AGAP’s 2023 ANNUAL CONVENTION – SEMINAR

SMX Convention Center Bacolod

3^rd Level, SM City, Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich Avenue, Bacolod City

October 18 – 21, 2023

Theme: “Inclusive and Innovative Finance: What Financial Managers and Practitioners Need to Know?”

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. . . .

We gather today, in this venue – the imposing SMX Convention Center Bacolod, at this capital of Negros Occidental, famed, prominent and well-known as the City of Smiles and “Maskara” Festival City. We have gathered here together for this important, long-established yearly activity – the AGAP Annual Convention-Seminar with this year’s theme that focuses on what, the financial managers and practitioners need to know, to be familiar with, and to understand what inclusive and innovative finance is

We celebrate with mixed emotions, expectations, and optimism, with gratitude and inspiration, because AGAP has reached this far.  However, we are missing someone, and there is that evident, manifest feeling of emptiness, desolation and sadness that envelops this gathering.

I feel compelled to recall and mention that on August 23, 2023 or fifty-six (56) days ago, we lost our admired friend and cherished president, Tina Rose Marie L. Canda.  It was an overwhelming loss for AGAP, for the service, and for us.  We lost her too early.  We grieved feeling certain emptiness within us, but then consoled by our faith that she is now at peace with her Creator. 

Tina was an exceptionally intelligent and judicious with a sense of purpose.  She resolutely pursued the AGAP’s vision and mission, prudently steering the Association for seven (7) years to reach its present status and prominence. She displayed unfaltering devotion to sworn duties, and firm espousal to the highest ethical standards in the government service. She epitomized the oft-quoted maxim, “a public office is a public trust”!  She was a blessing, a boon to the Association and to the DBM where she served as its Undersecretary and as the concurrent Officer-in-Charge! Thank you very much Tina!  We will surely miss you!  Rest in peace, and enjoy eternal bliss in God’s heavenly kingdom! 

While we are saddened by her ultimate physical absence, we still believe that we can still feel and experience her spiritual presence, guiding us, leading us, as we continue our journey in pursuit of the AGAP’s mission to bring to fruition its programs, projects and activities!

To realize this, we will continue to provide our members, ourselves with valuable learning experience and opportunities for professional growth through knowledge enhancement and skills honing or sharpening!

Thus, AGAP this year, has lined up topics that are consistent or in harmony with this year’s convention theme, and are set for discussions tomorrow, October 19, 2023, and for the succeeding two days, by our invited knowledgeable and renowned Guest Speakers from the Commission on Audit (COA), the Bangko Senral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Agriculture (DA), NGO Fintech Innovations, Inc., Bureau of the Treasury, Pag-ibig Fund, Philhealth, and a Motivational Speaker.

With their individual participation, we can look forward with certainty to have a truly meaningful and successful celebration.  I am certain that we will experience, gain and learn from their enlightened discussion of their respective topics. 

We will be exposed to this learning process through the guest speakers’ edifying presentation of the different subjects and topics that are pertinently related to the theme of this convention-seminar.  That will ensure a fruitful and rewarding outcome.   

We are conducting this yearly convention-seminar because we are committed to help and support not only our public financial practitioners succeed in government service, but also the budding or wannabe accountants to realize their ambition and aspirations.

We will maintain AGAP’s scholarship program that extends financial assistance to well deserving students who are taking up a degree in accountancy.   It is encouraging to learn that AGAP beneficiaries of its scholarship program have already graduated and are now successfully employed. 

It is gratifying to learn that the AGAP scholarship program which was launched in July 11, 2019, in partnership with PUP Manila, TSU, UP Tacloban, and MSU, had only six (6) scholars then, yet, was able to surmount the test of time and the pandemic. AGAP remained resilient and determined to sustain its scholarship program. To date, after almost five (5) years implementation of this program, the records show that the Association has already supported a total of fifty-one (51) scholars, that is, ten (10) scholars in 2020, ten in 2021, ten in 2022, and fifteen (15) scholars this year (2023), providing every scholar with Php 20,000 per semester, Php10,000 CPA Licensure Examination Reviewee grant, and Php10,000 Board Passer incentive.  

We will continue the AGAP scholarship program, other activities and projects that are meaningful and beneficial.  We will continue giving awards to outstanding accounting offices of the government, and private agencies, including the local government units, just like what we will have today – giving of awards to the FY 2022 Most Outstanding Accounting Offices!

I love to see more recipients of AGAP’s Most Outstanding Accounting Offices Awards, each year.  I want to see more AGAP’s beneficiaries of its scholarship program attain their aspiration and goal.  I want to see AGAP grow, healthy and strong living up to its definitive catchphrase “ALL FOR THE SERVICE, SERVICE FOR ALL!”

Thank you everybody. I am looking forward to another rewarding and successful culmination of this convention!