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Assurance Senior Director Raphael Erickson de Leon received this year's SyCip Award for his outstanding competence, commitment and client leadership, which allowed SGV to earn the trust and admiration of a global e-commerce and digital solutions conglomerate resulting in significant additional engagements from the client’s other geographies and locations.  2021 SyCip Awardee He was also recognized for his progressive and innovative business leadership, which elevated SGV’s profile as a trusted business advisor that delivers deep and effective insights and solutions, and helps global clients realize their aspirations and achieve their goals. The individual recipients of the Special Award for a Better Working World - Client Leadership were Assurance Senior Director Jonathan Bino, FSO-Consulting Director Dominique Raissa Torralba, Assurance Senior Director Dione Cristy Velina-Goce, Tax Senior Director Ana Katrina De Jesus, Consulting Senior Director Catherine Chua, Talent CBS Supervisor Larra Mateo and Assurance Director Ayeese Ceelin Anza.  The team Special Award for a Better Working World - Client Leadership recipients were the Project Taurus team, the Nurturing Leaders Internship Program Team, Project Phoenix team and the Audit team for a global shared services organization. The team Special Award for a Better Working World - Business Leadership recipients were the Brand, Marketing and Communications Team, Team Gaea and the Audit team for a global business bank. The individual recipients of the Special Award for Better Me - Personal Leadership were Strategy and Transactions Senior Associate Kieth Adrian Andaya, Assurance Senior Associate Lyndon Marcus Baluyot, Tax Associate Director Joanne Lansangan, Assurance Senior Director Dexter Allan Noel Madamba, and Learning and Development Team Supervisor Elisa Cabral. The team recipients of the Special Award for Better Us - Team Leadership were Talent Consultants Team, the PMO team supporting the Philippi ne National ID System implementation, the Project Genesis Team, the FSO Transfer Pricing Team, the EY Badge Bootcamp Team and the ITTS – TP Core Team. The individual recipient of the Special Award for Better Us - Team Leadership was Strategy and Transactions Director Alma Angeli Placido. The team recipient of the Special Award for a Better Working World - Impact on Society was the Quantitative Services (QS) Team. Congratulations to our SyCip and Special awardees!

SGV’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) was a speaker during the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and Sustainability Reporting: Past, Present and Future event on 18 September 2021, hosted by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) - Philippines. BNV at the IMA virtual event BNV and fellow speaker Ma. Victoria A. Tan, Group Head of the Risk Management and Sustainability Unit at Ayala Corporation, discussed how ESG analysis and reporting can provide valuable insights and help create long-term value for stakeholders and how it can significantly impact the financial metrics of a company and better inform investment decisions. BNV stressed that it is vital for businesses, accountants and the government to work together in order to achieve long-term value creation through Sustainability Reporting. He gave an overview of global and local Sustainability Reporting and their frameworks. He also discussed the status of Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines. Furthermore, he noted that Accountants are at the forefront of helping businesses maintain their social licenses to operate, as it is now inseparable from potential financial risk and return.  

SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Associate Director Diana Rose A. Sadili participated in an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on 24 September 2021. The initiative was hosted by SustainablePH, a non-profit community committed to raising sustainability leaders in the Philippines. Diana answers questions during the AMA session Diana discussed her role in the Firm’s CCaSS team as a sustainability professional and how professionals can purse sustainability as a career. The virtual event aimed to provide guidance for fresh graduates and professionals seeking to jump start their sustainability career. It was also an opportunity to introduce SGV’s CCaSS initiatives and sustainability services and solutions.  

