The Comptrollers’ Circle core team with FPRC president Cary Lopez and Lopez Holdings Corporation president, COO & CFO Salvador G. Tirona (4th and 5th from left)The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and annual general assembly with the theme “Two Decades of Commitment to Professional Excellence.”

The annual group-wide activity was held at ABS-CBN’s ELJ Communications Center. It aims to update comptrollers as well as accounting, finance and treasury officers on current developments on relevant topics outside the technical sphere of accounting, tax and financial reporting. The aim is to assist the members in their personal, spiritual and physical development.

Gracing the event were Cary Lopez Jr., president of First Philippine Realty Corporation and vice president of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH), as guest of honor and keynote speaker, and Salvador G. Tirona, president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Lopez Holdings Corporation, who gave the opening remarks.

The program started with the doxology led by Cindy Salud of InfoPro Business Solutions Inc. This was followed by the national anthem with Marjorie Salanga of First Balfour, after which the Lopez Credo was recited by Maria Fe Theresa Galindo of Thermaprime and Jonel Chavez of FPH.

This year’s assembly was special since past officers of the Comptrollers’ Circle were present to join the celebration—former Lopez Group comptrollers Pearl Catahan and Ramon Pagdagdagan, and former executive officer Marvi Marcelino.

Other invited speakers were Rev. Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez, SVD, who discussed spirituality in the workplace and blessed the comptrollers’ group.  Fr. Gomez is the president of Healing Eucharist Inc. and is usually the celebrant at the ABS-CBN Sunday TV mass.

The other speakers were the husband and wife tandem of Maribel Dionisio of AMD Love Consultants for Families and Couples and Dr. Allan Dionisio of The Medical City’s toxicology service department.  The couple, together with their daughter, presented the exciting topic “Dating Tips and Flirting with Finesse for Singles and Married.” The next topic was “Cash Course: How to Handle Money Instead of Money Handling You” by Chinkee Tan, a wealth and life coach and radio, television and social media personality.

The last speaker was Catahan, who was also a former senior vice president at FPH. She discussed life after retirement.

The anniversary conference was attended by Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Metro Manila Region chairman Ma. Teodoro Josephat Martinez. Also present was former Comptrollers’ Circle core team and current PICPA Metro Manila Geographical Area Office chairman Victoria Martinez.

During the fellowship, winners of “It’s Showtime’s” “Tawag ng Tanghalan” rendered song numbers to the pleasure of the participants. As in previous assemblies, Jei-Jei Gertes ably acted as host of the event.

On its 20th anniversary, the Comptrollers’ Circle continuously aims to maintain highquality financial reporting while promoting work-life balance among its members.  The Comptrollers’ Circle core team is composed of Gertes, Jingle Hernandez, Lanie Caimol, Mina Ubaña and Aldrin Cerrado.

Past and present officers and core team members blow the candles on the 20th anniversary cake

Rev. Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez (5th from left) with the Comptrollers’ Circle core team (l-r): Aldrin Cerrado of ABS-CBN, Jingle Hernandez of Lopez Inc., Lanie Caimol of Lopez Holdings, Mina Ubaña of FPH and Jei-Jei Gertes of Third Generation Holdings

With former Lopez Group comptrollers Pearl Catahan and Ramon Pagdagdagan and former executive officer Marvi Marcelino

The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle celebrates two decades of commitment to professional excellence