Last January 10, 2014 (Saturday), the National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, in cooperation with Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co. (SGV), Navarro Amper and Co., R.G. Manabat and Co., and the University Of Santo Tomas Junior Philippine Institute Of Accountants, held their 2^nd academic conference entitled “Ascend: A Journey of a Lifetime”.

The registration for the said event started at around 7:00 until 8:00 in the morning. UST coordinators started with an invocation, followed by the singing of the national anthem. To entertain the guests, some Thomasians prepared a dance number. There was also an audio visual presentation from KPMG.

Speakers from different firms were invited to share how each field of accounting differs from each other. The first speaker to start the event was Ms. Nicolette Manito. She’s currently working as an audit associate for the finance service department in KPMG. Ms. Manito shared her experiences on how she struggled as a student and how she surpassed them all when she graduated and started working. The second speaker was Ms. Antoinieta Fortuna Ibe, the commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission. She shared how working in the government molded her to become who she is now. Imparting some knowledge on the field of private accounting was Mr. Raul C. Pagdanganan, CEO and president of Delos Santos Medical Center. He shared his experience with regards to the different jobs he undertook and how even after several job shifting, he ended up very successful.  In the field of education, Mr. Lance Hogar, a professor at the University of Santo Tomas shared how fun it is for him to teach students and hone them to become future CPAs. The last two speakers are both in public practice. Ms. Marie Stephanie C. Tan-Hamed, a partner in SGV, and Mr. Jose Mari M. Solano, Senior Manager in Navarro Amper and Co. Even though they are working in different firms, they both said that being in public practice might be tiring but at the same time, it is also challenging. They shared that one of the best ways to be exposed to the accounting profession is to enter an auditing firm in which one can show his or her full capabilities as an accountant.

Before finally ending the academic conference, the NFJPIA-NCR showed the JPIAns a video presentation of several events that would still take place sometime within the year.  Afterwards, a UST Coordinator closed the program with her closing remarks, formally ending the event at around 4:00 in the afternoon.

(Article by: Iris Altura and Mikee Chua / Photo Credit: JPIA)