ABS-CBN chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio (center) with the Comptrollers’ Circle’s Jei-Jei Gertes and Aldrin Cerrado The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle recently held its 18th anniversary celebration and annual general assembly at the ELJ Communications Center in ABS-CBN.

The conference coincided with the group’s Christmas get-together. The annual activity aims to update comptrollers and accounting/finance officers on current developments in relevant topics outside the technical sphere of accounting, tax and financial reporting. The goal is to assist the members in their personal, spiritual and physical development.
The group invited Ernie Lopez, head of ABS-CBN Publishing Inc., to be their guest of honor and inspirational speaker during the conference.
What moved everyone was the personal sharing of the special guest. The chief content officer of ABS-CBN and president of ABS-CBN University, Charo Santos-Concio is considered one of the most influential women in the country.

She recalled her inspiring life, from her simple childhood in Mindoro to her career marked by patience, perseverance, hard work and dedication. She talked about her passion for movies that made her an acclaimed actress, her role in television and film production, and about always trying to make it home in time for dinner with her husband and sons. She also discussed her journey as an unexpected leader. The sharing of Lopez and Concio were well applauded by the group; in return, they graciously allowed everybody to have selfies and “groufies” with them.

Other invited speakers were Danny Cabulay, vice president for Marketing and chief data scientist of Tabula Rasa Consultancy Corporation, and Prof. Maria Victoria Caparas, head of MV Q Caparas Management Consultancy Services and associate professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific. Cabulay discussed service excellence for finance executives, while Prof. Caparas focused on work-life balance discussions.
Ellen Almodiel of Rockwell Land Corporation led the recitation of the Lopez Credo. As in previous assemblies, Jei-Jei Gertes of Third Generation Holdings served as host of the event.

Radio DJ and MOR 101.9 showbiz correspondent Jhai Ho hosted the party. Noven Belleza and Eumee Capile, winners of Tawag ng Tanghalan on “Showtime,” rendered song numbers.
Earlier, the Comptrollers' Circle participated in the 72nd annual national convention of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, which was attended by around 5,000 CPAs from all over the country. Two core officers of the group were part of the PICPA convention committee, ABS-CBN CFO Aldrin Cerrado (Metro Manila Region chairman) and Gertes

(regional presentation and fellowship).
The Lopez Group Comptrollers’ Circle continuously aims to maintain high-quality financial reporting and to promote work-life balance among its members. Aside from Cerrado and Gertes, the Comptrollers’ Circle core team also includes Jingle Hernandez of Lopez Inc., Lanie Caimol of Lopez Holdings and Mina Ubaña of First Philippine Holdings Corporation.ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. head Ernie Lopez (in light-colored shirt, center) poses for a class photo with the comptrollers and accounting/finance officers