Last March 17, 2022, the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (PRBOA) has launched the year-long celebration of the Centenary of the Accountancy Profession in the Philippines, with the theme, “Celebrating the Past. Transforming the Present. Shaping the Future.” at the Manila Hotel. This was the first major in-person Accountancy event to be held since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Accountancy profession will turn 100 years old on March 17, 2023, exactly one year after the launch.
The 100-year celebration kick-off, as spearheaded by PRBOA, was also in collaboration with different accounting organizations in the Philippines: Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), led by its president, Ms. Meredith Miguel; Association of CPAs in Commerce & Industry (ACPACI), headed by its president, Mr. Aphat C. Martinez; Association of CPAs in Public Practice (ACPAPP), led by its president, Ms. Jill Santos; Government Association of CPAs (GACPA), led by its president, Atty. Tess Villafuerte, and National Association of CPAs in Education (NACPAE), headed by its president, Mr. Allan Frank Silva.
Reading the room, it was a special and heartwarming occasion, in spite of the global news that weighing heavily on everyone (the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the high pump prices of gasoline), because this was the first face-to-face gathering, after several online webinars and virtual celebration of accountancy events since the coronavirus outbreak. It was really nice to reconnect and to see everybody in the flesh, and to be back in the world after a long period of isolation.
Many accounting luminaries and visitors graced the function that day, including the event’s major sponsors: Mr. Friederic Landicho of Deloitte Phils., Ms. Marivic Espano of Grant Thornton, P&A Phils., PICPA Past president, Ms. Sonia Golez, Mr. Wilson Tan of SGV, Mr. Cocoy Tacandong of Reyes Tacandong &Co., Mr. Mike Roxas of Roxas Cruz Tagle & Co., Mr. Ramon Garcia of Ramon F. Garcia & Co. (Crowe Phils.), Mr. Wilson Tan of SGV, Ms. Geraldine Apostol, PICPA MMR Chair, and a lot more of well-known figures were in the convention area of the historic Manila Hotel. Those major sponsors who didn’t make an appearance but sent in their representatives instead were: Mr. Ric Danao of PwC Phils., Ms. Sharon Dayoan of KPMG Phils., Atty. Zenaida Alcantara, Past president of PICPA, and Mr. Aldrin Cerrado, PICPA GAO Chair. Still, it’s tough not to overemphasize how big of a day this was for the Accountancy profession.
PRBOA Chair, Hon. Noe Quiñanola delivered his centenary message to the audience, and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner, Hon. Jose Y. Cueto, Jr., likewise followed suit. PRC Chair, Atty. Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr. and SEC Chair, Emil Benito Aguro also gave their respective speeches addressed to the esteemed crowd.
Indeed, the year 2022-2023 will be a busy year for the profession. The grand centenary celebration on March 17, 2023 will be a highly anticipated event and something that we, accountants, look forward to with enthusiasm. Numerous exciting events will unfold and happen as we all gear up for this culminating Centenary celebration next year. Hon Thelma S. Ciudadano, Vice-Chair of PRBOA and the Chairperson of the Centenary Celebration Committee, presented the timeline of activities for the Centenary celebration. She also enjoined everyone to actively participate in the programs and activities lined up by her committee, including the Search for 100 Filipino CPAs who are worthy of honor and emulation. The Committee sought the assistance of the different professional and sectoral organizations to administer the nomination process for each sector. Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva, former PRBOA Member, formally closed and wrapped up the program. The accountants can also look forward to future conferences, workshops, social events, seminars, sports fests, and other relevant events, hopefully, all to be done face-to-face, during the centenary celebration period. You can find the schedule of activities updates and programming on PRBOA’s website.
Afterward, the organizers threw an after-party for the Centenary launching at the hallowed Manila Hotel. The celebration didn’t stop when the ceremony ended. The CPAs and guests let loose at the dinner/ fellowship and celebrated the first face-to-face gathering after two long years of being quarantined. They were thrilled to see everyone once again. Entertainment was provided by Ms. Yumi Sansano, 2019 Champion of the World Division Winner for Opera, who serenaded the audience with a medley of her Kundiman Songs, and by the Kaisahan ng Lahi Dance Ensemble, formerly known as Bayanihan & Ramon Obusan Folkloric Dancers, the group presented a dance performance to the soiree attendees.
This fellowship was a moment to cherish, not only because it was an opportunity chat up and reconnect with fellow accountants, but also for the memories it conjured up. A necessary lesson for this occasion: Carpe Diem, seize the day! And have fun, fun, fun! Hopefully, the Accountancy profession can keep up the momentum until the centennial celebration next year and beyond, and everything is back on track.