KEYNOTE SPEECH DURING OATHTAKING OF CPA PASSERS
Need for trustworthiness underscored

SENATE President Manny Villar addressed this year's passers of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure examinations during their oath taking recently.

In his keynote speech, Villar stressed the importance of accounting as the language and life of business.

The Senate President himself obtained his undergraduate and master's degrees in business administration and accountancy from the University of the Philippines.

He tried his hand as an accountant at the country's biggest accounting firm, SGV and company after graduation, and resigned later to venture into his own seafood delivery business.

He acknowledged the accounting profession as one of the oldest and most important among the various careers.

"We are in charge of record keeping, increased efficiency in business and trade, and most importantly in handling money. For this reason, it makes our profession unique in that this situates us in a position of trust," Villar said.

The Senate President underscored the value of trustworthiness, and earning and keeping the trust and confidence, not only of superiors but also of associates.

He also urged the passers to remember the sacrifices of their parents and guardians in preparing them for the long journey, as well as the contributions and discipline instilled by their mentors in the academe.

Villar likewise reminded them to stay resilient in facing tough obstacles along the way, not only in pursuit of their advancement in business but also for the progress of the country.

The Senate President has been espousing entrepreneurship as an engine of economic growth and a key to gaining financial independence and reducing the country's unemployment rate.