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International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Senior Director Ana Katrina C. De Jesus and Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Senior Directors Maria Michaela “Mycah” E. Ledesma-Oiga and Don Don T. Mojica conducted a series of tax webinars organized by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) from March to April 2022. PICPA WMMC speakers and participants Don Don hosted the March webinar on Common Tax Issues and Annual Income Tax Return Filing Reminders. The webinar coverage included filing administrative matters, deficiency tax assessments related to income tax, and possible defenses under the rules and common reconciliation procedures. For April, Ana and Mycah hosted the webinars on Transfer Pricing: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Requirement for Taxpayers with Related Party Transactions and Last-Minute Year-end Tax Filing Reminders, respectively. Ana lectured on transfer pricing and discussed relevant laws and BIR issuances. She also presented BIR Form No. 1709 and explained the form submission procedures on Related Party Transactions. Mycah shared reminders prior to the finalization of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and Financial Statements for tax-related balances and disclosures. GCR Senior Associates Cheivy Z. Soliman and Mica Alyana C. Rivera and GCR Associates Aaron Joseph A. Sia, Lawrence Dave P. Empleo, Marineth Jane Cardona, and Dehlaila G. Remedios assisted in drafting the webinar materials.
Four SGVeans will receive gold and bronze medals from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA) for their exemplary performance in the 2021 and 2022 CMA examinations.  CMA topnotchers JM, Carlos, Trisha, and Kimberly Consulting Senior Associate Juan Miguel “JM” G. Mallare and Assurance Senior Associate Carlos Benedict F. Echevarria were among the highest scorers, earning gold medals, while Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Manager Trisha Claire Y. Cabanlit and Consulting Associate Kimberly Candice L. Lim were among the third highest scorers, earning bronze medals.  The top scorers are determined during each testing window. Kimberly, Carlos, and Trisha took the exams in 2021 while JM took the exams in the first quarter of 2022.  Congratulations to our new CMA topnotchers!
WPT was featured as one of three Big Names in the Accounting and Finance World in a web article for OneMega magazine’s April 2022 issue.  Outstanding Accounting and Finance Leaders In the article, WPT talked about his personal and professional life. He recounted his humble beginnings and struggles as a student and young professional. He recognized how consistent hard work and unwavering faith in the Almighty played a huge role in his success as a leader in finance and accounting.  As SGV’s Country Managing Partner, he also shared how he finds Purpose in looking after the Firm’s people, assisting clients with their business needs, creating meaningful relationships on a professional and personal level, and returning home to the warmth and comfort of his family at the end of the day. He was featured together with Marivic Españo, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of P&A Grant Thornton, and Sharon Dayoan, Chairman and CEO of KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co.
SGV Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Partner Aaron C. Escartin (ACE) and International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Senior Director Auresana B. Ines-Torres were resource speakers in the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP) Tax Webinar and General Membership Meeting (GMM) held on 29 March 2022. ACPAPP Tax Webinar and GMM speakers ACE provided an in-depth discussion on the Latest Tax Issuances and Court Decisions while Atty. Auresana covered Updates on Transfer Pricing in the Philippines. The virtual event was attended by past and present officers and members of the ACPAPP and non-member registrants.
SGV Clark Tax Partners Atty. Margaux A. Advincula (MAA) and Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) were resource speakers in a briefing on Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 24-2022 and a townhall meeting organized by the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA). More than 190 CILA members, officers, and locators attended the event on 18 March 2022.  CILA tax briefing and townhall event poster LLL kicked off the discussion proper by sharing the timeline of relevant Value-Added Tax (VAT) issuances for Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs). He also discussed the impact of the VAT provisions in the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, its effectivity dates, and transitory provisions.  MAA shared her insights on the documentary and registration requirements relevant for RBEs. SGV Clark Partner Jose Pepito E. Zabat (JEZ) also attended the event. LLL and MAA during the Q&A forum Clarktel Relationship Manager Ms. Angela Alcones hosted the event while CILA Chairman Dr. Francisco “Frankie” Villanueva, Jr. gave the opening remarks and concluded the meeting with a question-and-answer forum. The Q&A forum was moderated by Dr. Frankie, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Vice President for Business Development and Enhancement Ms. Rynah Ventura, and the speakers.
