OUR LEADERS
Michael A. Machica, Ph.D. cand., MBA, CPA, CIS, CIA, AQV, CFSA
Chairperson, Machica FIRM, Inc. / Founding Partner & Chair, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co
Member, Special Interest Group – International Business, Managing Partners, Global Partners, Audit & Assurance Practice Leaders, and Tax Practice Leaders – all of The Leading Edge Alliance
Email: chairman@machicagroup.com
Mike founded the companies while still working as one of the Corporate Banking Managers in a leading universal bank.
Mike is currently pursuing for a Ph.D. in Management from the International Academy of Management & Economics, Makati City. He holds a master’s degree in business administration, class valedictorian and outstanding graduate in academics (magna cum laude-equivalent) from the Makati – based international business school – the International Academy of Management and Economics. He also received Leadership Award from the Academy’s Chairman and the Philippine General Consul in Hongkong. Read more about the Chairman…
Joan Tan-Cruz Machica, RN
President & Director, Machica FIRM, Inc. / Finance & HR Head, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: joan.machica@machicagroup.com
Joan has been recently elevated to the presidency of Machica FIRM, Inc. while acting as Finance / HR Head at Machica Tan-Cruz & Co. the same time.
She was formerly the vice president and head of the group’s administration, finance and human resource departments. She started with the Group’s insurance division after her 3-year stint in a universal bank. She is licensed both for life insurance and non-life insurance from the Office of the Insurance Commission. She is also a registered nurse and has earned units in Masters in Health Sciences. Since 2009, she completed trainings on Human Resources at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Business; Best Practices in Crafting HR policies and Contracts, Center for Global Best Practices, Advanced Labor Seminar – Workshop for Management: Strengthening the Company’s Labor Management Systems, Procedures and Infrastructures, Asian Institute of Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
Joan speaks English, Filipino and Waray.
Ma. Grace A. Machica, CPA
Partner, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co. /
Vice President / Corporate Secretary & Director, Machica FIRM, Inc.
Member, Special Interest Group – Audit & Assurance Practice Leaders. The Leading Edge Alliance
Email: manila@machicagroup.com / machica_grace@yahoo.com.ph
Grace has recently been promoted to Vice President of Machica FIRM, Inc. while acting as Corporate Secretary. At Machica Tan-Cruz & Co., she is the Partner-In-Charge of its Manila Office.
She is a CPA and is currently pursuing for the CFE designation. She also holds license as life and non-life insurance agent.
Grace had years of professional experience gained from Valdes Abad & Associates, CPAs (formerly Carlos J. Valdes and Associates, CPAs), Makati. In her last year at Valdes, she was the overall audit-in-charge. She earned her BS Accountancy degree from E.V.S.U. with one-term cross-enrollment at the De La Salle University, Manila.
Grace speaks English, Filipino and Waray.
Joseph Tan-Cruz, CPA, CIA
Partner (part-time), Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: machicafirm@yahoo.com
Joseph completed his degree in Accountancy from St. Paul’s Business School, summa cum laude, and is a recipient of the highest scholastic trophy award and GM Arroyo leadership award. He placed second in the May 2005 CPA board examinations and also landed in the Top Five of the international certification examination for Certified Internal Auditors given in November 2007. He had previously taught accounting subjects both in the undergraduate courses and in the CPA review. He also served Procter and Gamble Audit Hub of Asia as an internal auditor and had conducted audits in its offices in Vietnam, Singapore, India, Indonesia, France and Japan.
Aside from his involvement as the quality reviewer with the Firm, Joseph is a relationship manager of the Corporate Banking Division of the Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Joseph speaks English, Filipino and Waray.
Maria Zyrah V. Alcober, CPA, MBA
Partner, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: machicafirm@yahoo.com
Zyrah has a decade of professional experience in the different fields of accountancy. Before going into public practice, she worked at different private corporations in Cebu, mostly accounting-related. At present, aside from being the firm-wide Quality Assurance Partner, she is also an audit partner for Eastern Visayas. An active member of PICPA, she was formerly the sectoral representative of public practice, PICPA, Tacloban Chapter. At present, she is the Chapter’s Asst. Treasurer.
