We all look forward to celebrating Christmas and the holidays in December. But for some, it’s a mixed feeling—especially those who have revenue targets to meet, reports to complete, and taxes to comply with. And December often carries the highest financial budget for most companies. Businesses...
SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) Chairman Emeritus Jose T. Sio has been named an honorary life member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Accountants (PICPA), the accredited professional organization of certified public accountants (CPAs). The organization recognized Sio for “over 20 years of...
Ten years ago, my graduate school research proposal aimed to assess the public’s perception of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). My initial question was why CPAs do not seem to receive the same level of respect accorded to other esteemed professions such as doctors and lawyers. My research...
Nov. 23 was a red-letter day for my family. Four days before his birthday, my son, Carl Lorenz Cervantes, launched his book, Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipino Indigenous Wisdom for Personal and Shared Well-Being, published by North Atlantic Books. It is a proud moment for a parent, naturally. But as I...
In 2025, success is no longer defined by the number of certificates, degrees, or the prestige of your alma mater, but by the skills you possess. It 's not about having a high intelligence quotient (IQ), but about cultivating a high emotional quotient (EQ). A recent survey from McKinsey Global...
It would be safe to say that most people do not view stress as something they would want. It is generally considered a negative thing that causes many health issues, including anxiety, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes, which can even lead to death. What causes...
The Philippines is currently ranked as the country most at risk from natural climate threats, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2024-2025 Global Perception Survey. This ranking is based on three critical indicators: exposure to climate-related hazards, population susceptibility, and a lack...
“Democracy fails not when people vote wrongly, but when they vote without understanding.” In recent weeks, major business groups, including the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), have been issuing statements calling for greater transparency and public accountability in...
SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers, reported that business unit SM Offices is scaling up its use of renewable energy (RE) as part of a broader push to make sustainability a driver of growth and tenant value. SM Offices now sources more than...
Any organization—be it a business, non-government organization (NGO), charitable or religious institution, government agency, or the government itself—can fall victim to an inside job where the very people entrusted to look after its best interests victimize it. While fraud by insiders isn’t...
D&L Industries Inc. has been recognized by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) for the sixth consecutive year for its exemplary corporate governance practices based on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS). The firm said in a disclosure to...
In every organization, a persistent, inconvenient truth lurks: we sometimes simply don’t like our co-workers. The reasons range from clashing personalities and work styles to offhand remarks that sting. In the complex reality of the workplace, personal chemistry is not always a luxury we can...
