KPMG in the Philippines has been recognized as ONE OF THE PH’S BEST EMPLOYERS

As featured in Business Inquirer (October 2022)

In a world still recovering from the dire effects of a global pandemic, companies that continue to care for their employees and invest in their success have never been more important. Then and now, creating an inclusive workplace atmosphere where individuals are respected, valued, and empowered makes all the difference between a good company and a great one.

For KPMG in the Philippines, its promise of being a peopleoriented company is something they practice on a daily basis They know that focusing on people makes for more engaged employees, with a culture that thrives on new ideas and fresh thinking

As KPMG in the Philippines (R G Manabat & Co ) celebrates its 15th anniversary, the company is proud to be named as one of the Philippines’ Best Employers KPMG in the Philippines ranks among the Top 5 companies in the “Professional Services” category, with a total of 23 winners Overall, KPMG in the Philippines is within the range of the Top 60 rank amongst a list of Top 300 companies

A firm that provides expert advice and solutions in audit and assurance, tax, advisory, and technology consulting, KPMG in the Philippines has always espoused a workplace that supports the overall training and development of people, providing an atmosphere that is equal parts fun and professional when it comes to fulfilling clients’ needs

For the company, mental health matters just as much as physical health In 2019, it started its Employee Assistance or #KPMGishereforyou Program to build a positive culture of support in the firm where anyone can talk about their mental health struggles without fear of judgment and discrimination This greatly helped its people cope with the anxiety and isolation that most felt during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic boosting their mental health and well-being by providing the best possible support

KPMG in the Philippines has adopted a Work for Excellence set-up wherein people can work from home, the office, or a client’s office, whichever is most conducive to creating excellent work This work structure has enabled the organization to encourage flexibility and collaboration, allowing people to work from wherever they will produce the best results in terms of quality, efficiency and productivity

“In today’s new reality, people want a better balance between their personal and professional lives,” said Chairman and CEO Sharon Dayoan “We understand this and KPMG in the Philippines is committed to further investing in people through our milestone programs and initiatives aimed at supporting our people as they transition roles and responsibilities, enabling and empowering them to be the next generation of leaders, which will ultimately benefit our clients and the country as a whole ” At KPMG, it is essential for their people to become future-ready and have the relevant skill sets fit for the times

Over the years, KPMG in the Philippines has also launched various programs that benefit society, the economy, the community, and the environment Their Make-A-Difference (MAD) Project this year is a volunteerism campaign that commits 15,000 volunteer hours to different initiatives such as empowering the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community, encoding ballot receipts during the national elections, engaging in EcoBrick Making competitions, helping make solar lamps as well as cleaning up our coastal areas In 2022 alone, KPMG in the Philippines’ 1,500 personnel and partners participated in the MAD Project, alongside out-of-school youth education and many other programs

Dayoan said: “All these initiatives demonstrate the company’s commitment to engaging and upskilling its employees in a variety of activities both inside and outside the workplace ”

LEVIEMARTIN

Countless stars have graced the Thomasian sky with their brilliance–luminous in their craft and oh-so radiant despite the challenges brought on by life, and Francis Matthew Obligacion burns the brightest among them with his hard-earned triumphs and determination. From the stormy trenches of AMV, the homey barracks of UST-JPIA, the raging battlefront of the Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (LECPA), and to the corporate world, Obligacion continues to shine as he snatches the top rank in the October 2022 LECPA with an impressive percentage rating of 91%.

Underneath all of that academic glory and success, the question begs:

Who is Francis Matthew Obligacion?

A FIGHTER.

Thomasians and nonThomasians alike have associated AMVians with the word competitive; ones who valiantly face accounting courses despite them being very challenging to learn, let alone master Even for Obligacion, the exhaustion was palpable from the rigorous workload, but he managed to endure with a system he had created In a previous nterview with The Ledger, he shared his personal studying habits that helped him where he said the main tip was to manage your time wisely Moreover, he emphasized dividing major tasks into manageable chunks, and to always bask in your small victories because they also count Obligacion has always been a trooper swimming through oceans of tears, trekking through mountains of doubts, forging through jungles of uncertainty with a strong will to make it out alive, to enjoy life with the people he loves the most

A POET.

Give him a pen and he’ll be able to conjure a palace with his eloquence He basks in enlightenment and literary creativity Poetry, in particular, are the products of his bursts of passion He is an avid fan of Taylor Swift, another individual who is a poetic genius

His inspired works posted in the previous volumes of The Ledger captivated the readers with its clear visual impressions and delivery His passion for writing was one of the reasons why he was able to enjoy his college life In the previous interview, he also mentioned that he was able to make new friends during competitions hosted by external communities, adding more to the people who had made his life bearable UST-JPIA was his home and the reason for the majority of his unforgettable experiences in college

AN INSPIRATION.

A day before the board examination, Obligacion brought on to Twitter a mantra that echoed in the minds of those who read it mantra so simple and almost unserious yet impactful in retrospect:

“BOARD EXAM LANG YAN, BADING AKO,” he said as if to bravely stand before a rugged creature before slaughtering it, and slaughter he did He is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and adamantly speaks out for equality Obligacion believes that one should not be confined to the norms of society, and nstead should embrace who they are–to brave hrough their lives in any way they see fit

He mentioned that fatigue and listlessness are inevitable during a person's pursuit of their dreams; it’s just part of who we are and that we should not be ashamed to take a breather from time to time

Whenever you’re feeling lost and unmotivated, remind yourself of your dreams and your vision for yourself. Why do you work so hard right now? Giving up is an option, but you don’t choose that. You keep going, and that in itself is already very admirable. At the end of the day, the only person you have to care for and love is really just yourself, so you mustn’t be your own enemy he stated Obligacion expressed that a person who chooses to hold on, to continue no matter how dark the nights grow and deep the battles become, must be proud of themself because that alone is a difficult thing to do

AN IDEAL AMVian.

No one said the journey would be easy, and that everyone would make it out unscathed With his continual rise to the top, Obligacion stands firm as the paragon of an AMVian He shows

Right now, I want to keep working and persevering to create a better future for me. Who knows what the future holds? Still, something I want to hold onto is my passion; I’ll go where my heart tells me to go hestated

There is no doubt that a person with a mindset like his would excel in the field he hopes to partake in Empowering, unstoppable, andshiningbrightlikeastar: this is Francis Matthew Obligacion; the world is his oyster, and it better watch out determination are merely starter items, you must devote all of yourself and always go beyond what lies in front of you that success comes from within us–hard work and