April 2024

SGV Consulting Partners Christiane Joymiel “Chin” Say-Mendoza and Ryan Gilbert K. Chua participated in the recently held first General Membership Meeting for 2024 organized by the Institute of Internal Auditors Philippines (IIAP) at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. SGV Consulting Partner Christiane Joymiel Say-Mendoza with psychologist Lillian Gui The meeting, themed "Driving Purposeful Change," saw an exchange of insights and best practices among IIAP members and Internal Audit professionals, including SGV representatives. The meeting emphasized how aligning actions with a definite purpose can drive meaningful changes. IIAP 2024 Board of Trustees and Officers The event also marked the induction of the 2024 Board of Trustees and Officers. Chin was inducted as a new IIAP Trustee and Technical Standards & Research Committee Chair. Chin facilitated the session titled "Mapping the Path for Purposeful Personal Transformation." She discussed the key aspects of initiating personal and organizational changes aligning with the vision and mission of the organization. Other plenary discussions during the meeting were on "Corporate Governance Leadership: Strategies for Driving Purposeful Change" and "Internal Audit's Role in Steering Organization's Visionary Drive for Change." Manager Arjane Mae Isla, Senior Manager Pia Isabella Pagdanganan, SGV Consulting Partners Christiane Joymiel Say-Mendoza and Ryan Gilbert K. Chua, Manager Rose Abigael Lacuna, and Senior Associate Lloyd Christian Estillore Chin and Ryan were joined by Senior Manager Pia Isabella Pagdanganan, Managers Arjane Mae Isla and Rose Abigael Lacuna, and Senior Associate Lloyd Christian Estillore.

SGV Accounts Leader and EY Asia-Pacific FSO Risk Management Leader Vicky L. Salas moderated the panel discussion on "Customer Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Using Voice of the Customer (VoC) to Drive Innovation" at the Digital Banking Asia Summit Philippines 2024. The summit was held at the Manila Marriott Hotel on 13 March 2024. Vicky (right) moderates panel discussion on customer feedback Vicky moderated the panel discussion featuring ING Bank Senior Vice President - Head of Transformation Office; Office of the Chief Operating Officer Dan Ramirez, GoTyme Bank Chief Experience Officer Lionel Gacad, and Metrobank UX Strategy and Design Head Mica Diaz de Rivera. The panel discussion focused on the pivotal role of customer feedback in shaping the direction of innovation in digital banking. The panelists touched upon the significance of VoC in understanding customer needs and preferences. They explored the potential of using this information to complement advancements in technology, create personalized customer experiences, and enhance banking services. In addition to examining various methods and tools for gathering and analyzing VoC, the conversation delved into real-life examples of turning feedback into action to drive continuous improvement and innovation. It underscored that responsiveness to feedback not only fosters customer loyalty but also propels the industry forward in an increasingly digital age.

EY Asia-Pacific FSO Risk Management Leader Vicky L. Salas was a panelist at the EY International Women’s Day 2024 panel discussion on Work, Wellbeing and Women’s Health held on 7 March 2024 via Zoom. The panel discussion on uplifting social equity through educating and engaging on women’s health at work featured EY clients and community partners from across Asia Pacific. Introduction of panelists and moderator Among the topics discussed were unique women’s health and wellbeing challenges, such as pregnancy, menstrual difficulties, and menopause. The panelists highlighted that understanding and accommodating these challenges creates an environment where women can fully participate and contribute. Women’s reproductive health discussion Other panelists during the session were The Hybrid Gym Group, Hong Kong Gym Manager Dave Markham, Westpac Bank PNG Head of HR Olive Compain, and AIA Employee Proposition and Wellbeing Senior Manager Nicole Schwartz. EY Asia-Pacific FSO Director of Operations Kirsty McFarlane moderated the panel discussion.

SGV Consulting Leader Rossana A. Fajardo was a key speaker at ISACA Manila Chapter’s International Women’s Day webinar titled “Count Her In: Accelerating gender equality through economic empowerment.” This webinar was the first IWD collaboration event between ISACA Manila, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, and Auckland and the New Zealand Network for Women in Security (NZNWS). It was held via Zoom on 7 March 2024. Rossana at the ISACA Manila IWD webinar Rossana highlighted the critical role that women play in the tech industry and the importance of addressing gender disparities within the sector. She offered various ways to close this gap, including nurturing girls' interest in STEM, hiring with a focus on gender balance, and supporting women's potential as leaders. She urged managers to back women in STEM leadership roles and called for society as a whole and government bodies to endorse tech careers for women and help finance the workforce's shift. Rossana talks about SGV/EY initiatives that support women in technology She further spotlighted two SGV and EY initiatives propelling this cause – the Women in Technology (WiT) program and the EY STEM App. The WiT program fosters the involvement and leadership of women in tech. It comprises educational programs to enhance girls' STEM skills and interest, mentorship to cultivate female tech leadership, support for women tech entrepreneurs, and efforts to diversify the tech workforce. The EY STEM App, a free gamified platform targeting girls aged 13-18, seeks to stimulate interest in STEM fields. The app offers convenient access to engaging content, empowering girls to take control of their learning progress.  Rossana with some of the webinar participants Rossana concluded her talk by encouraging the participants to continue upskilling and sharpening their tech competencies. She cited her personal career transition from an auditor to a tech consultant as an example. For the Q&A session with ISACA Manila members, Rossana emphasized the value of women in leadership roles, explaining that such diversity allows for a more holistic approach toward decision-making within companies.

