2021

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) was invited by the College of Business Administration of the University of the East (UE) – Caloocan to be the key resource person during the 4th CFO Lecture Series on 28 September 2021. The initiative is part of UE’s 75th Foundation Anniversary celebration. WPT presenting during the session WPT talked about the important roles of CPAs amidst the pandemic and how they can be instrumental in helping rebuild the nation. He also discussed the various technological advances that help enable auditors to perform their tasks.  UE Caloocan Chancellor Dr. Zosimo M. Battad, Dean Emeteria Dalisay, Student Affairs Office Director Mr. Clemente Diwas, CBA Associate Dean Abner Aquino and CAS Associate Dean Michelle Concepcion were in attendance. Most of the faculty of the College of Business Administration also joined the call. There were 260 attendees in the Zoom Meeting and 70 in the FB live stream.

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT), MG2 Leader Marydith C. Miguel (MCM), Business Enablement Services Leader Jaime del Rosario (JFR), former Chairman and Managing Partner Cirilio P. Noel (CPN) and Alumni Partner Baltazar N. Endriga (BNE) were recognized as part of the University of the East’s Most Outstanding Alumni on 2 October 2021 as part of the University’s 75th Foundation Anniversary celebration.   The honorees represent various degree programs of the University and belong to various industries. They were chosen for their excellence in their careers and their invaluable contributions in their respective fields and in nation-building.  Former SGV Chairmen and Managing Partners Carlos R. Alindada and Rizalino S. Navarro, along with SGV Alumni Partners Rodolfo Jeturian, Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe and Guillermo N. Carague were also recognized as the University of the East’s Gems. Congratulations!

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.

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.

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.  

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’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.

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.

Interactive features at SGV’s virtual Alumni Homecoming microsite SGV held its first virtual Alumni Homecoming event last 3 September 2021. The virtual celebration was the first of its kind as the Firm used an online interactive platform that aimed to give the attendees the experience and atmosphere of the usual physical Homecoming, but from the safety of their own homes.  The microsite gave the attendees the opportunity to chat with their friends and colleagues using MS Teams chatrooms.  Activities such as a photobooth, shoutout message board and mini games were also available for the attendees. Another feature of the site gave visitors a chance to experience a virtual tour of Mr. SyCip’s office and parts of the SGV offices.     Performers during the Alumni Homecoming program The attendees were treated to special performances by singer Gian Magdangal, acapella group Pinopela and comedian Jon Santos as “Darnia.” The Homecoming also showcased a special group performance of the SGV’s Got Talent Year 9 finalists performing the song “A Million Dreams.”