THE SEARCH for the Outstanding Accounting Students of the Philippines (SOASP) continues in its 28th year as P&A Foundation, Inc., the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), and the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI) formalized their partnership through the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MoA).
Through this partnership, the organizations aim to provide a platform that recognizes and celebrates academic excellence, leadership, professional competence, and meaningful contributions to the accountancy profession.
Attending the signing ceremony held on 15 September 2026 at the P&A Grant Thornton Makati Office were Romualdo V. Murcia III, Chairman and Managing Partner of P&A Grant Thornton and Chairperson of the P&A Foundation, Inc.; Atty. Olivier D. Aznar, Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Partner, P&A Foundation, Inc.; Member of the Board of Trustees, and SOASP Project Directors; Edward D. Roguel, Partner for Tax Advisory & Compliance; and Elano C. Marcelo, Practice Leader of the Business Process Solutions Practice Area.
Also present were Dionisio M. Villeta, PICPA President; and Bryan K. Riñoza, PICPA Representative; Marvin Madrigalejo, ACPACI President; and Marnee Rosales, ACPACI Executive Vice President. The agreement signified their shared support for the 28th SOASP and its goal of honoring outstanding accountancy students from across different schools in the Philippines.
“For 14 consecutive years, P&A Foundation has supported SOASP in developing a program that tests both the academic knowledge and essential skills of the participants through an innovative and inclusive platform. Education is at the core of our firm. Through our partnerships with different organizations and academic institutions that share our dedication to advancing professional development, we remain committed to nurturing future professionals and strengthening the accountancy profession,” said Murcia.
Villeta emphasized the importance of nurturing future CPAs under this year’s PICPA theme “EMPOWER: Elevating the Filipino CPA Towards Ethical Leadership and Global Excellence.” He highlighted that developing learners and young professionals through SOASP helps them to embrace the value of accountability, transparency, and excellence as future leaders in the profession.
For Madrigalejo, the partnership reaffirms their dedication to creating opportunities that will strengthen ACPACI’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students to develop their skills and expand their professional networks.
The journey begins with the Qualifying Examination to be held on 20 February 2027, with only 25 students earning a spot to become the next SOASP champion in the Grand Finals on 19 March 2027.
The 28th SOASP is open to all graduating students from different colleges and universities in the Philippines with good academic standing. For more details and the latest updates, follow P&A Grant Thornton’s official social media platforms and website.
