News

SGV International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Partner Atty. Auresana “Rhena” B. Ines (ABI) and Indirect Tax (IDT) Senior Director Atty. Alden Patrick C. Labaguis participated in the 3rd IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) CEO Forum with the theme “Harnessing Multi-Sectoral Synergy for Talent Development in PH IT-BPM” on 28 November 2022 at the Manila House, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The event was attended by IBPAP Platinum Club members and Ernst & Young Global Delivery Services (EY GDS) representatives. Atty. Rhena (left) and Atty. Alden (right) with IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid (center) Guest speakers covered the Philippine Skills Framework which focuses on creating a common skills language, building deep skills for a lean workforce, enhancing business competitiveness, and supporting employment and employability. EY GDS Philippines Consulting Leader Raymond Garret Go was part of the panel discussion. They talked about IT-BPM’s roadmap to 2028, the need to acquire and develop young and innovative talent, the DTI’s role in helping the industry, the execution of set rules, and the role of the academe in upgrading and rescaling courses. The forum concluded with a call to action for the government, academe, and private sector to respond quickly and create other modes of learning such as certification programs. 

SGV International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Partner Atty. Auresana “Rhena” B. Ines (ABI) hosted a webinar on “Recent Developments on Transfer Pricing in the Philippines” organized by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) on 28 November 2022. Around 70 PICPA members and officers attended the event. Event poster During the session, Atty. Rhena helped participants clarify the items to be disclosed in their respective Information Return on Related Party Transactions (BIR Form 1709), the types of taxpayers required to prepare Transfer Pricing documentation, and the items that they should consider or look into while preparing their audited financial statements for Transfer Pricing audit.

SGV International Tax and Transaction Services Partner Atty. Auresana “Rhena” B. Ines (ABI) was a resource speaker at the Excursion: Navigating the Trail of the Accounting Profession webinar organized by the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (JPIA-PLM) on 20 November 2022 via Zoom. Around 60 Accountancy students attended the event. Atty. Rhena with some of the participants Atty. Rhena talked about her journey to becoming a CPA-Lawyer and personal and professional challenges she encountered. She also shared tips on getting good grades, passing the board and bar exams, and joining a firm that advocates integrity. Atty. Rhena highlighted the need to have a firm purpose to withstand challenges. She shared that she was able to achieve what she had always wanted to do because of her family, team, and SGV’s support. She added that the Firm’s Purpose aligned with hers and that the Firm gave her the opportunity to do what she loves – mentoring, teaching, and helping others comply with rules. Talent Supervising Associate Julia-Anne J. Deypalan and Talent Associate Juliene Marinela M. Salayon assisted Atty. Rhena in coordinating with the JPIA-PLM team.

Global Compliance Reporting (GCR) Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) served as one of the Overall Co-Chairs of the 77th Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Annual National Convention (ANC) held from 23 to 26 November 2022 in Cebu City. GCR Senior Director Meynard L. Sardalla also served as a member of the ANC Overall Committee.  77th PICPA ANC Technical Sessions Committee members Leo concurrently served as the Technical Sessions Committee Chair in charge of the selection of topics, speakers and moderators for the technical sessions held during the ANC. GCR Associate Directors David Jonathan F. Manalili and Mica Alyana C. Rivera, GCR Senior Associate Jan Marion V. Dela Cruz and Administrative Intermediate Anna Eliza S. Hernandez were also part of the ANC’s Technical Sessions Committee. The topics in the technical sessions revolved around the theme of the 77th PICPA ANC, “Play It Forward: Securing a Sustainable Future.” 

Global Compliance Reporting (GCR) Partners Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) and Maricris U. See (MUS) were recognized as Outstanding Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accounts (PICPA) Members from the Metro Manila Region (MMR) during the 77th PICPA Annual National Convention (ANC) held from 23 to 26 November in Cebu City. Outstanding PICPA Members Maricris U. See and Hentje Leo L. Leaño Leo and Maricris were recognized for their outstanding performance as presidents of the PICPA Eastern Metro Manila Chapter (EMMC) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-2017 and Southern Metro Manila Chapter (SMMC) for FY 2020-2021, respectively. Their citations noted their active participation as chairs or members of various MMR and PICPA national committees which contributed to the attainment of PICPA’s goals and aspirations. Also recognized during the 77th PICPA ANC were former Business Consulting Partner and Chief Risk Officer Leonardo J. Matignas Jr. (LJM) and former Country Tax Leader Luis P. Ferrer (LPF) as Honorary Life Members. Congratulations, Leo and Maricris!

