Information

SGV Assurance Partner Katrina F. Francisco, Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Senior Director Maria Michaela “Mycah” E. Ledesma-Oiga, and GCR Associate Director David Jonathan “Tan” F. Manalili were the resource speakers for the technical sessions during the 34th Chapter Induction & Turnover Ceremonies of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Angeles City Chapter on 12 August 2022. Tan and Mycah receiving their certificates and tokens of appreciation Mycah and Tan were the speakers for the morning session on tax updates. Mycah discussed updates on income tax and value-added tax while Tan discussed updates on withholding taxes as well as updates on other national and local taxes. Katrina led the afternoon session on sustainability and the critical role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in achieving sustainable development. Mycah, Tan and Katrina also moderated the Q&A sessions. Katrina receiving her certificate and token of appreciation SGV Assurance Senior Director Leo Niño R. Canlas and SGV Business Tax Advisory (BTA) Associate Director John Marti C. Duya were also present during the event.

SGV Business Tax Services Partner Atty. Margaux Advincula joined the North and Central Luzon Briefing and Updates on the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) organized by The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham) North Luzon Chapter on 29 July 2022. The program aimed to update taxpayers on the activities that may be registered for incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (“CREATE”) Act as promulgated. Atty. Margaux with the speakers, organizers, and other attendees Atty. Margaux delivered the welcome address which was followed by an introduction of the guest speaker, Mr. Dino John Buñag Recto, Officer-In-Charge (OIC), Division Chief of the Board of Investments. OIC-Chief Recto discussed activities which may be registered for incentives under the CREATE Act, as provided in the SIPP. Atty. Margaux facilitated the question-and-answer portion after OIC-Chief Recto’s discussion. She was joined by Mr. Ralph Morales, a Board Member of the AmCham North Luzon Chapter.  Tax Associate Director Atty. John Marti C. Duya and Tax Senior Associate Atty. Mark Lorenz T. Salcedo joined Atty. Margaux at the briefing. SGV Clark Tax Partner Hentje Leo Leano, Tax Senior Manager Maria Michaela E. Ledesma, Tax Manager David Jonathan F. Manalili, and Tax Seniors Elgina A. Rito and Mica Alyana C. Rivera were also present during the event. It was attended by members of AmCham, locators and employees from the Clark, Subic, and Baguio Economic Zones, and the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan.

The 7th installment of the Consulting group’s SheInspires series entitled “WOW: Woman of Wonder/Woman of the World” featured former SGVean, and co-founder and CEO of e-learning platform Chalkboard, Kristine Brown. The session was held virtually on 5 August 2022. SheInspires WOW: Woman of Wonder/Woman of the World event poster Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña kicked off the virtual session with a brief message while Consulting Partner Randall C. Antonio facilitated the fireside chat with Kristine. The session focused on getting to know Kristine as an individual and learning from her experiences as a woman and a leader in the financial services industry.  Kristine with SGV Consulting Partners Lee Carlo B. Abadia and Randall C. Antonio, and the participants Tine shared her observations on how SGV provides equal opportunities to people in the workplace and serves as an avenue for continuous learning and development for people who are interested in knowing more about the ins and outs of various fields of business. She also shared how her time at SGV has played a critical part in molding her into who she is today. She recalled teaming with partners and staff from the Firm on complex projects and just overall, engaging in work she was passionate about. She said that her experience in the Firm has opened doors for her and has led her to explore more opportunities at EY Boston and later on, in her next ventures.  Other key takeaways from Tine’s talk included effective goal-setting, learning how and when to step out of one’s comfort zone, leveraging relationships in and out of the workplace, and balancing personal and professional projects. Tine shared her experience being a graduate student at the London Business School and a working mother of two daughters while co-founding and managing her start-up e-learning company, Chalkboard, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being constantly on the go, she said that it was important for her to find time for herself and her loved ones. She also shared that drawing inspiration and strength from the people around her, particularly her loved ones and mentors, helped her keep her end goals in sight.  The session ended with closing remarks from Consulting Partner Lee Carlo B. Abadia and a group picture-taking. About 500 SGVeans attended the event. 

