On January 29, 2022, the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce & Industry (ACPACI) held its first virtual Induction of New Officers and Turnover Ceremonies with the theme, “Sustaining Relevance. Building on Legacy.”
The main highlight of the event was the oath taking of the new set of ACPACI Board of Directors, Chairpersons, Co-Chairs, and Advisers, headed by the 2022 ACPACI National President, Mr. Aphat C. Martinez. Just recently, he has been recognized as the 2021 Outstanding CPA for Commerce & Industry, an honor bestowed by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). He succeeded Atty. Walter L. Abela, Jr., ACPACI National President from 2020-2021, who provided the vision, competent leadership, and front-line support to the Association during the tumultuous times and nascent stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a health crisis that has impacted billions of people in every nation.
Keynote Address
Hon. Ramon M. Lopez, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary, delivered the keynote address and his inspirational message to the attendees live streaming via Zoom and Facebook platforms. In his speech, Hon. Lopez discussed how the corona virus outbreak has created a “new normal” and highlighted the role of technology in this pandemic-ridden world. He said that in spite of the difficulties, ACPACI members were up to the challenge. True. ACPACIans were built for times like these.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has created uncertainty as well as myriad challenges for all of us, including lockdowns, working remotely, and numerous business and social restrictions. Fortuitously, thanks to technology, ACPACI has been able to transition from face-to-face communication into online slash virtual meetings, such as the Induction and Turnover Ceremonies at bar.
With the pandemic, according to Hon. Lopez, businesses have started digitizing their processes, shifting towards automation and adapting Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems among others. He also mentioned several milestones and reforms under the Duterte administration: the CREATE, which brought down the corporate income tax rate to 25%; the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act and Public Service Act.
He also spoke about numerous DTI undertakings and training programs, and has brought the audience up to speed regarding the country’s COVID-19 latest status: We now have limited wide-area lockdowns, more of granular lockdowns, and the COVID cases have become more of the mild variants and asymptomatic. He also said that we have increased our vaccination rate and booster shots, thus, increasing our population’s immunity. He added the good news that we now have improved mobility, and the government has removed the quarantine requirements starting February 1, 2022.
Hon. Lopez concluded his keynote speech by congratulating the new Board of Directors and Officers led by Mr. Aphat C. Martinez. The latter, together with the outgoing President, Atty. Walter Abela, Jr. presented the Association’s token of appreciation to the Hon. Lopez as the Inducting Officer. Tokens of appreciation were also given to Hon. Noe G. Quiñanola, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and Ms. Marydith C. Miguel, PICPA National President, for gracing the event as ACPACI’s guests of honor, and they also delivered their respective inspirational messages and congratulatory remarks at the early part of the program.
Valedictory Address, Presentation of Presidential Awards
“We have shown that a pandemic cannot deter us in pursuing the goals of our organization, as we adapted to the new normal and acted based on our adjusted plans. We became resourceful, immediately and heavily transformed our activities and the channel of communication to digitalization.” -Atty. Walter L. Abela, Jr.
Prior to Atty. Walter L. Abela, Jr.’s valedictory address, an AVP of ACPACI’s 2021 and 2020 accomplishments and milestones were shown to the attendees. These include the conferences, membership meetings, and webinars organized by ACPACI, regulatory and special projects undertaken by the Association, Chapter Affiliation events and Social Involvement activities held, among others, with Atty. Abela at the helm.
Atty. Abela recounted his conversation with ACPACI Executive Director, Ms. Winnie Cuico, about him being one of the only two Presidents who served for more than one year. He ably led ACPACI during the extremely difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, indeed, he could also be aptly dubbed as ACPACI’s first pandemic president. Atty. Abela discussed the uncertainties, and hardships the Association had faced and surmounted, as well as its numerous accomplishments, services to the community, and milestones over the past two years (2020-2021) of the cataclysmic pandemic phase.
He thanked the Officers and Board of Directors, his family, PICPA, his firm, Deloitte Philippines and the firm’s Partners, and other organizational sectors for their understanding and outstanding support to him and to the Association during his two-year stint as ACPACI President.
He concluded his speech by quoting an African proverb which he mentioned in his inaugural speech as President two years ago, “alone we go faster, together we go further”.
The Induction Ceremony has always been a time-honored celebratory tradition of ACPACI. The event is an opportunity of the organization to express gratitude to the previous Board of Directors and Chairpersons for completing their term of service. As such, Atty. Abela, Jr. presented tokens of appreciation to the outgoing Board of Directors, Chairs and Co-Chairs in recognition for their selfless dedication and invaluable contribution to ACPACI. Ms. Winnie Cuico, Executive Director; Ms. Janis Maghinay, Ex-Officio and The Secretariat were also awarded the token of appreciation.
Next in the agenda was the presentation of Leadership Award conferred to Atty. Walter Abela, Jr., by incoming President, Mr. Aphat C. Martinez, and Executive Director, Ms. Wilhelmina Cuico, for his leadership and for a job well done!