SGV Partners and Managers joined the 2024 Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Metro Manila Region (MMR) Geographical Area Office (GAO) Tax Conference with the theme “Beyond Compliance: Transcending Regulatory, Tax Challenges and Opportunities.” The two-day event was held at the Century Park Hotel Grand Ballroom in Malate, Manila. Around 200 participants per day attended the event. Tax Conference Committee Co-Chair Meynard Sardalla, PICPA MMR Chair and GAO Regional Director Sonia D. Segovia, Tax Conference Committee Chair Maricris U. See, and Tax Conference Committee Member Earvin Darren Lee PICPA MMR Chair and GAO Regional Director Sonia D. Segovia and Tax Conference Committee Chair Maricris U. See led the PICPA MMR GAO team. Tax Senior Directors Meynard Sardalla and Earvin Darren Lee served as Co-Chair and Committee Member, respectively. Meynard and Earvin also served as the Masters of Ceremonies during the event. Tax Conference Committee Chair Maricris U. See talks about the BIR’s 2024 Priority Plans Tax Partner Aaron Escartin during his lecture on gearing up for annual income tax activities Tax Conference Committee Chair Maricris U. See discussed the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR’s) 2024 Priority Plans and recent regulatory updates, while Tax Partner Aaron Escartin discussed the essentials and dos and don’ts in preparing the 2024 Annual Income Tax Return, which is due for filing on 15 April 2024. Aaron also joined a roundtable discussion with Tax Partner Atty. Thyrza Marbas on Day 1. PAS Immigration and ITTS Advisory Leader Atty. Fidela Reyes receives certificate and token of appreciation People Advisory Services (PAS) – Immigration and ITTS Advisory Leader Atty. Fidela Reyes was the guest speaker for Day 2. She discussed the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) 2.0 Pillar and highlighted its global and local tax impacts. Atty. Fidela, along with the other Day 2 speakers also addressed questions and clarifications from the audience during the roundtable moderated by Maricris. Earvin, Peter, Sonia, Aileen, Maricris, and Meynard pose for a group photo PICPA Southern Metro Manila Chapter (SMMC) President Aileen L. Saringan, PICPA Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) President Peter John R. Ventura, and PICPA MMR GAO Council Treasurer Francis Ricamora introduced some of the speakers.

SGV Cebu recently conducted an executive briefing on the newly implemented Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Bill.  GCR Partner Saha P. Adlawan-Bulagsak (left) and Senior Director Atty. Anne Margaret Momongan-Lim (right) during their respective discussions on the EOPT Act and CREATE MORE Bill Tax Leader Fabian K. delos Santos delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the participants. The main speakers of the briefing were Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha P. Adlawan-Bulagsak and Business Tax Services (BTS) Senior Director Atty. Anne Margaret E. Momongan-Lim, who provided insights into the EOPT Act and CREATE MORE Bill, respectively. A question-and-answer session and one-on-one consultations were held after the main discussions. Philippine Quantitative Services Leader and Asean Tax Transformation Leader Atty. Cheryl Edeline C. Ong shared her insights while addressing participants’ queries. SGV Cebu Partner-in-Charge Margem A. Tagalog delivered the closing remarks. Atty. Anne Margaret Momongan-Lim, Tax Leader Fabian K. delos Santos, SGV Cebu Partner-in-Charge Margem A. Tagalog, GCR Partner Saha P. Adlawan-Bulagsak, and Philippine Quantitative Services Leader and Asean Tax Transformation Leader Atty. Cheryl Edeline C. Ong at the executive briefing The briefing was organized with the help of GCR Director GJ Robin Cobosa and his team of managers and staff from the Cebu office. This team included Atty. Virnee Ting, Atty. Melissa Joyce To, Atty. Lou Delianne Reboja, Atty. Aaron James Melendez, Atty. Ernest Adrian Co, Atty. Gerardo Klauddio Van Cuadrasal III, Atty. Ron Christian Eupeña, Athena Luce, Stewart Herbie Po, Joseph Nikko Recentes, Lheiann Vhiev Emperio, Joseph Santiago Quiño, Myrel Ann Villaran, and Rose Tejerero. The executive briefing underscored SGV's continued commitment to enable businesses and clients with the necessary tools to navigate complex tax legislative changes. It also provided an opportunity to reconnect with C-Suite executives.

SGV paid a courtesy call on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). The discussions revolved around PAGCOR’s approach to money laundering and terrorist financing, which involve strategies in line with the national policy and sanctions in the casino industry.  (From left to right) FinCrime AML/CTPF Senior Associate Damlouie Valladolid, Assurance Partner Christine G. Vallejo, FSO) Risk Management Leader Vicky Lee-Salas, PAGCOR Assistant Vice-President, AML Supervision & Enforcement Department Dave Fermin J. Sevilla, FinCrime AML/CTPF Partner Veronica Mae Arce Balisi, Cybersecurity Partner Carlo Kristle G. Dimarucut, and Forensic and Integrity Partner Roderick M. Vega Attendees included PAGCOR AML Supervision & Enforcement Department Assistant Vice-President Dave Fermin J. Sevilla, Asia Pacific Financial Services Organization (FSO) Risk Management Leader Vicky Lee-Salas, FinCrime AML/CTPF Partner Veronica Mae Arce Balisi, Forensic and Integrity Partner Roderick M. Vega, Assurance Partner Christine G. Vallejo, Cybersecurity Partner Carlo Kristle G. Dimarucut, and FinCrime AML/CTPF Senior Associate Damlouie Valladolid. More key points discussed during the meeting included adaptation to regulatory demands, data quality improvement, innovation, and collaboration. SGV showcased its support for covered organizations through first-generation capabilities, technological advancements, and collaboration in domains such as Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism, Forensics & Integrity Services, and Technology and Cybersecurity.