March 2023

SGV Tax Senior Manager Atty. Karen Calam-Ibañez was a speaker at the 2023 European Honorary Consuls' Meeting organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Visayas Chapters on 30 January 2023 at Citadines Cebu City. 30 honorary consuls, key government officials, and representatives from different foreign embassies and business associations attended the meeting. Atty. Karen talks about relevant business and regulatory matters Atty. Karen discussed the business and regulatory landscape in the Philippines from a legal perspective. Other speakers discussed topics covering recent political and economic developments in the Philippines and in ASEAN, as well as the policies and advocacies of the business community between Europe and the Philippines. In addition, the Honorary Consuls for Visayas gave an update to the Heads of Missions on the present business environment and how the Philippines compares to its ASEAN counterparts. Atty. Karen (fourth from left) with the other speakers Other speakers were Senior Economist at ING Bank Philippines Nicholas Antonio Mapa, ECCP Board Member Jochen Bitzer, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Economic and Trade Sector Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines Philipp Dupuis, Honorary Consul for Visayas and Mindanao, Consular Office of Switzerland Mathias Bergundthal, Honorary Consul of the British Consulate in Cebu City Tamsin Monahan Booth, and ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein. They talked about the 2023 Philippine Economic Outlook, Business Outlook & ECCP 2023, the EU-Philippines Trade and Investment Strategies & Recent Political Developments, updates on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and economic partnership, updates on the UK-Philippine economic ties, and the EU-ASEAN Business Sentiment - Business Outlook for 2023, respectively. Honorary Consuls Mark Frondoso from the Czech Republic, Alexander Hey from Sweden, Enrison Benedicto from Belgium, and Vice Consul Joan Young-Tiu from Norway were also present.

SGV Assurance Senior Managers Alvin Regaspi Lagrimas and Leomar G. Velez and Assurance Senior Associate Lois Dane R. Fernandez received individual awards in the Inclusiveness & Teaming category at the 1st Asia-Pacific Financial Services Organization (FSO) Assurance Recognition Program on 16 January 2023. The members of the SGV Global Bank Audit Team, namely Assurance Senior Managers Von Zierwin M. Villanueva and Angelica Joyce D. Tan and Assurance Associate Nestor Pabalinas Tulang received the team award for the Innovation category at the same event. Inclusiveness & Teaming category individual award winners Alvin, Leomar, and Lois Innovation category team award winners Von, Joyce, and Nestor of the SGV Global Bank Audit Team Alvin, Leomar, and Lois received the Inclusiveness & Teaming category award for leading and positively impacting their teams’ experiences and the working environment with inclusive and teaming behaviors. Meanwhile, the SGV Global Bank Audit Team composed of Von, Joyce, and Nestor received the Innovation category award for transforming and innovating the way the Firm delivers services to its global bank audit clients. Know more about their stories and how their contributions have made an impact with both their clients and within SGV here.  Congratulations to our winners!