On 11 and 18 September 2021, the 2021 SGV tax Review Sessions were held for aspiring CPA board exams takers. The sessions were attended by over 500 participants. The review sessions kicked off with an introduction from Tax Partner and Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) sub-service line leader Sonia D. Segovia (SDS).  The first lecture on Corporate Income Tax was delivered by Tax Partner and Country Leader for Accounting Compliance and Reporting (ACR) and Global Payroll Operate (GPO) Aaron C. Escartin (ACE). This was followed by a lecture on Personal Income Tax by Tax Partner and Country Leader for People Advisory Services (PAS) Czarina R. Miranda (CRM). After this, Tax Senior Stewart Herbie T. Po shared his experiences as an accounting student and tax professional. The session closed with a lecture on Withholding Taxes by Tax Partner Michael A. Madlangbayan (MAM).  SGV Partners and GCR team conducting the review sessions The final day of the tax review session started with an introduction from SGV Tax Leader and Partner Fabian K. delos Santos (FKS). The first lecture on Value-added Tax was delivered by Tax Partner Hentje Lee L. Leaño (LLL). This was followed by a lecture on Special Topics covering PEZA, local business tax, and real property tax, among others, by Tax Partner Saha A. Adlawan-Bulagsak (SAB). After this, GCR Associate Director Iana Jaye J. Navarro shared her experiences as a student and a tax professional. The final lecture, on Remedies, was delivered by Tax Principal Atty. Betheena C. Dizon (BCD).  Tax Partner and Market Group 3 Leader Henry M. Tan (HMT) gave the closing remarks. The GCR team also conducted separate tax review sessions for SGV’s non-CPA staff last 10 and 17 September, which were facilitated by Tax Senior Directors. These events were spearheaded by Hanna Sanchez-Rojo and Katherine Fernandez, both GCR Senior Directors, under the guidance of the GCR People Value lead Partners, Maricris U. See (MUS) and LLL. The program for each tax review session was moderated by GCR Senior Director Don Don Mojica. SGV’s Talent Team was also represented during the 11 and 18 September sessions.

The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Eastern Metro Manila Chapter (EMMC) organized a series of webinars as part of its 1st General Membership Meeting to which SGV Tax Partners Atty. Margaux A. Advincula (MAA) and Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) were invited as the speakers for the first session entitled “Transforming and Empowering SMEs and SMPs Webinar on Tax Updates and Compliance”. Ms. Ivy Marie E. Zafe, President of the PICPA EMMC, welcomed more than 160 participants in her opening remarks.  LLL and MAA during the PICPA EMMC session MAA kicked off the discussion proper by explaining the role of MSMEs and their impact on the Philippine economy. She also discussed the impact of the CREATE law and other tax updates on MSMEs and SMPs. On the other hand, LLL discussed the basic tax compliances relevant to MSMEs and SMPs. The event was moderated by PICPA EMMC’s Publications and Committee Member, Ms. Majella A. Ubaldo. The webinar ended with an open forum. Francis J. Ricamora (FJR), SGV Alumni Partner and past PICPA EMMC President, was also present at the webinar. Associate Directors David Jonathan Manalili and Virly Jane Tiare, Senior Associate Verlin Entenna, and Associates Jerome Montoya and Patricio Calma assisted the speakers on the preparation of the webinar materials.

The first SGV eSportsfest kicked off last 26 August and concluded on 8 October 2021. Eleven teams, consisting of the eight Market Groups (MGs), Consulting, Tax and Business Enablement Services competed in the eSportsfest.  MG4 Partners and MG4 Representatives with the SGV eSportsfest committee The MG4 team was declared as the overall champion, with MG7 in second place and MG3 in third place. The teams competed in various virtual sporting events, including Zumba, Trivia night, Mystery experience, Customized SGV Escape room, Mobile Legends tournament, banner making contest and cheering competition. The SGV eSportsfest is part of the Firm’s milestone 75th anniversary celebration to encourage team camaraderie and promote a healthy lifestyle among SGV people. 

The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Chapter of General Santos City organized a webinar titled Tax Updates and Common BIR Audit Findings last 25 September 2021. Mr. Rieann F. Gonzales hosted the event and welcomed over 80 participants to the webinar. PICPA General Santos City Chapter Auditor Mr. Ronald Moises Salibio introduced the speakers, SGV Davao Tax Associate Directors Daisy Mer Palomo and Jeffrey Christian Josol.PICPA GenSan webinar attendees  They discussed recent updates on Philippine taxation, particularly BIR issuances for the 3rd quarter of 2021, and provided a refresher on BIR audit processes and common tax issues during a BIR audit. The webinar concluded with an open forum moderated by PICPA General Santos City Chapter Director for Public Practice Ms. Jennifer Porsuelo where the speakers, together with Tax Partner Atty. Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM), addressed the participants’ questions.

