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The SGV Bacolod team conducted a tree planting and hiking activity on 16 September 2023 at the Gawahon Eco Park in Victorias City, Negros Occidental. The HIKE-UNA MATATA 2023 was conducted in observance of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which is celebrated annually. SGV Bacolod team group photo Twenty-seven participants from the SGV Bacolod team planted a total of 100 bamboo seedlings. As part of the program, Assurance Associate Robert John F. Bacusa was also declared the Strava walkathon winner for walking 675.2km in the walkathon challenge conducted from 10 July to 8 September. SGV Bacolod team planting bamboo seedlings The Strava walkathon challenge aimed to encourage staff to be physically active and to consider walking instead of commuting. It also aimed to encourage staff to curb vehicle emissions by supporting activities such as walking, that would lessen ozone layer depleting substances.

The SGV Business Tax Services (BTS) team conducted a webinar on surviving Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax audits. Around 250 participants from different industries attended the webinar. (From left to right) Senior Associates Tom Lui M. Estrella, Samantha Gaile A. Reyes, Partner Donna Frances G. Ylade-Torres, and Senior Associate Mariecar S. Reyes-Agbayani SGV BTS Partner Donna Frances G. Ylade-Torres was the speaker for the webinar, while Senior Associate Trixia Lou A. Diaz served as the host and moderator during the Q&A portion. Some of the topics discussed during the webinar were the BIR Audit Program, Subpoena Duces Tecum, the stages of BIR audits, relevant jurisprudence on BIR audits, general defenses, and survival tips. (From left to right) Senior Associates Niño Louis M. Belarma, Ron Christian T. Eupeña, Ernest Adrian F. Co., Senior Director Melissa Joyce Y. To, and Senior Associates Trixia Lou A. Diaz, Geremae M. Mata, and Joseph Santiago E. Quiño Webinar participants The Surviving the BIR Tax Audit webinar is part of a series of tax webinars conducted by the SGV BTS team. It aims to help and guide taxpayers in handling assessments with the BIR through keeping the participants updated on the latest Supreme Court decisions on tax cases, BIR enforcement strategies, and recent BIR issuances involving clarifications on tax laws and procedures.

SGV Cebu hosted the “Symposium for Business Owners: Strengthening Family Businesses for Generations to Come” on 20 September 2023 at the SGV Cebu Office. The symposium featured SGV Partners and was attended by business owners. Symposium attendees SGV Cebu Partner-in-Charge Margem A. Tagalog and Tax Leader Atty. Fabian K. Delos Santos gave their welcome remarks, while Tax Partner Cheryl Edeline C. Ong, Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha P. Adlawan-Bulagsak, Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña, Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) Partner Aris C. Malantic, and Private Leader Kristopher S. Catalan talked about Corporate Restructuring, Tax Health Check, Business Transformation, Enhanced Financial Reporting, and Leading in Private Boards, respectively. The event also included free one-on-one consultations with the key speakers to address the participants’ business concerns.

SGV Chairman and Managing Partner and Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) President Wilson P. Tan was featured in CNN Philippines’s The Final Word on 28 September 2023.  Wilson during the interview He gave an overview on the FINEX Week which was held from 2 to 6 October 2023, where online and in-person sessions engaged participants around resilience and recalibrating their sustainable growth strategies while navigating the uncertainties prevailing in the present business environment. Wilson was joined by FINEX Week Committee Co-Chairperson Mailene Bisnar. Wilson’s interview can be viewed here.

SGV Chairman and Managing Partner and Philippine Financial and Sustainability Reporting Standards Council (PFSRSC) Chairman Wilson P. Tan attended the World Standard-setters Conference organized by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation from 25 to 26 September 2023 in London. The conference provided national standard-setters with updates on the IFRS Foundation’s activities, panel discussions, interactive Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities with fellow delegates. (From left to right) SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan, IASB Board Member Jianqiao Lu, PH SEC – OGA Atty. Noel Artiza, and IASB Technical Staff and SGV Alumnus Jan Carlo Pereras Wilson was joined by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Board Member Jianqiao Lu, Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) General Accountant Atty. Noel Artiza, and IASB Technical Staff and SGV Alumnus Jan Carlo Pereras. 

SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan was a panelist at the Makati Business Club’s “A CEO Briefing: The State of Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines” on 18 September 2023. The briefing gathered club members, C-Suite level representatives, CSR, Operations, and Sustainability Officers from various organizations. Wilson (lower right) at the CEO briefing Wilson discussed current trends and developments in sustainability reporting and how International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards could impact future sustainability reporting. He reiterated the role of regulators, investors, and stakeholders in the need to communicate sustainability information.

To celebrate the achievements of the Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) team and its members, the GCR team held a thanksgiving event with the theme “Proud2bGCR” at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center. All GCR clusters participated in the face-to-face event including staff from the Clark, Cebu, and Davao offices. SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan with the SGV GCR team The event commenced with a thanksgiving mass and was followed by a welcome message from SGV GCR Leader Sonia D. Segovia, expressing her gratitude to the GCR team members for their dedication and successful undertakings in the past fiscal year (FY 2023).  GCR Partners with Fr. Marc Will Lim, SDB SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan graced the event and highlighted the GCR team’s impact on the Firm’s success throughout the years. Tax Leader Atty. Fabian K. Delos Santos shared how proud he was at how much the GCR team had grown over the years. ASEAN Tax Leader Amarjeet Singh and ASEAN GCR Leader Julian Wong also virtually delivered their messages of gratitude. SGV GCR Partners GCR team members participated in activities and games and showcased their talents during the TikTok and runway competitions. The event culminated with socials and a get-together among clusters. 

The SGV Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) and Campus Recruitment teams organized and facilitated a tax review session for staff taking the September to October 2023 CPA Licensure Examination (CPALE). More than 200 participants from the different SGV offices attended the in-person sessions and more than 500 participants joined the virtual review sessions. SGV Makati tax review session organizers and participants GCR Leader Sonia D. Segovia kicked off the tax review session. GCR Partner and Country Leader for Accounting Compliance and Reporting (ACR) and Global Payroll Operate (GPO) Aaron C. Escartin and GCR Partners Lee Celso R. Vivas and Maricris "Crissee" U. See discussed topics on Corporate Income Tax, Value-Added Tax (VAT), and other tax topics, respectively. After the lecture series, a short send-off activity was held for the board exam takers. Past CPALE topnotchers from the GCR team gave their respective testimonial messages. They shared their experiences and techniques on how to pass the board examination and overcome other challenges that came along with it.  Ace and Crissee (center) with the HR Core team and GCR Managers Crissee gave the closing remarks. She spearheaded the event along with Ace, GCR Tax Partner Hannah S. Rojo, GCR Senior Director Meynard L. Sardalla, GCR Director Jao Renzo Mercado, and the Talent team composed of Julie Ann R. Rubia, Julia-Anne J. Deypalan, Julia D. Villaos, and Marina Beatrice P. Lopez. GCR Leader Sonia D. Segovia guided the GCR team. They were also assisted by GCR People Pillar Managers – GCR Senior Director Fatma Aleah A. Datukon; GCR Directors Michelle T. Keng, Athena Mae R. Luce, and Leo I. Castillo; and GCR Associate Directors Stewart Herbie T. Po and Jan Lawrence G. Estrada. SGV Cebu tax review session organizers and participants SGV Davao tax review session organizers and participants GCR Partner Saha A. Bulagsak, Assurance Partner Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa and Assurance Senior Director Raphael Erickson M. De Leon led the teams in the SGV Cebu, Davao and Baguio offices, respectively. GCR Partners Francis J. Ricamora and Jay A. Ballesteros attended the sessions in the SGV Makati Office. 

SGV Consulting Senior Manager Mary Andrea Bacani and Managers Dexter Manabat and Jeffrey Yee participated in the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) Supply Chain Conference (SCC) 2023 with the theme “We are one supply chain setting transformation in motion.” Over 320 delegates attended the event held at the EDSA Shangri-la Manila from 21 to 22 September 2023.  SGV Consulting Senior Manager Mary Andrea Bacani and Managers Dexter Manabat and Jeffrey Yee  Speakers from the logistics and retail sectors and heads of supply chain solution providers talked about future-proofing the supply chain through technology and people, managing supply chain risk, exploring resilience, and fostering sustainability. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) representatives discussed government strategic initiatives on supply chain and logistics. The SCMAP SCC is now on its 32nd year and is the premier event in the Philippines for supply chain professionals, drawing key players across the supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, logistics service providers, and other allied sectors.