(Incoming President of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry, ACPACI)

January 27, 2012,    
Hotel Intercontinental Hotel, Makati
6:00 p.m.

Please allow me to retrospect before I go down to serious business. Almost four decades ago, 15 individuals sought to create an institutional forum focused in the pursuit of common professional interest to public accountants.

These professionals formed the fledgling Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry, (ACPACI). Over the years, through the unrelenting commitment, professionalism and sheer hard work of its leaders, ACPACI has emerged as one of the most distinguished associations in the accounting profession – providing quality financial and allied services directed to attaining effective business decisions.
No amount of words can ever express our gratitude to our founding leaders and past leaders of ACPACI. You have all guided ACPACI to where it is today. For that, I salute you. You are our idols!

Last year was another great year for ACPACI. The remarkable achievements of our Board of Directors in 2011 speak volume of the selfless deeds, sacrifices, time and effort these leaders have shared to ACPACI.

But we must not rest on our laurels!

The hard work, sacrifices, and sometimes weekends away from our love ones will continue on. Just like what the predecessor of ACPACI did in the past, they move on. Always keeping their sights forward, never veering, in the quest for more achievements and success for ACPACI.
This is what the Board promises to do. For ACPACI to move forward.

“Sustaining Integrity in a Challenging Environment” the Board has chosen this theme for 2012. Certainly, there will be new challenges and problems along the way. Cause, really, there is no shortcut to success.

What we shall do is to uphold with integrity, honesty and dedication the best practices we, as accountable officers, have proffered to our ACPACIANs and partners in our profession.

Forward!
Sustained!
Integrity!
Challenges!

These are the words that will be the driving force of your Board. Allow me to enumerate my five point agenda that the Board will have its ‘hands-on’ to lead the way.

Point no. 1; inculcate the value of integrity among its members. We have to accept the reality that ours is a profession surrounded by temptations. But if we hold firm to ones’ self integrity, the integrity of our profession, will follow suit. Remember Heidi Mendoza? She was the state worker who burst into the public’s consciousness during the plea bargain hearings held in Congress. She went up against the country’s monolithic culture of graft and corruption, armed with her integrity, principles and values. She made the choice not to be corrupted by the system. We too, have made our choice! Do you agree with me?

Point no. 2; solid membership database. Last year, 84 members were added to ACPACI. The challenge this year is to meet or surpass this number. But more importantly, we will encourage our members to be more active and participate in all our activities. We will also take advantage of the power of social networking, develop referral programs and to tap other organizations. But, if we have to literally go door-to-door to encourage other CPAs in Commerce and Industry to join our association, we will do so. We’ll show them what are the benefits of belonging to an established association like ACPACI can do to their careers. We will grow together!

Point no. 3; professional upliftment. To keep moving forward, it is paramount that we continue to educate our members. We will give them the seminars that they need to keep abreast with the developments in our profession. Lined-up are seminars about International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Tax Updates and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rules and Regulations. As a sign that we truly care, seminars in line with making our members well-rounded persons, we will have Personality Development, Leadership seminars and others. Rest assured our members will not be left behind.

Point no. 4; social responsibility. Alongside our professional upliftment is our personal upliftment. If we become well-rounded individuals, we could serve better our members, our people and our nation. We will always bear in mind that blessings are to be shared with the less privileged.
Important activities this year include participation in DAPE, twice a year.  There will be a Dental mission in Sitio Lambac in Quezon City. We will also conduct flower arrangement tutorial to teach members and their families a hobby which in turn could also be a potential income earning activity. The Board has also chosen two sectors that will be the focal of ACPACI’s social responsibility for this year; the senior citizens and the youth.

Point 5: Improvement in Internal System. The Board will make necessary procedures to improve its collection of receivables, prepare its system to address the growing number of members, to redo and revise the ACPACI Brochures and amendment of By-laws, if needed.  These are some of the things your Board hopes to accomplish this year.

In a nut shell, my dream is to make ACPACI a strong organization. An organization that has its own backbone with thousands of active members who can say it’s more fun in ACPACI!  To be an organization with enough funds to support all its activities; giving all its members seminars and updates that are truly remarkable.  To give back to society through scholarship grants to deserving financially challenged accounting students.  This is my dream; a dream that may not happen during my term, but we’ll make sure to jumpstart this year with the help and mentoring of our founders and past presidents.

These and a lot more will be the focus of concentration of the Board. Daunting task? Probably, but I am not a bit worried. I have the Board, the ACPACIans and most especially, God to back me up and make this journey of ours as enjoyable and fruitful to everyone! Do you agree?

Before I close, let me share with you this nugget of wisdom –

No matter what the challenges, adversities, and obstacles you faced.
You can come out victorious.
No matter what the naysayers and critics say.
God still got your back.
No matter how many times you've failed.
Keep trying you can make it to the finish line.
No matter what comes your way,
Winning is not an option but the only way.

Thank you very much.
God bless us all and good evening!