SGV Partners Marie Stephanie C. Tan-Hamed (MTH), Christian G. Lauron (CGL), and Clairma T. Mangangey (CTM) served as speakers in the 77th Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Annual National Convention (ANC) technical sessions held from 23 to 26 November 2022 in Cebu City. Stephanie provides economic updates Clairma talks about E&S issuesChristian during his technical sessionStephanie kicked off the technical sessions with an economic update focusing on the Philippine developmental objectives and strategy of the new administration in the context of the global economic environment and conditions. Christian, representing the Public Practice Sector, led the discussion on “CPAs as Industry Leaders in a Highly Disrupted Period” while Clairma discussed “Governance of Environmental and Social (E&S) Issues.” Consulting Markets Co-Leader and EY Asean Fields of Play Leader Maria Kathrina Macaisa-Peña (KSM) moderated the panel discussion on CGL’s technical session, while Business Tax Services (BTS) Partner and Asean Tax Transformation Leader Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO) moderated the panel discussion on “Digital and Agile Leadership: Going beyond Paper to PDF.” Nearly 6,000 participants attended the 77th PICPA ANC with more than 4,600 attending physically at the IEC Convention Center and 1,300 virtually via Zoom.

In furtherance of SGV’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DE&I) initiatives, and in celebration of the holidays, the Firm’s Tax team, through Market Group (MG) 10, worked with the Quezon City Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities (QC Kabahagi) in holding a Christmas event entitled “Kabahagi Krismasaya 2022” at the Serbisyong Bayan Park Covered Court, Batasan Hills, Quezon City on 13 December 2022. Event poster SGV Partners Auresana B. Ines, Lucil Q. Vicerra, and Victor C. De Dios with QC Kabahagi Director Karen Sagun (second from left) at Krismasaya 2022 MG10 was represented by EY Asean Tax DE&I Lead Victor C. De Dios (VCD), together with Indirect Tax Senior Director Alden Patrick C. Labaguis, Associate Director Lauren Antonette M. Mendoza, and Senior Associates Kierk Robin M. Ret and Andrea Nicole C. Loreno. Indirect Tax Head Lucil Q. Vicerra (LQV), International Tax and Transaction Services (ITTS) Partner Auresana B. Ines (ABI), and other SGV staff were also present at the event.  Krismasaya attendees SGV Tax team at Krismasaya 2022 Krismasaya is an annual holiday activity for children with disabilities by QC Kabahagi, headed by Director Karen Sagun. QC Kabahagi is set to run a disability awareness program for SGV Tax professionals this 2023.

Financial Services Organization (FSO) Director Christopher G. Yu passed the 2022 Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) certification exam administered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). He received his certification on 22 November 2022. GARP-certified SCR professional Christopher G. Yu The GARP SCR certification formally recognizes proficiency in the following subject matters: Foundations of Climate Change; Sustainability; Climate Change Risk; Sustainability and Climate Policy, Culture, and Governance; Green and Sustainable Finance: Markets and Instruments; Climate Risk Measurement and Management; and Climate Models and Scenario Analysis. It also demonstrates one’s ability to assess and manage the sustainability and climate risk challenges that many industries face. Congratulations, Christopher!

Strategy and Transactions (SaT) Senior Manager Lester Jeff D. Pawid passed the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 3 examination. Lester took the Level 3 exam on 6 September 2022 and received the positive news in the first week of November. CFA Level 3 passer, SaT Senior Manager Lester Jeff D. Pawid Offered by the CFA Institute, the CFA credential is the standard of choice for investment professionals with real-world analytical skills, technical competence, and high ethical and professional standards. Level 1 tests a candidate’s knowledge and comprehension of investment tools, while Level 2 focuses on the application of these tools and analysis for asset valuation. Finally, Level 3 synthesizes all learnings in the portfolio management context and incorporates a constructed response component. Candidates who have completed all three levels of the exam may seek to earn the CFA Charter after meeting the required professional work experience.  Lester took the Level 3 exam a week before he reported for his first day of work at SGV. He says that he is grateful for the support of SaT Partner Marie Stephanie T. Hamed (MTH) who allowed him to start at a later date so that he could concentrate on his preparation for the exam.  Congratulations, Lester!

SGV Clark launched the inaugural edition of the Doing Business in Clark publication on 7 November 2022 at the SGV Clark office. Over 100 SGV partners and alumni, key government officials, and representatives from different foreign embassies attended the launch. SGV partners and leaders pose with the DBC brochure Developed by SGV in close collaboration with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the publication is a brief guide for potential foreign and local investors looking to set up business operations in Clark. The publication aims to promote and highlight the developments in Clark, Pampanga, as well as the reforms and initiatives set forth by the government and the private sector that would benefit locators and investors alike. SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) gave the opening remarks. Keynote speakers SGV Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR), SGV Senior Policy Adviser and Former Ambassador Delia Domingo Albert (DDA), BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana, BCDA President and CEO Aileen Zosa, CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes Devanadera, CIAC OIC President and CEO Darwin Cunanan, and Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega also delivered their respective messages. SGV Clark Partner-in-Charge and Head Margaux A. Advincula (MAA), Market Group 7 leader Jose Pepito E. Zabat III (JEZ), and SGV Clark Tax Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL) organized the event. The Doing Business in Clark publication is the latest edition in SGV’s Doing Business in the Philippines series. The brochure presents an economic overview of Clark, its taxation rules, investment policies, incentives for investors, and essential information on Clark’s assets.