SGV’s Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council launched its first Sustainabits session, titled Introduction to Sustainability, for SGV Partners and staff last 24 September 2021 spearheaded by the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Team.  Sustainabits is a monthly session that covers various sustainability topics and their impact on our lives. Sustainabits Session #1: Introduction to Sustainability CCaSS Manager Joanna Benin formally opened the first session of the monthly activity by greeting over 800 attendees who discovered how their daily life choices can engage the business sector to become a part of the climate change solution. This was followed by a short introductory message about the importance of sustainability delivered by SAVE Council Chair, Clairma Mangangey (CTM).  The speakers for the session were CCaSS Senior Associates Paula Cecilia Camille Rodriguez and Joanna Teresa Miranda. The event covered the meaning of sustainability; the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and their significance; common sustainability issues that affect society and the environment; and practical examples of how sustainability can be applied to one’s daily life. Closing off the first session, CTM and CCaSS Partner Benjamin Villacorte (BNV) invited the participants to join the next Sustainabits session and watch out for the first WebCCaSS, which is SGV’s quarterly one-hour webcast that will cover concepts, trends, regulations and industry practices around sustainability and climate change.

The Talent Team conducted the pilot run of the SGV Nurturing Leaders Internship Program (NLIP) from 16 August to 17 September 2021. The curated learning program is designed to help interns know more about SGV, our culture and purpose, and to be exposed to various learning sessions related to our service lines, soft skills training, and Talent-related modules. The pilot batch of interns consisted of 300 4th-Year Accountancy students nationwide.  SGV NLIP participants during their various online learning sessions   SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR) kicked off the program by delivering messages focused on Purpose and how it was more relevant today as the interns began their personal purpose journey through the different sessions during their five weeks of internship. Topics covered in the program were facilitated by different Managers and Senior Associates from the four service lines. The topics included Audit Simulation, Sustainability Reporting, Basic Concepts of Income Tax and VAT, Accountants as Transformational Leaders, Introduction to Cybersecurity, Privacy and Resilience, Strategy and Transactions, General Philippine Economic Overview and Case Studies. Talent-related sessions were conducted on personal branding, mental health and using LinkedIn profiles.  The program concluded with a culminating activity hosted by the Recruitment team and the interns surprised the organizers with a compiled video message from the different interns expressing their appreciation and thanks for the program. The organizing team included Talent Manager Anne Rubia, Talent Supervisors Julia Deypalan and Michelle Ong, Talent Associates Mariane Riano, Angelou Remo and Kayla Resente. SGV Partners from Assurance, Tax, Consulting and Strategy and Transactions were also instrumental in the overall success of this initiative. 

SGV’s Financial Services Organization and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) teams held a webinar on Sustainable Finance last 15 September 2021. Over 650 participants from the banking and financial services industry were present at the event.  Sustainable Finance webinar speakers Assurance Partner and Banking Capital Markets Leader Janeth Nunez-Javier (JNJ) gave the opening remarks, where she discussed how financial institutions are focusing on climate change and sustainability not just because of regulatory requirements but due to the increasing demand from various stakeholders. She also noted that more awareness is still needed for organizations to integrate climate, environmental and social risks into their governance, capital assessment and risk management systems and practices.     Supervisory Policy and Research Development (SPRD) Financial Supervision Sector (FSS) Deputy Director Rhodora Brazil-de Vera of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) discussed updates and the initiatives of the BSP on sustainable finance. This was followed by a discussion on ASEAN developments, and the challenges and trends that will affect financial services in the region, from EY Singapore Financial Services Business Consulting Partner Wolfram Hedrich. SGV Assurance – CCaSS Senior Director Katrina Francisco discussed sustainable finance products and their impact. The Environmental and Social Risk Management System (ESRMS) roadmap for sustainable finance was also discussed during the session.  Financial Services Consulting Partner and Government & Public Sector Leader Christian G. Lauron delivered the closing remarks. CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) moderated the event and Assurance–Financial Services Senior Director Glenda C. Anisco-Nino served as the host during the session and provided relevant materials for the webinar. The logistics team was led by FSO Senior Director Mary Catherine M. Biliran.