Induction of Officers and Board of Directors, Turnover Ceremonies
Hon. Ramon M. Lopez presided the oath taking of the new Officers and Board of Directors. They were: Mr. Ma. Teodoro Josephat C. Martinez, Jr., President; Mr. Raymund C. Berja, Executive Vice President; Ms. Anna Lisa C. Chua-Dycaico, Secretary; Ms. Katherine U. Sobremonte, Treasurer; Ms. Rowena I. Lemen, Auditor; Mr. Alejandro A. Palacio, VP for Operations; Mr. Loudie Jay C. Fulguera, VP for Membership Services; Ms. Floredee T. Odulio, VP for Professional Development and Relevance Sustainability; Ms. Cecilia C. Carandang, VP for Community Development; Ms. Catherine E. Lopez, VP for Stakeholder Services; Mr. Joselito G. Diga, VP for Capacity Building; Mr. Kurt Kenneth W. Dayrit, VP for Partnership with Regulators and Professional Organizations; Ms. Wilhelmina C. Cuico, Executive Director; and Atty. Walter L. Abela, Jr., Ex-Officio.
The turnover ceremonies ensued where outgoing President, Atty. Walter Abela, Jr., presented the bell and gavel, then the ACPACI flag to incoming President, Mr. Aphat C. Martinez, thus honorably transferring the authority and responsibilities from the former to the latter, Mr. Martinez, who whole-heartedly accepted.
Inaugural Speech
In his inaugural speech, the newly sworn-in President, Mr. Aphat C. Martinez, presented his vision, set forth his goals and future strategy for ACPACI under his leadership. He identified the key result areas (KRA) to focus on as the Association gears up for 2022. They are: Capacity Building, Membership and Shareholder Services, Professional Development and Relevance Sustainability, and Community Development and Social Responsibility.
He enjoined the Officers and Directors to be “committed to promoting subject matter expertise through research, seminars, discussions and dynamic exchange of knowledge amongst ourselves. Let us never get tired of assisting our members in addressing their professional development through continuing learning.”
“Even if we have the best laid plans, and the bright people to carry them out, we may not be able to do more and achieve more if we do not know what to prioritize and focus on.” -Aphat C. Martinez, Jr.
Mr. Martinez acknowledged the importance of sustaining one’s integrity in the work environment, and ethics and professionalism go together, and urged the audience to look
and act with legal, ethical and honest intent, among others. He culminated his speech with a quote from famous leadership author and motivational speaker, Mr. Jack Canfield, “Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which half to believe.” Mr. Martinez declared that with so many (unfiltered) ideas around, we ought to have this capacity to discern what’s relevant and what’s not for the organization. He also called on the need for change-- “to rethink our strategies, create fresh models of engagements,” as we get ready to take on opportunities to develop ourselves.
Induction of Chairpersons, Co-Chairs, and Advisers
Afterwards, the Chairpersons, Co-Chairs, and Advisers were inducted by Hon. Noe G. Quiñanola. They were: Atty. Cesar Ylagan, Chairperson for the Regulatory and Special Projects, with Ms. Ma. Elaine De Guzman, Co-Chair, and Mr. Ricky Lim, acting as the Committee Adviser; Ms. Cynthia Campos and Atty. Jecelyn Briones, Chairpersons for Ways and Means, with Mr. Chito Fajiculay, Co-Chair, and Mr. Julian Tecson and Ms. Ning Santos as Advisers; Ms. Flor Gorospe, Chairperson for Professional Organizations Corporation, with Mr. Edgardo Molina, Co-Chair, and Atty. Samuel Villacampa as Adviser; Ms. Ofelia P. Oroceo, Chair for Election, and Ms. Cynthia Molina as Adviser; Ms. Nanette N. Tabuac, Chair for Publication and Website, with Atty. Mabel L. Buted, Mr. Meynard Sandala and Bladymir V. Tomas as Co-Chairs, and Ms. Janis Maghinay as Adviser; Mr. Marvin Galang, Chair for Digital Transformation, with Ms. Corazon Rey, Adviser.
Mr. Marvin Madrigalejo, Annual National Convention (ANC) Chair, and Ms. Connie Cadeliña, Adviser; Mr. Elano Marcelo, Chair for the Search for the Outstanding Accounting Students of the Philippines (SOASP), and Mr. Edward Rogel, Adviser; Ms. Meljorie A. Cruz, Chair for Membership Development, Retention and Services, with Mr. Mark Roldan Villarba as Co-Chair, and Ms. Paz Malubay and Ms. Nora Aquino acting as the Committee Advisers; Mr. Danilo Navarro, Chair for Chapter Affiliation, with Mr. Jovito V. Gertes as Co-Chair, and Ms. Lolita Tang as Adviser; Ms. Menchie Marcos, Chair for Fellowship and Sports, with Mr. John Manansala as Co-Chair, and Ms. Merie De Lemos as Adviser; Mr. Marvin Madrigalejo, Chair for Professional Development and Relevance Sustainability, with Mr. Paul Bryan Balon and Mr. Joel Chua as Co-Chairs, and Ms. Fedna Parallag and Ms. Rebecca Arago as the Committee Advisers; Mr. Noel T. Ang, Chair for Social Involvement, and Atty. Betty Salvacion, Adviser; Ms. Edna Constantino, Chair for Scholarship, with Ms. Liza S. Glodoviza as Adviser.
The Inductees were dressed up in their Filipiñana attire: formal Barong Tagalog for the gentlemen, the ladies, mostly, wore modern Kimona organza outfits, in overlaps or wraps, and the others were donned in their delicate mestiza dresses.
Prior to the Induction proper, a Eucharistic mass was held and officiated by Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD. Other highlights of the gathering were the presentation of the 2022 Theme and ACPACI logo, an intermission number from Ms. Yolly Rota from the ACPACI Central Luzon Chapter. She sang Never Enough from The Greatest Showman. Lastly, Ms. Katherine Sobremonte capped the momentous event by delivering the closing remarks.