make it successful. It was also during these years that I established contact with peers and seniors in the Phil. Institute of CPA's (the beginnings of career networking).

Thankfully, when I graduated from college, I was one of 3 Magna Cum Laudes in Accountancy, and was also one of Outstanding Commerce Graduate and Student Leaders. Three of us (me from Commerce, 1 from Arts and Sciences, and 1 from Engineering) also vied for the Outstanding University Student Leader. The Engineering guy got it. Also, under urging from my friend from STC, I was able to join the search for Ten Outstanding Cebuano Youth Leaders for 1995, but as in UP days, I only ended up in Number 11. (There are only 10 available trophies, so they had to let go of me. He! He!)

Ironically, I feared failing in the Civil Service Exams so I never made any effort to take it in the undergrad. I was surprised and grateful during graduation to know, "automatic diay basta honor graduate, no?" He! He! Another effort saved.

After graduation, I immediately went to work at Keppel Cebu Shipyard, first as Internal Audit Assistant, then later, promoted to Internal Audit Officer.

To add to the list of my life's complications, I reviewed for the CPA Board exams. Unya, it was like, I was freed from the herd's pen, it was one of the most carefree days of my life. Considering that I was reviewing full time at USC, and working in the office full time, I watched movies twice a week with my mom and my grandma. (Liberation time for those who had to scrimp through student days, you know). Obviously, when I took the exams last October 1996, what else should happen? I FAILED!

Really, it was also the most embarrassing time of my life. I felt like burying myself alive. I knew people are expecting so much of me, yet I did not do my part. I justified my failing by thinking that I just took the board with the purpose to fail, so that the next time, the proper time when I will pass, I will not be afraid anymore. (Was this crazy reasoning?)

I even tried to resign from my job but ended up being teased as childish. My boss, our Malaysian VP, treated me and my immediate superior to a dinner out for consolation, and amidst his teasing smiles, he let me decide. If I decide to review again, he will support me. If I decide not to, he asked me what are my other plans. He even teased me, that if I do not review, to save money so we will invest in the stock market. (Imagine my confusion, was he just being funny or what?)

Anyway, after 1 sem of 'hibernating', I enrolled again, but now at USJR Review (so as not to get bored if ever I should encounter the same review materials at USC if I enroll there again). This time, I said to myself, I will do my best. I opted to spend time for the review for 1 year. Our reviewer described our faces then, as 'Rambo', nobody could shake our determination to pass the Board (because we already failed, and it would be severe embarrassment to fail again.)

It was the time my physical and mental endurance was put to the test (It was like UP High COQC was chicken feed compared to this). I work from 7am to 4pm at KCSI, Lapulapu, travel, then attend review classes from 5:30-9:00 USJR in Cebu, have dinner at home around 10, rest around 11-12, study from 12pm to 2am, sleep from 2-5am, then wake up and get ready for work. Whew! Happily, my efforts and prayers paid off.

I finally passed the Board last May 1998 and inducted as a CPA in the following month. Again, I spent 1 year in a carefree mode, and enrolled in the UP Grad School around June 1999, which I finished last April 2002. (I did not join the Tres De Abril reunion because we were preparing for the defense of our research paper then) It was also during my second sem at UP MMBM that I started teaching in USP Accountancy. It was fun because I got to meet students who are undergoing the same challenges, hardships, and wonderful experiences I went through in College. I taught Managerial Accounting, Auditing Theory and Problems, and Production Management. I took a break after 2 years. Maybe I'll get back to teaching in the second semester of this year.

Then, after 5 years with KCSI, I decided to move on in my career path and applied at Sportscity here in MEZ 1. First I was the only Systems Auditor for our 4 factories here, but later, as the scope of our work and the company's operations expanded, management formed a team, and we now have 1 systems auditor in every factory. Also, our boss knew that I was teaching, so he let me handle the training for our company, that is why I was promoted to Systems Audit/Training Manager. Most times, I get to be the in-house speaker, at other times, I and my teammate facilitate the other trainings conducted in the company.

Work is happy but still challenging. Here I got to apply and share the management concepts I learned in the graduate school, and I get to apply (together with updates gained from Continuing Professional Education seminars) accounting and auditing concepts I learned in college. But more than anything, I get to make a difference in people's lives and work values, by sharing the values I learned from childhood, which were strengthened back in high school days.

In the company I work with, grabe jud ang challenges. Since our business is in garments, people are focused on making it to shipment exportation dates, etc. Plus, since we are in Audit and Training, as expected, we are in a 'love-hate' relationship with some staff and managers. They 'love' our team before we do the audit, in the hopes that we give a good report, then they 'hate' us after audit, because we report straightforward, to the top management. (During the trainings, they 'love' us again, because of the snacks, the chance to unwind from the pressures and daily grind, then they get irritated because of training assignments and projects).

Of all the people here, I am the one with the most number of high-profile enemies. He!he! But the good thing is, I get to watch my back as often as I can. I learned to be careful of what I say, of what I do, so that my team's credibility will not be jeopardized. I learned to discipline my team for any acts which might cloud their independence and judgment.

As to my search and ultimate bonding with my half-siblings, (Before I forget, ba!) here is the scoop: I searched for my father and went to their place in Agusan Sur, Mindanao, in 1995. That time, my brothers were still in adolescence, and could not understand the situation, so I just spent that time talking to my father, searching for answers as to why he and my mom never made it to the altar, considering they had already scheduled the date way back in 1976. For a time, he sent money to help spend for my education, but it was stopped when my younger brothers started going to college. (The one born next to me, younger by 3 years, is already a licensed Medical Technologist, the second one has already finished Mechanical Technology and will be completing Mechanical Engineering a year from now, and the youngest-the one closest, and most 'malambing' to me, is already graduating from Architecture this October).

We correspond when I was in college. My brothers admitted that at first, they felt hostile, because they thought I'd take father away from them. But when we started exchanging letters, they realized that a sister is actually a very nice thing, since they were all boys (I forgot to ask my father if we still have other half-siblings. Naah! Maybe not. Otherwise, my father will be in very big trouble with my Madrasta. He!he!)

Last December 28, the time the batch had a reunion here in Cebu, I was already in the ship to Agusan. I got to meet my brothers again after 8 years. (It was a hard choice, because I already decided to join the reunion, but felt that 'blood is thicker than water', so I chose my brothers first. Hopefully the next time the batch will have a reunion, I will not be made to choose the same options again). Anyway, it was again one of the best times of my life. We bonded and I realize that, what we oftentimes call the best things in life could never really measure up to family.

Hopefully, as the only rose among these 'thorns', I will be a good example to them. (I don't like to call them 'thorns', because they have proven themselves to be good young men to me, so is it okay to call them, my 'leaves'. He! He! It would also be funny thinking of my father as a 'stem' you know, because he has a large build, and an imposing personality)

I am still single (and very much available), but I realized that why do I still search for my soulmate (yes, I still believe in it too), when I have already found enough people to love in the person of my brothers and my father. This is not to say that I don't want to get married or anything, but I felt that with my bonding with my brothers (notice, I do not consider them half- anymore, but whole), I realized that there is so much love to give.

"Life goes on, whether we stop breathing or not. It goes on its course, whether we choose to stop thinking and saturate our days by working hard or spend all our days dreaming and meditating. But then always, there is always so much love to give. Let's just take each day and enjoy it as it comes."

This was my life, and hopefully, the talkative me has filled you in, not only for what I experienced, but also for what I've learned.

Good day! =)

IVY LUBIANO ������