Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle: ‘Celebrating 25 Years of Financial Stewardship, Building Strong Foundations and Inspiring Future Success’The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle celebrated its 25th anniversary with more than 250 accounting and finance personnel joining the commemoration, themed “Celebrating 25 Years of Financial Stewardship, Building Strong Foundations and Inspiring Future Success,” at the Rockwell Business Center in Ortigas Center.

Over the years, the Comptrollers’ Circle has been a beacon of excellence, collaboration and support within the Lopez Group. Together, the members have navigated challenges, celebrated successes and forged lasting relationships that have enriched their professional lives and strengthened their respec - tive companies.

The late Lopez Group chairman Oscar M. Lopez had initiated the formation of the circle in 1999, making it the first of its kind among Philippine conglomerates. He envisioned a team that would provide the Lopez Group with uniform, reliable, accurate and fair financial information that would fast-track the consolida - tion of financial reports at the group level and aid in strategic planning.

The Lopez Group Comp - trollers’ Circle was organized to be a platform for the group’s accounting and finan - cial teams’ leaders to exchange ideas, enhance their profes - sional skills and remain at the forefront of industry develop - ments. It has grown into a vital network of accounting, tax and finance professionals dedicated to upholding the highest standards of excel - lence, ethical conduct and innovation.

The Comptrollers’ Circle supports and equips the members through training sessions and seminars that tackle updates in accounting standards, taxation, and de - velopments in Bureau of In - ternal Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission and other government regulations. Additionally, the circle orga - nizes seminars on nontechni - cal topics such as work-life balance, health, spirituality, family relationships and others. It also promotes team - work, employee satisfaction and camaraderie through its annual general assemblies and fellowships which are usually held during the Christmas season.

Over the past 25 years, the group has had around 200 members and four group comptrollers in Atty. Rommel Duran, Pearl Catahan, Ramon Pagdagdagan and Salvador Tirona. The executive core team includes Jingle Her - nandez of Lopez Inc., Lanie Caimol of Lopez Holdings Corporation, Mina Ubaña of First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Ellen Almodiel of Rockwell Land Corpora - tion, Loraine Atienza of ABSCBN Corporation and Jei-Jei Gertes of Third Generation Holdings Corporation.

First Philippine Holdings Corporation vice chairman Benjamin R. Lopez (5th from left) and The Rockwell Club president Beaver Lopez (7th from left) with former and current executive core officers of the Comptrollers’ Circle

The Comptrollers’ Circle, through group comptroller Salvador Tirona (6th from left), receives an award of appreciation from Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Metro Manila Region chair Katherine Sobremonte. Also in photo are former group comptrollers Ramon Pagdagdagan (leftmost) and Pearl Catahan (5th from left) and the circle’s executive core officers