ILOCOS NORTE - Some say that addiction to online video games cuts students' interest in school. But 22-year-old Renz Fernandez has proven this wrong.

Fernandez, who hails from Barangay 23, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, is among the 2,967 people who passed the May 2016 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination.

Admittedly an online video game addict, Fernandez said he usually spent an average of 3 to 4 hours -- at times, 12 hours -- playing DOTA before doing his assignments or reviewing for exams during his days at the Divine World College of Laoag.

Even when he was already reviewing for his board exam, he still had time for DOTA, he said.

According to Fernandez, DOTA served as his stress reliever. He said the video game helped him do school work more enjoyably and without feeling drained.

He added he found it unhealthy focusing too much on studies.

Fernandez, who is fondly called "DOTA boy" by his family and friends, stressed that students need to find balance between studies and leisure. Time management is the key, he said.

"Hindi naman maganda kung puro studies, kung puro laro. Dapat sakto lang," he said.