SGV Clark Tax Partners Atty. Margaux A. Advincula (MAA) and Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) were resource speakers at a briefing on Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 24-2022 organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC). More than 145 SBFCC members, officers, and locators attended the event on 17 March 2022.  MAA and LLL with the SBFCC officers LLL gave a preview of the discussion outline and recalled the background and timeline of the relevant Value-Added Tax (VAT) issuances for Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs). He also discussed the impact of the VAT provisions in the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, its effectivity dates, and transitory provisions.  MAA shared her insights in relation to the documentary and registration requirements relevant for RBEs. SGV Clark Partner Jose Pepito E. Zabat (JEZ) also attended the event. To conclude the meeting, LLL and MAA served as moderators in a Q&A forum along with SBFCC Executive Director Donna May Tamayo and SBFCC Marketing Director Jake Oh. 
Financial Management for Non-Accountants (FINMA) Organizing Committee Team Leader Sonia D. Segovia (SDS) and Member Meynard L. Sardalla, Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) President Marydith C. Miguel (MCM), PICPA Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) President Meynard A. Bonoen (MAB) and Non-Government Organization (NGO) Relations Committee Co-chair Aileen L. Saringan (ALS) participated in the FINMA Program held on 24 to 25 March 2022. SDS, MCM, MAB, and Senior Director Meynard SDS gave the opening remarks while MCM shared a message with the participants on the first day of the event. MAB formally opened the program on the second day. ALS also attended the webinar, which was hosted by Senior Director Meynard. The two-day online training focused on Introduction to Financial Management, Breakeven Point Analysis, and Financial Statement Analysis (Day 1) and Working Capital Management and Short-Term Budgeting (Day 2) for Trade and Industry-assisted clients, particularly business owners, bookkeepers, and OFWs. These topics were discussed by resource speakers from Jose Rizal University (JRU) and the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP). The FINMA Program is jointly organized by PICPA under the Government Relations Committee, PICPA WMMC, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Negosyo Center, JRU, and TIP. It is participated in mainly by business owners and bookkeepers of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide. 
SGV Consulting Partner and National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants - Region Ill Council (NFJPIA-R3) Adviser Conrad Allan M. Alviz (CMA), International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Senior Director Auresana B. Ines-Torres, Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Senior Directors Mica Alyana C. Rivera and Edsel Francis T. Lima, and Talent Supervisor Julia-Anne J. Deypalan participated in the virtual NFJPIA Paragons 2022: The Aesir's Quest to Ascendancy program held in March and April 2022. Paragons 2022 speakers and arbiters The five-day extra-curricular activity was co-presented by SGV as one of the sponsors. CMA, along with NFJPIA officers and members, attended the event. Auresana and Julia were resource speakers on Business Etiquette and Organizational Structure and Inherent Career Opportunities, respectively. Mica and Edsel served as arbiters for the Regulatory Framework for Business Transactions (RFBT) and Tax cups featuring the top 50 qualifiers in the region.  The Paragons 2022 was organized by the NFJPIA-R3 Council to further equip accounting students with the necessary competencies in becoming effective accounting practitioners. Other activities conducted during the event were corporate roadshows, talks, quiz bees, case studies, masterclasses, mock-interviews, mixers, and team-building exercises. 
SGV Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR) was one of the inspiring female finance leaders featured in the March 2022 Women’s Month issue of FINEX Focus, the official newsletter of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX). VCR in FINEX Focus As SGV’s Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner, VCR supports the Chairman and Country Managing Partner in overseeing SGV’s overall strategic direction and business growth. As EY Asean Assurance leader, she plays an integral role in the Region by driving Assurance initiatives on sustainable audit quality and efficiency, digital tools adoption and innovation, and service delivery model transformation. VCR also represents the Firm in the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE). She is a leader committed to providing a nurturing environment where people can develop and achieve their potential to the fullest.  
Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) and CCaSS Senior Director Katrina Francisco were accredited as verification service providers (VSPs) by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP).  External verifiers in-training BNV and Katrina were among the first batch of experienced independent experts in social, environmental, mining, and other related sciences who were trained by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) to be COMP VSPs. The training sessions were conducted in February and March 2022. As VSPs, they will be using measurement tools prescribed by the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program to review the performance ratings of COMP members and ensure that mining operators’ management practices and performance are accurately reflected. TSM is a set of indicators to drive the environmental and social performance of operating mines and ensure key mining risks are managed responsibly and best practices are used at COMP members’ facilities. The program was established by the MAC in 2004 and adopted by the COMP in 2017. It is already being implemented in 10 countries and is rapidly becoming a global standard for responsible mining.
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