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) was one of the speakers at the 9th PICPA Cebu Summit held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City from 21 to 22 July 2022. SGV was a co-presenter of the Summit. WPT during the Summit WPT talked about the future of Sustainability Reporting and other Financial Reporting implications. He discussed the current landscape of sustainability reporting, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards Exposure Drafts, the financial reporting implications of COVID-19, and some accounting issues in relation to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, SGV Tax Partner Atty. Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO) served as a moderator in one of the talks during the first day. CCO received the Presidential Service Award from the PICPA Cebu Chapter in grateful appreciation of her outstanding performance, enormous contributions, wholehearted dedication, and selfless service to the Chapter and its general membership in FY 2021-2022. The SGV Cebu booth at the summit was manned by Managers Shea Go, Jayvee Anga, GJ Cobosa and Seniors Atty. Ernest Co and Nikko Recentes.

Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Senior Associate Joshua R. Ladia ranked 4th in the recently concluded Environmental Planner Licensure Examination (EPLE). 108 out of 178 examinees passed the licensure examination given by the Board of Environmental Planning in July 2022. The date and venue of the oathtaking are yet to be announced. EPLE 4th placer, Senior Associate Joshua Ladia The EPLE covers the following topics: General Instructions and Filling-out of Forms; Environmental Planning Processes, Techniques, and Strategies; History, Concepts, Theories, and Principles of Environmental Planning; Environmental Plan Implementation, Legal Aspects and Administration.  Congratulations, Joshua!

SGV Cebu held its first in-person recruitment event in over two years since the pandemic began. The event was held at SGV Cebu’s new office on 21 July 2022. Over 70 graduate and undergraduate students from various universities in the Visayas region attended the event. WPT with the students SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and SGV Cebu Partner-in-charge Margem A. Tagalog (MAT) welcomed the students. WPT gave his opening remarks and provided a brief introduction to the Firm. The students were also given an overview of the services being offered by the Firm. SGV Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR), Assurance Leader Martin C. Guantes (MCG), Strategy and Transactions (SaT) Partner Marie Stephanie C. Tan-Hamed, and Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB) explained the functions of each service line. The students participated in a series of meet and greet/networking sessions with the SGV leaders and other SGV partners who also attended the event, namely Veronica R. Pore (VRP), Leovina Mae P. Villa-Chu (LVC), Jhoanna C. Go (JCG), Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB), Josenilo G. Mendoza (JGM), Ma. Genalin Q. Arevalo (MQA), Genghis O. Grospe (GOG), and Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO). There were also trivia games where special prizes were awarded to the winners.  The recruitment event concluded with a closing message from Talent Leader Julie Christine C. Ong-Mateo (JOM). JJB was the emcee for the event. 

The SGV Tax team and Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (SPARK!) Philippines met with Quezon City Government officials to discuss the SGV Tax team’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives on 28 July 2022. SGV Tax team and SPARK! Philippines representatives with QC Mayor Joy Belmonte and QC PESO Chief Rogelio Reyes The SGV Tax team together with SPARK! Philippines representatives Executive Director Maica Teves and Project Officer Margot Catmunan met with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Chief Rogelio Reyes, City Government Department Head III Ma. Margarita Santos, and Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development Promotions Office (SBCDPO) Head Mona Celine Yap to explore equal employment opportunities, foster gender-sensitivity awareness and social equity in workplaces, and share knowledge and skills for a better Philippines in line with the SGV Tax team's DE&I vision.  Mayor Joy welcomed the Team and expressed her eagerness to help in the proposed projects. She shared some of her experiences in resolving workplace discrimination, harassment, and biases. QC PESO Chief Rogelio affirmed the LGU’s willingness to support the SGV Tax team in their proposed programs by streamlining candidates, especially those in marginalized communities, for possible employment at SGV. Ms. Margarita added that they are willing to screen qualified QC citizens from their pool of talent and assess their capabilities. Meanwhile, Ms. Mona enumerated possible collaborative projects focusing on the areas of business registration, advantages of tax compliance, securing Mayor’s Permits, and basic taxation laws. The SGV Tax team was led by ASEAN Tax DE&I Lead Atty. Victor C. De Dios (VCD). Other members of the SGV Tax Team included Indirect Tax Senior Directors Atty. Alden Patrick C. Labaguis and Atty. Jo Ann Marie O. Casio, Associate Directors Atty. Gracia Mae A. Beronilla and Atty. Dawna Fya O. Bandiola, and Senior Associates Atty. Catriona Janelle V. Gayatin and Atty. Andrea Nicole C. Loreno. 

