Isla Lipana fetes clients as it clears path for next century of innovation, growth
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Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine firm of the PwC network, feted close to 600 guests with delicious food, good music as well as fun and entertainment as it celebrated 100 years of trusted service.
The jam-packed event at the Marriott Grand Ballroom also served as a reunion for former chairmen and senior partners of the auditing firm as it was attended by no less than Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, Tammy Lipana, and Judith Lopez.
The program began with a mixture of dance, circus, and light spectacles from the Legato Visual Performing Arts, while PwC Glee and singer Morissette Amon serenaded the crowd after. World-renowned El Gamma Penumbra also depicted Filipino values through a shadow play.
Isla Lipana is resilient, evolving, growing steadily
In his welcome remarks, Isla Lipana chairman and senior partner Roderick Danao focused on the core values of PwC that include acting with integrity, making a difference, caring, working together, and reimagining the possible.
As the audit firm commemorated its 100th year and generations of accountants, lawyers and other professionals, Danao expressed his gratitude to the clients and stakeholders of Isla Lipana.
“This once-in-a-lifetime milestone would not be perfect without you, our most valued clients and stakeholders. I would like to express my gratitude to you for sticking it out with us, through ups and downs. Thank you for your trust and support,” Danao said.
Danao pointed out that the company is excited and optimistic about what the future holds with the new set of leaders under the current administration.
“Through periods of economic disruptions, wars, and political upheavals across ten decades, the firm has been resilient, evolving and growing steadily at its own pace,” Danao said.
PwC launched The New Equation strategy exactly a year ago to build trust and deliver sustained outcomes.
“We believe that successful organizations of the future will be the ones that create a virtuous circle of building trust and delivering sustained outcomes. We look forward to working with you to create a better future for our country and for our stakeholders,” Danao said.
Centennial initiatives, advocacies
Isla Lipana Chairman Emeritus and ESG Leader Alexander Cabrera talked about the company’s projects for its 100th year, including the 100 Days of Christmas that targeted children in impoverished areas around the country, the Our Values Photo-Story Contest focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 101 Games to provide materials to teachers on how to gamify basic education in language, math, and science.
Cabrera also discussed the series titled The Centenarian: In the mind of the CEO, which aimed to develop the right kind of leaders in the government and private sectors.
Amid the onslaught of the global health pandemic, Isla Lipana pulled together a Healthcare Heroes’ Fund in the form of a UITF account, initially valued at P100,000, for selected healthcare frontliners of hospitals nationwide.
The firm’s foundation is looking forward to partnering with other foundations, corporate supporters, and individuals who feel the same gratefulness to our healthcare frontliners.
“After 100 years, we are still here, praise be to God. Pandemic or not, rain or not, traffic or more traffic — you are here with us, clients, colleagues and friends — and that really warms our hearts,” Cabrera said.
Mary Jade T. Roxas-Divinagracia, Deals & Corporate Finance Managing Partner and Markets Leader at Isla Lipana, said the auditing firm has a new service focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
“I’m sure many of you also have it at the top of your agenda. Working with our colleagues in the region gives us the range of capabilities and the credibility to work on complex assignments,” Divinagracia said.
According to Divinagracia, what is more fulfilling is being able to connect local entrepreneurs and family businesses with foreign and domestic investors. She said that bringing together the strength of market knowledge and financial capability means bigger and better businesses for Filipinos.
“As we celebrate our Centennial, we also celebrate the beginning of the next 100 years and renew our commitment to our global strategy of building trust and delivering sustained outcomes,” Divinagracia added.
During the program, Isla Lipana Vice Chairperson and Tax Managing Partner Malou Lim led the tribute to the late senior partner Jose Florento.
Light moment
Tammy Lipana, who served as chairman and senior partner of Isla Lipana from 2006 to 2009, shared a light moment with her mentor Corazon de la Paz – Bernardo, who headed the auditing firm for two decades from 1981 to 2001.
De la Paz-Bernardo was married to the late National Power Corp. (Napocor) chairman and Presidential Adviser on Energy during the term of the late president Corazon Aquino and later had her second marriage with her high school classmate and former President Commissioner of ANZ-Jakarta Enrique Bernardo who passed away in 2019.
“Since then, Cora has been single and eligible. She is the only woman I know who proudly uses the family names of her two husbands. Who knows there may be a third. Joke lang po,” Lipana teased.
De la Paz-Bernardo, for her part, started her speech with “there is no truth to the rumor that I intend to get married soon.”
De la Paz-Bernardo, who first joined Price Waterhouse New York after finishing an MBA degree at Cornell University in New York as a Fulbright scholar, returned to the Philippines and joined then Joaquin Cunanan & Co./Price Waterhouse Philippines.
She became the first woman partner in the more than 100 years history of Price Waterhouse International in 1973 and eventually became chairman and senior partner in 1981.
“Cora has done much for the firm, including admitting several female partners during her 20 years term; that was before gender diversity became a buzzword in the business community,” Lipana said.
Eyeing the firm’s next 100 years
After the partners of Isla Lipana were introduced, former chairman and senior partner Judith Lopez led the ceremonial toast to celebrate the transition to the next 100 years.
“We're here tonight to celebrate a transition — from the last century to the next century, from an illustrious past to an innovative future, from one challenge to multiple challenges, from triumphs to inspiring wins,” Lopez said.
All guests left the ballroom with a smile after the fun-filled evening, optimistic about the return to normalcy after more than two years into the pandemic.
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