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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 Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and General Santos City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on joint work by the Firm and the city government in producing the first Doing Business in General Santos City publication.  SGV and General Santos city MOA signing SGV will provide free technical assistance to the Gensan City Government in the conceptualization, design, coverage and publication of Doing Business in Gensan City in printed and digital versions. The local government will provide the Firm with all the key information needed, including its current social, political and economic profile, demographics and other relevant data.  WPT signed the MOA at the SGV office last 28 July 2021 and it was sent to Mayor Rivera at the General Santos City Hall, where he signed the MOA last 8 September 2021. Market Group 4 Leader Ma. Veronica R. Pore (VRP) served as the official witness of the signing. This endeavor is part of SGV’s underlying mission to build a better Philippines by supporting the development of local governments and businesses.

SGV Tax Partner Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB) was a speaker at a webinar hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce – Mindanao on 24 September 2021. She discussed the CREATE Law and recent issuances of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. JJB, SAB and TFM during the session The event was hosted by AmCham Mindanao with over 30 participants from across the country in attendance. Partner-in-Charge of SGV Davao and General Santos Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB) hosted and moderated the event. Tax Partner Atty. Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM) joined during the Q&A session.

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 Consulting Partner Conrad Allan M. Alviz (CMA) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Manager Yna Altea D. Antipala discussed Sustainability Reporting and the Evolving Role of Accountants at a webinar hosted by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) - Camarines Sur Chapter last 25 September 2021. CMA and Yna during the PICPA CamSur session CMA gave an overview of Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines, while Yna provided an in-depth look at the materiality principle in Sustainability Reporting. She also covered Sustainability Reporting assurance and discussed the team’s Sustainability Reporting study titled Beyond the Bottom Line: Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines. CMA closed the session with a talk highlighting the role of accountants in the sustainability space. The webinar had over 40 participants in attendance. 

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.

Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña (KSM) and People Advisory Services Executive Directory Lisa Marie Escaler were invited as resource speakers during SM Mindanao’s Innovation Day on 23 September 2021 via Zoom. The conference was attended by around 100 SM executives.  KSM and Lisa along with SM Mindanao executives In their presentation entitled, “Growth Mindset for Transformative Times”, they discussed how people are living in a disruptive era marked by dramatic change and disruption by introducing VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity). They stressed that individuals need vision, understanding, clarity, and agility to counter VUCA. They highlighted and compared the concepts of fixed and growth mindset. They also emphasized the importance of mindset in transformative leadership. Towards the end of their presentation, KSM and Lisa entertained questions from the audience.

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.

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.

SGV’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) participated as a panelist in the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) event The Day We Go Zero held last 20 September 2021.  BNV joins the Day We Go Zero panel Energy Development Corporation believes that decarbonizing the country is one of the ways in which we can mitigate the effects the climate crisis has on the planet.In this event, EDC President and COO Richard Tantoco talked about how businesses are going beyond sustainability and how companies like Arthaland, SGV & Co., Silliman University, Knowles Electronics (Philippines) Corp., First Balfour, Drink and Unilever Philippines in the Net-Zero Carbon Alliance are already doing it by working to become carbon neutral as pioneer members of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance that the company has initiated. BNV highlighted that decarbonizing the business sector depends on companies’ different capabilities to do so. Net Zero Carbon is a journey, and other companies are still in stages of recovery. BNV added that even without incentives, businesses voluntarily report on sustainability initiatives and promote a circular economy, because doing so adds to companies’ long-term value. Afterwards the guest speakers gave their closing remarks and pledged to decarbonize the business sector through their companies, BNV encouraged organizations to take advantage of sustainable finance, such as issuing green bonds. Event moderator and host Danie Laurel closed the event with a challenge to the pioneer members of Drink, Arthaland, First Balfour Inc., Unilever, and Knowles Corp. to fulfil their Net Zero Carbon 2030 pledge. Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Emmanuel M. De Guzman, and politician and environmentalist Loren Legarda were also speakers at the event.