Members of the SGV Tax team headed by Tax Partner Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO) facilitated a webinar entitled “Extending Business Operations with Confidence: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Philippine Incorporation Process” in collaboration with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on 28 July 2022. SGV Tax Team with ECCP Tax Senior Director Anne Margaret E. Momongan discussed the different types of business enterprises, as well as the legal bases for incorporation, with a focus on the Revised Corporation Code (R.A. 11232, as amended) and relevant Memorandum Circulars from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Meanwhile, Tax Director Virnee Joy T. Agot-Ting guided participants through the SEC’s Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Company (eSPARC) system. She also talked about the registration requirements to be submitted to other government agencies, relevant deadlines, and the recently relaunched Philippine Business Hub. Tax Senior Associate Marla Arielle B. So moderated the live Q&A event while Tax Senior Associate Joseph Santiago E. Quiño was part of the event’s organizing team.

SGV International Tax and Transaction Services Partner Atty. Auresana B. Ines (ABI) and Indirect Tax Senior Director Atty. Alden Patrick C. Labaguis led a tax webinar during the Online Q2 General Membership Meeting organized by the Association of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) Finance Executives (ASEFEX) on 17 June 2022.  ASEFEX Q2 General Assembly speakers ABI led the talk on “Narrowing the Scope for Transfer Pricing Reporting,” in which she highlighted the importance of transfer pricing and discussed relevant laws and BIR issuances. She also discussed matters relating to submission, filing procedures, documentation, and the consequences of non-compliance with material information disclosure in tax returns. Atty. Alden talked about “Recent Tax Updates,” where he focused on recent significant BIR and PEZA issuances such as the Guidelines and Procedures in the Application for Revalidation of Tax Credit Certificate and Supplemental Guidelines on Report Submission of ATIR and ABR under MC No. 2022-031. He also discussed Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) rulings on Letters of Assessment and Seizures and Detention of the BIR.   ABI and Atty. Alden were joined by Mr. Lim Teck Ch’ang, Industry Advisor of SAP Philippines Inc., who led the discussion on “Digital Finance Transformation”. He talked about the opportunities for digital transformation in the manufacturing industry and the importance and challenges of going digital. The speakers subsequently addressed questions and clarifications from the participants in the open forum. About 79 ASEFEX members, including SEIPI partners and stakeholders, attended the assembly. Participation in the virtual briefing was coordinated by Logistics Market Sector Leader and Tax Principal Stephanie V. Nava (SVN) and Technology Sector Leader and Assurance Partner Manolito R. Elle (MRE). Tax Senior Associates Lauren Antonette M. Mendoza, Kierk Robin M. Ret, and James E. Gregorio were part of the organizing team.

SGV Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Senior Director Atty. Jan Kriezl M. Catipay hosted two webinars on “Common BIR Audit Issues and Tax Updates” organized by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) on 16 June 2022 and 29 July 2022. PICPA WMMC speaker Atty. Jan with participants Atty. Jan discussed common BIR audit issues such as Deficiency Tax Assessments: Comparison of various tax returns, attachments vs. audited financial statements, and other specific items assessed by the BIR. She also discussed recent revenue regulations, memorandum circulars, and other issuances by the BIR. Both webinars were held virtually.