KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co. appoints new partners in the Philippines

KPMG’s member firm in the Philippines (R.G. Manabat & Co) has welcomed seven new partners to its leadership team.

“The admission of these leaders will help the firm grow as they provide quality audit and assurance, tax, advisory and technology consulting services,” said Sharon Dayoan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KPMG R.G. Manabat & Co.

“The addition of these passionate and motivated professionals to the partnership will be a great asset to our organisation, as they continue to inspire everyone through their effective leadership. We look forward to working with them in their new roles.”

Michael Emerson Royeca started his KPMG journey in 2015 with a focus on risk management in the IT domain. Now in the role of partner, he is the service line leader of the Technology Risk and Assurance within Technology Consulting (a practice within Advisory), and he also leads the IT Attestation practice for SOC 1 engagements.

Oliver Bucao is a partner in the Audit and Assurance division. He began his career at KPMG as a Learning and Development Manager in 2005 before joining the firm’s Department of Professional Practice in 2010.

Following a spell externally, Bucao returned to KPMG in 2020 as the Asia Pacific COO for Quality and Risk Management. Alongside his partner role in audit, he is also the division’s lead Learning and Development partner, focusing on audit technical trainings.

Ellen Rose Hernandez is a homegrown KPMG tax professional who joined the firm in 2010. Her primary areas of focus are tax compliance, tax return preparation, tax health check, and tax due diligence.

Beyond her core areas, Hernandez also handles tax advisory and tax structuring engagements, as well as tax assessments and refunds.

Maria Ruby Rea-Vergara is also a homegrown talent – she has been with the Global Mobility Services’ Tax practice since 2007. She advises a wide range of clients from different industries on tax compliance, employment taxes, and compensation and rewards programs.

In 2019, Rea-Vergara received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence for her skills and ability to embody KPMG’s values.

Myra Liza Sto Tomas has been with KPMG since 2008, working in the Audit and Assurance divisions for the past 15 years. She specialises in the audits of shared service centers and business process organisations.

Arvin Lemuel Yanga is a partner in the Department of Professional Practice, where his focus is on advancing KPMG’s capabilities in the reporting and quality management. Over the years, Yanga led several key internal projects, such as the improvement of food safety & quality culture processes and the upgrade of a quality management system.

Gilbert Trinchera joined KPMG in 2015. He leads the Digital Transformation and ERP Advisory service line within Technology Consulting, as well as the Operations offering within KPMG Lighthouse.

Trinchera specialises in the fields of digital transformation, system implementation, cybersecurity, privacy, IT risk assessment, IT attestation and due diligence, internal audit, business process review, and IT advisory projects. His experience spans sectors including financial services, fast-moving consumer goods, manufacturing, semi-conductors, telecommunications, entertainment, hospitals & health care, and construction.