It was a privilege to join the Joint Induction and Turnover Ceremonies of PICPA CDO Mis Or and Picpa Northern Mindanao. It was made even more special because PICPA CDO–Misamis Oriental Chapter is my mother chapter where I started my consistent active involvement with PICPA, becoming its youngest chapter president in 2010 and PICPA Northern Mindanao Region is my home region where I represented to PICPA National Board as National Vice President for Operations and National Vice President for Public Practice from fiscal years 2020 to 2022.
I was particularly honored to formally introduce no less than the PICPA National President, Dionisio M Villeta, who served as the inducting officer during the occasion. I have known our PICPA President for many years now. He has been a great friend and supporter. During my term as the 2022 National President of the Association of CPAs in Public Practice, he was there to support our ACPAPP events during my term. He has been in constant communication, celebrating with me on my milestone accomplishments, both professionally and personally. I have known him to be a man of humility, a man of integrity, and a man of dignity. Thank you so much President Diony for gracing our event despite your very hectic schedule of going rounds for various chapter induction ceremonies. I am honored and elated to be told by you that you cannot say no to me when I was making the best effort to ensure that you come to CDO for the event.
My warmest congratulations to the new leadership of PICPA Cagayan de Oro–Misamis Oriental Chapter and PICPA Northern Mindanao Region. May your term be defined not simply by the programs you accomplish, but by the professionals you inspire, the communities you strengthen, and the legacy of service you leave behind. I must say that speaking before colleagues, friends, mentors, and the next generation of leaders during this event reminded me that leadership in our profession is a continuing journey — we are entrusted with the responsibility to serve, and in time, to help prepare others to lead.
To our new CPAs: earning those three letters (CPA) is a remarkable achievement, but it is also the beginning of a much greater responsibility. Carry them with competence, integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the public interest.
I have served PICPA and the Philippine accountancy locally, nationally and internationally. Locally and nationally, I have been very active with PICPA since 2004. Internationally, I have been very active with AFA, CAPA, and IFAC since 2022. Coming back to my mother chapter and my home region is always a reminder of an important truth: wherever our professional journey may take us, we never outgrow the community that first gave us the opportunity to learn, serve, and lead.
Congratulations to our new PICPA leaders and our newest CPAs! May you continue to EMPOWER our profession and help build a stronger, more future-ready accountancy community.