She completed her degree in accountancy, cum laude, from the University of San Carlos (Cebu City). She earned her M.B.A. as a Group scholar from the Asian Development Foundation College in 2009.
In 2009, Zyrah was a recipient of “Loyalty Award” given during the Group’s 10th anniversary. Recently, she received “Chairman’s Gold Award” for excellence in individual performance.
Zyrah speaks English, Filipino, Cebuano and Waray.
Donald O. Velasco, CPA, CBA
Group Head for Eastern Visayas
Machica Tan-Cruz & Co. / Machica FIRM, Inc.
Email: donald.velasco@machicagroup.com
Donald is a CPA and a cum laude graduate in BS Accountancy from St. Paul’s Business School. As a Group scholar, he recently completed the Certified Business Administrator (CBA) program run by DM Competitive Advantage at the Asian Institute of Management. In addition, Donald attended two continuing professional educations on marketing namely, Marketing for Non-Marketers and Service Marketing at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business in 2008.
Prior to his appointment as Group Head, Donald was the Division Head of Audit and Assurance. He also serves as the business development head of the Group for the Visayas market. On top of his regular client servicing responsibilities, his professional experience ranges from financial audit, tax review and compliance of individual and large corporations, internal audit, and forensic audit. He was a recipient of “Excellence in Major Engagement Award” in 2009 and “Chairman Diamond Award” and “Best Project of the Year” in 2010.
Before joining the Firm, Donald had exposure in a manufacturing and export company as an accounting analyst and in the academe as an accounting teacher.
Donald speaks English, Filipino, Cebuano and Waray.
Jocelyn A. Puso-Daluz
Division Head
Machica FIRM, Inc.
Email: jocelyn.daluz@machicagroup.com
Jocelyn holds a degree in Accountancy which she earned in 2000. As one of the pioneer employees, she is trained in insurance and financial services as well as in the accounting, tax, and business process outsourcing. In her prior work, she gained significant experience in the trading and food service industries.
Jocelyn is the Division Head of Machica FIRM, Inc. in 2010. Prior to her appointment as division head, Jocelyn was one of the Group’s team leaders. For her consistent outstanding performance, she received “Best in Supervisory Multi-tasking Award” in 2009, “Chairman’s Diamond Award” and “Working Mother Award” in 2010.
Jocelyn speaks English, Filipino, Cebuano and Waray.
Marivic A. Guerra-Abrenica, CPA
Quality Assurance Head
Machica Group
Email: marivic.abrenica@machicagroup.com
Marivic is an alumna of U.P. College Tacloban. After earning her CPA title in October 2008, she immediately joined the Firm as an associate. Progressively, she gained solid experience in the audit of rural banks, credit cooperatives, hospitals, schools, and trading companies. She also gained exposures in the Firm’s tax practice.
With her consistently commendable performance, she became one of Audit Division’s team leaders. Lately, she was elevated to head the Quality Assurance Department of the Group.
During the Group’s mid-year recognition program in 2010, Marivic was a recipient of “Chairman’s Diamond Award”. She also received “Best in Personality Award” in the same year.
Marivic speaks English, Filipino, Cebuano, and Waray.
Kathryn Rose T. Lumpas
Supervisor, Tax & BPO Division, Machica FIRM, Inc.
Email: kathryn.lumpas@machicagroup.com
Kathryn completed her BS Accountancy degree from San Pedro College of Business Administration, San Pedro, Laguna, in 2004.
Kathryn has five years in public practice of accountancy. She started as an accounting staff at Gonzales and Mata Accounting Office in Las Pinas City. She also had a one-year stint as sales representative at Rose Pharmacy.
She joined Machica Group in 2008 as an accounting officer. She was promoted to Supervisor in March 2011. Her area of competence includes general accounting and bookkeeping as well as tax and regulatory compliance. In 2010, she garnered “Most Improved Employee” award.
Kathryn speaks English, Filipino, and Waray.
Ma. Melissa Shyr C. Ayles, CPA
Supervisor, Tax & BPO Division, Machica FIRM, Inc.
Email: melissa.ayles@machicagroup.com
Melissa is a CPA and a cum laude graduate in BS Accountancy from St. Paul Business School, Palo, Leyte, batch 2006.
