1st SANDIWA CONVERGENCE

Luminary: Internalizing the Flame of Leading

October 17, 2014
The Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants organized its premiere and
momentous event entitled Sandiwa Convergence.
The event is themed
Luminary: Internalizing the Flame of Leading. It was exclusively conducted for the
BSA 4th Year Students. Invited guest speakers were branded as luminaries in their
own field for which, they have prominence. Their integrity and excellence is what
the JPIA have tapped them for.
Included in the roster of speakers are BIR
Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, CPA Hentje Leo L. Leano, CPA Licensure
Examination topnotchers, Rommel Rhino Edusma and Jackson Castillejos Apostol.
The event, Sandiwa Convergence 2014 headed by Jeffrey V. Hilario, Project Head, in
partnership with the Sycip, Gorres, Velayo and Company (SGV & Co. ), was held at
the Bulwagang Balagtas on October 17, 2014.
The program flow was led by Christine Claire Asuncion and ______________,
masters of the ceremony.
The seminar commenced with the Audio Visual
Presentation (AVP), followed by the invocation and the singing of the National
Anthem. Then the opening remark was delivered by the well-respected CPA Lilian
DLM. Litonjua, College of Accountancy and Finance (CAF), Chairperson. ______the
ambiance, Professor Sylvia A. Sarmiento, CPA (MBA), College Dean, also delivered a
brief message addressing the status quo of the Fourth year BSA students. She also
had the privilege of introducing the first guest speaker of the premiere event.
With history raring to be written, it was the guest speakers first speaking
engagement in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). The honorable
Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was the
one who led the line of speakers. How far she reached in her field was undeniably
extraordinary. She took up accounting in De La Salle University (DLSU) then law in
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), with second honors upon completion.
Crossing the border, she took her Masters in Law in Georgetown where she
graduated as B student.
The BIR Commissioner talked about the topic Sustaining Integrity beyond
Challenges. She talked about career, life in general. To quote her foremost insight,
..being a successful person is not just technical knowledge, being a successful
person is being clear and being sure of your moral compass. Recalling her days,
she added that her life was simple: what is right and what is wrong was clear
enough. Living in a fast-paced world, she said that there is a need to enlarge the
scale of what is absolutely right and absolutely wrong and to lessen the area of
relativity. She also emphasized that the public sectors are very much in need of
honest and sincere accountants. In addition, she said that accountants perform a
major role in nation building. To end, she said that she has high regard to young

accountants entering the Bureau of Internal Revenue before venturing the corporate
world.

The inspiring message of the first guest speaker was followed by an open
forum; participating BSA fourth year students and faculty members were allowed to
freely ask questions. One student captured the attention of the audience when she
posed this question to the Commissioner: Do you believe that the best things in
life are tax-free?
In reaction to the question,
_______________________________.
state her reaction to the

Comm.

Henares

simply

said

(that)

question

She was then given a simple token and a CERTIFICATE of Appreciation after
the open forum. An intermission number was also rendered by one of the JPIAs
talent Center.
After the intermission number, CPA ADAM LLONA DALIDA, 10 th placer in the
October 2014 CPA Licensure Examination, unexpectedly appeared in the event. He
briefly shared his experience during college days and review term, all the hardship
and sacrifice he made.
One of the speakers who were also present in the event was the seriouslooking CPA ROMMEL RHINO EDUSMA; he topped the Certified Public Accountant
Licensure Examination in July 2014. The first topnotcher produced by the widely
unheard school, Asia Development Foundation College (ADFC). He shared that
growing up he is used to hardship; working and switching schools. He added that
switching schools didnt dampen his spirit at all. Instead, he believed that every
school he attended has its own field of expertise.
What distinguished him from the people who have topped the professional
board exams was what he acknowledged, is a newfound appreciation of life--something he realized after surviving super typhoon Yolanda.
SINO NAG INTRODUCE kay CPA Leano?
Another speaker who also inspired the audience was the current Vice
President for Professional Development of the PICPA- Eastern Metro Manila Chapter
(EMMC), CPA HENTJE LEO L. LEANO. His topic was Truth behind the Legend. Like
many other successful accountants, he is also working in SGV and Co. as Tax Senior
Director. He then discussed his life in the corporate world and his experience of
teaching in the Far Eastern University (FEU). He added that what he liked about
SGV is its consistency in upholding truth and integrity. He also highlighted that
accountants should learn to maximize their opportunities as young as they are.

An intermission number was again rendered by ________________. After the

special number, the Secretary General, Abigail Cuaresma, warmly welcomed and
introduced the last speaker of the event.
The last speaker was the young and witty, CPA JACKSON CASTILLEJOS
APOSTOL, October 2013 CPA Licensure Examination topnotcher.
Recently, he is
employed as Associate 1 at SGV and Company. He shared his insights in life with
touch of delight and humor. He wittingly narrated his life five years ago when he
was in college. The students were all ears while he was narrating his story. He said
that he dreamt of being a topnotcher but did not really believe it could happen. He
wittingly talked about what he believed as lucky charms: red brief and red apple
(Chinese tradition) to pull some luck and confidence during the examination.
Lastly, he shared that his desire of being an accountant was fulfilled with the help of
his instructors, friends, family , a little of hard work and guidance from above.
The last three speakers, namely CPA Edusma, CPA Leano and CPA Apostol
were given Certificate of Appreciation for their inspirational messages.
The entire room was filled with excitement when the last part of the program
was announced. Students from the audience were asked to deliver a pick-up line/
banat line which relates to their accounting subjects. Three pairs of students
elatedly volunteered to join the game. Afterwards, the audience was asked to shout
for their bet of pair. The last standing pair won the pick-up line game.
A one-liner-witty-stance from _______ Elizon, BSA 4-__ caught the ears of the
audience which was eventually followed by a bedlam of laughter. For their prize, he
and his partner was given one box of puff corn each.
Another minute of silence took place when Mr. Joey Gumayan, President of
the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, PUP-Manila Chapter, delivered his brief
message for his co-graduating students. In conclusion, a panorama-style batch
picture was also taken before finally ending the event.#