IIT alumnus elected president of PICPA

IIT alumnus elected president of PICPA

by Jessa Mae S. Banse, CBAA

Mr. Lope L. Bato, Jr. CPA, CICA, CRFA, MBA

 Mr. Lope L. Bato, Jr. CPA, CICA, CRFA, MBA

An alumnus of this university’s College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), Mr. Lope L. Bato, Jr., became the 67th national president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). He is the first IIT graduate to become PICPA national president and only the 8th Mindanaoan to be elected as such.

Mr. Bato, who received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration major in Accounting in 1986, began his term as PICPA national president in July 2020.

As a businessman, Mr. Bato organized two Mindanao-based regional auditing firms: Quilab Cabilin Bato & Co., CPAs (QBC & Co., CPAs) in June 1992, and Lope Laranjo Bato & Co., CPAs (LLB & Co., CPAs) in October 2015.

In 1996, he was the Chapter President of PICPA Cagayan de Oro – Misamis Oriental Chapter and was the youngest to assume the presidency of the said chapter. 

In 2009, he served as the national Vice-President (PICPA National) for Public Practice.

He is also the Founding President of the Association of CPAs in Public Practice – Northern Mindanao Chapter.

Noted for his leadership ability and experience in a wide range of senior positions, Mr. Bato received numerous awards. The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro awarded him the Most Outstanding Director in 2003. 

MSU-IIT conferred on him the Outstanding MSU-IIT Alumnus (TOMA) award in the field of Banking and Finance in 2009. 

He was recognized as Outstanding PICPA Member in 2006 and Honorary Lifetime Member of PICPA in 2010. 

CBAA Dean, Dr. Polaus M. Bari was happy to learn of the news. “I am delighted that a CBAA alumnus now sits as PICPA President. I hope this inspires the younger generation, especially the BS Accountancy students aspiring to be Certified Public Accountants in the future.” 

“I expect that this feat will encourage them to work hard since diligence in anything we do will really reap the fruits of success,” Dr. Bari said.

*The writer, Jessa Mae S. Banse, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Accountancy, College of Business Administration and Accountancy. She is currently the chairperson of the said department. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master of Science degrees in Accountancy. She specializes in financial accounting and reporting.

You can connect with Ms. Banse through linkedin.com

Topics : Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants  PICPA  CBAA  MSU-IIT alumni

Alumnus gives back to CED

Alumnus gives back to CED

by J-Roel Semilla

To equip teachers handling Inclusive Education subject, Kevin Gales, an alumnus of the College of Education and former travelling mentor of Inclusion Initiative,  gave back to his former school to speak in a seminar on Inclusive Education on August 16,2019.

 In front of his former professors at room 205, Gales talked about his advocacy and shared his experiences teaching diverse learners, some with special needs and disabilities.

“Disability is the result when a person with impairment is experiencing environmental, social, and institutional barriers. But, inclusion is about providing accessible environment for impaired individuals,’’ he explained. 

Teachers should welcome students with disabilities and make classrooms accessible for them. More than training, what teachers need is support from school administration to implement inclusive education.

Gales’ speaking engagement was made possible by the supporting organizations such as The Teachers’ Gallery (TTG), Inclusion Initiative (IAMYOU), and funded by Unicef.

The inclusion initiative mentor finished Bachelor of Secondary Education major in General Science last 2016.