Our guest of honor, Mr. Rodolfo Ang, Vice President for Administration of the Ateneo de Manila University, Distinguished Members of the Board of Accountancy led by Hon. Noe G. Quinanola, PICPA President Gerard B. Sanvictores, Ms. Maria Victoria C. Espano Former Chairman and CEO of Punongbayan and Araullo, Mr. Roderick M. Danao, Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Philippines, Mr. Romualdo “Boyet” V. Murcia, Chairman and Managing Partner of P&A Grant Thornton,
The National Presidents of various professional and sectoral organizations, Mr. Jun R. Ravalo, of the Association of CPAs in Public Practice, and National Association of CPAs in Education as represented by Mr. Louie Gene Marasigan.
Our Past Presidents, Mr. Ricky Lim, Ms. Cora Rey, Mr. Edwin Medalla, Atty. Betty Salvador, Mr. Aphat Martinez, Ms. Fedna Parallag, Ms Connie Cadelina, Ms Anna Lissa Chua-Dycaico, Atty. Walter Abela, Mr. Julian Tecson, Ms. Cynthia Molina, Ms Janis Maghinay, Ms Lolit Tang, and Mr. Wowie Rogel.
Your excellencies, Distinguished Luminaries of the Accountancy Profession,
Esteemed Guests, ACPACIans, Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening!
My presence here today only proves that what’s bound to happen will happen without one forcing it. And as they say, what’s meant for you will always find its way to you. It is a Divine Providence: God’s all-wise guidance, control and intervention in the universe to fulfill His plan.
I never expected or in my deepest conscious thoughts imagined that I will be taking my oath of office before you, as one of the Board of Directors much more as your President. But the call of duty outweighs any hesitation for me to be of service to our precious organization and its members. And with your indulgence, allow me to take a step back and to take you on my journey with ACPACI. I joined ACPACI more than a decade ago when boss, PwC Partner and 2017 Past President, Ms Fedna Parallag requested us to join her attending the organization’s General Membership Meetings. I later found myself enjoying different chairmanships within the organization: Sports and Fellowship, Membership Development and Retention, Annual National Convention, and then Professional Development. In 2018, I had a very bad accident while attending our National Convention, I broke my pelvic bone after I slipped in the shower. I knew that it would take a while for me to be back because of that horrible accident. And then the pandemic happened. That’s when I realized that it was just God’s way of protecting me and preparing me for a healthy comeback. Fast forward 2023, I was then given the opportunity to be elected as one of the Board of Directors representing PwC Philippines then got re-elected for 4 consecutive years, and the rest was history.
With all humility and a heart full of gratitude, I am standing here in front of you not as your President but as one of your humble sons who will be inheriting a 52-year-old prestigious national organization which not only builds expertise and creates an environment of learning and fellowship but also undertakes relevant social development and nation building projects dedicated in commerce and industry sector. To our past presidents, thank you for your gallant effort in working tirelessly in shaping what ACPACI has become today. We will take care of this organization and will whole-heartedly work harder to ensure we achieve greater heights in the years to come.
As we enter a transformative new era of leadership, we embrace a new philosophy through our theme, “Leadership with Integrity, Driving Excellence”, where ethical behavior and high performance are intertwined to create sustainable, long-term success. It is no longer about titles or positions, but rather character. It is about the courage to do what is right, even when no one is watching.
For Certified Public Accountants in commerce and industry, integrity has always been our foundation. It is the compass that guides every judgment we make, every report that we prepare, and every piece of advice that we give. Integrity builds trust — trust with organizations, stakeholders, and the public we serve. Integrity underpins public trust and ensures truthful financial reporting that can combat corruption. It is a national imperative for economic stability and good governance, protecting the investors and other stakeholders, and upholding the accountancy profession’s reputation against pressures to misrepresent facts for purposes of personal gain.
Yet integrity alone is not enough. We also are called to pursue excellence. And by excellence, we mean, mastery of our profession, a commitment to lifelong learning, and the drive to innovate in a business landscape that never stops evolving. It means delivering value beyond the numbers, stepping into the role of strategic partners, business leaders, and nation-builders.
As members of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry, we stand at the heart of the organizations we serve. We help shape decisions, strengthen institutions, and guide businesses to grow with purpose.
This 2026, we reaffirm who we are and what we stand for. We must lead with integrity — anchored on ethics, transparency, and trust. We must drive excellence — through competence, innovation, and unwavering professionalism.
Because when integrity leads and excellence drives, we do more than build successful organizations. We build a stronger profession. And together, we build a better future.
At this point, I want to take a moment to honor a few people who stood beside me on this journey:
To Mr. Rudy Ang – Former Dean of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business – thank you for allowing me to attend my MBA graduation when I still could not walk without me saying a word to you. I only wanted my parents to witness and experience seeing their son receive his MBA diploma from the Ateneo. You are indeed a true leader who hears what the heart says.
To my alma maters – PUP- Taguig and Ateneo de Manila University – thank you for not only giving me the education and in shaping the values that I carry with me.
To my bosses/PwC Tax- CAS Partners, Ms Flords and Ms Jane, whom I consider as partners, turned into mentors and friends for their incredible guidance and support.
To Ms Fedna – for always being present in all crucial times and important milestones of my career-life. Your guidance and willingness to step in when I needed it most made a world of difference. Thank you for being patient in mentoring and allowing me to grow both in PwC and ACPACI.
To all PwC Partners who are present here today - (Sir Rick, Sir Aldie, Sir Carlos, Ms Malou, Ms Roselle, Sir Robbie, Sir Brando, Sir Nelson, Ms Jane Balboa) I share this moment of pride with all of you and the firm. Thank you for sparing some time and showing your incredible support today.
To my CAS colleagues/co-directors (May, Renz, Anthony and Badz) – I will be forever indebted to you.
To all ACPACI Past Presidents and Directors whom I consider as my parents in ACPACI – thank you for bringing light to my vision and leading me to the right direction. I will be forever grateful for all the lessons you taught me and this rare opportunity you bestowed upon me. I will make sure to always listen to your advice as I always value your wisdom.
To my Tatay – I hope I made you prouder up there and how I wish I can see your smile again to see how proud you are.
To my Nanay – thank you for being there to support me and for all your sacrifices in making sure I receive and experience the best in life when you could not wear any decent clothes yourself. We’ll travel together again soon.
To my younger sister and nieces, who are more than 10,000 miles away, I’ll visit you again soon. Please don’t forget to transfer my 1,000 pounds to my BPI account soon so I can book a flight to UK for summer.
To all ACPACIans – You are the ones who brought me here – I offer my heartfelt gratitude and I will exert all my efforts to be your servant leader – committed to your professional development and education, addressing common challenges in accounting, business finance and administration, and fostering interaction amongst our members in commerce and industry, and facilitating knowledge sharing and professional fellowship. Join me in continuing the legacy that our past presidents passed down to us. We are truly blessed by this legacy and we shall carry forward.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam! May all our actions, work and life endeavors be directed toward always praising and honoring God.
Thank you and Mabuhay ang ACPACI!