She started her career at Alba Romeo & Co., Makati, as an accounting staff of the Firm’s outsourcing services. She moved to Machica Group in October 2009 as an associate handing both tax and audit engagements.
Melissa has recently moved to Supervisor in recognition of her good performance and for her to lead tax / BPO engagements covering corporate accounts.
In 2010, Melissa was a recipient of “Most Improved Employee of the Year”.
Melissa speaks English, Filipino, and Waray.
Cherie Mae C. Quintero, CPA
Supervisor, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: cherie.quintero@machicagroup.com
Cha-che joined the Firm in 2010. She handles diverse assignments ranging from external audit, tax compliance, and other special engagements both at the Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila offices. Previously, Cha-che was trained in accounting-related works gained from her employment in school and religious organization.
Cha-che completed her Accountancy degree from E.V.S.U. in 2005. She earned her CPA title in 2009.
At the Group’s year-end performance recognition ceremonies, Cha-che received “Newcomer of the Year Award” in 2010.
Cha-che speaks English, Filipino, and Waray.
Christopher I. Bacason, CPA
Supervisor, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: christopher.bacason@machicagroup.com
Chris joined public practice immediately after passing the CPA licensure examinations in October 2009. He completed his BS Accountancy degree, cum laude, from St. Paul Business School.
Chris is one of the Firm’s team leaders handling both audit and tax engagements. He is trained in the audit of electric cooperatives, rural banks, schools, non-profit institutions, and trading companies. He also supervises some tax engagements both for individual and corporate taxpayers.
Chris speaks English, Filipino, and Waray.
Julie Madelaine P. Guy
Supervisor, Machica Tan-Cruz & Co.
Email: julie.guy@machicagroup.com
Julie started with the Firm as a student trainee in 2007. After her graduation, she was absorbed as part of the Firm’s growing workforce. Starting with being a finance assistant, she moved into the support and compliance team. With the regular rotation of the Group’s personnel, she finally assumed the role of a supervisor effective August 2011. Her responsibilities include supervising finance, admin, and compliance functions. In addition, she is the Group’s internal accountant.
Julie is a graduate of BS Office Administration earned from E.V.S.U. in 2008.
Julie speaks English, Filipino, and Waray.
Victorino Q. Abrugar, Jr., CPA
Audit & IT Consultant
Vic immediately went into public practice after passing the CPA licensure examination given on May 2004. He gained expertise in handling audit of NGOs, foundations, trading companies, schools, electric cooperatives, and group of companies. He is also trained in accounting, tax, and systems review and IT engagements. Vic was awarded “Best Team Leader” in 2009.
Starting 2010, Vic is connected with the firm as an audit and IT consultant.
Vic speaks English, Filipino and Waray.
Santos Ero Getalado, M.A.
HR and OD Consultant
Santi is the proprietor of S.E. Getalado Consultancy and Leadership Center. He offers various training, mentoring, coaching, and advising programs to private, government, and non-governmental institutions both local and overseas on the following areas:
- General Management and Organizational Leadership
- Corporate Management and Administration
- Human Resource Management and Development
- Organizational Development
- Values Formation and Corporate Spirituality Development
- Corporate Industrial Relations
- Strategic Selling and Marketing
- People Empowerment and Motivations, and
- Human Relations and Communication
Overall, Santi has over 30 years of experience as a consultant, corporate manager, and educator.
He completed his Master’s Degree at the Ateneo de Manila University; Special Studies in Theology, Christian Ethics and Morals at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos; and Bachelor’s Degree (cum laude) at the Sacred Heart Seminary.
Santi speaks English, Filipino, Cebuano, and Waray.
Inspiring @ 10
The past decade has been very inspiring for the Machica Group. As the Group reaches its tenth anniversary, the Group takes this as a great opportunity to thank all the people – employees, business partners, customers, all other stakeholders, who in one way or another, have contributed to the continued success of the Group. With the theme “Inspiring @ 10,” the commemoration will be held together with the Christmas party and the 10th wedding anniversary of the founders on December 18, 2009 at the Asia Convention Center, Tacloban City. Read more...
