ASSOCIATION OF
FILIPINO-
CANADIAN
ACCOUNTANTS-BRITISH COLUMBIA
profiles of presidents
Cecil Sanchez
2009 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2008, Founding Member
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election
About Cecil Sanchez
Cecilio Sanchez was born in the city of Pasig in the Philippines to Josefa and Isidoro Sanchez. Graduated with a BSBA at the University of the Philippines and was an AFS scholar in the USA before coming to Canada. In the year 1985, Cecilio not only earned his CMA designation but also became a BC CMA Gold Medalist. Currently, he works as the Manager of Corporate Accounting at Westfraser Timber. He served as Past President of AFCA-BC in 2009. He is an active parishioner and volunteer at the St. Patrick's Parish in Vancouver. In his spare time, he enjoys playing squash and tennis.
Eloisa Peralta
2014 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2010
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election
About Eloisa Peralta
Eloisa is a seasoned auditor and accountant. Before migrating to Canada in May 2010, she had several years' working experience in leading multinational pharmaceutical and consumer companies, and highly-regarded public accounting firms. Since September 2010, she has been working as an accountant at MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, a Richmond-based public company.
She is a Philippine CPA and has a master's degree in business administration. In Canada, she received her CGA designation in May 2013 and her CIA certification in July 2013.
Jannet Taruc
2015 President
2013 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2011
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election
About Jannet Taruc
Jannet Taruc is a Controller at Pacific Coast Fishermens's Mutual Marine Insurance Company. Prior to joining the company in September 2012, she was an Audit and Assurance Manager with Grant Thornton LLP in Vancouver for 8 years. She migrated to Canada in December 2003 and became a Chartered Accountant in 2007. In Manila, she worked at Paramount Life and General Insurance Corporation for five years starting at an Accounting Manager position to Assistant Vice President for Accounting and Finance. She also worked at Sycip Gorres Velayo & Company for four years after graduating from De La Salle University, Manila with a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy. Jannet is married and has a five year old daughter. She loves reading novels, swimming, and is now learning how to ice skate with her daughter.
Julian Ysmael
2018 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2015
Committee Involvement: Professional Development & Education
About Julian Ysmael
Julian graduated Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics from De La Salle University-Manila in December 2011. He gained his CPA designation in the Philippines in May 2012, and worked in the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company briefly as a Junior Assistant Manager before moving to Canada in December 2012. In 2013, he started his career in Canada by working in various finance capacities at the University of British Columbia, before establishing himself at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC in late-2013. He has been working as the Allard School of Law's Finance Manager since June 2015. He attained his CPA, CGA designation in June 2016, and has passed the CFA Level 1 exam. Outside of work, he is a huge sports fan and follows the Golden State Warriors, Rafael Nadal, and Peter Sagan. He enjoys hiking and running during the summer and snowboarding during the winter.
Mel Cruz
2011 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2008, Founding Member
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election
About Mel Cruz
Mel is a CGA and retired in January 2011 after thirty-plus years of service with Canada Revenue Agency where he held senior management positions and was a Large Business Case manager at the time of his retirement. He is very active with AFCA and other volunteer organizations, enjoys playing golf and keeps his mind in shape by operating a consulting business. Mel and his wife Carmen (also a member and one of the founding members) reside in Delta and have two adult children.
Shirley Shannon
2010 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2008
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election
About Shirley Shannon
Shirley Shannon, a CGA is the Business Development Manager for Accounting Troubleshooters, a network of accounting professionals in the Lower Mainland of BC. She is also a lead instructor for Finance/Accounting, Quickbooks and Simply at 1 Stop Business Centre. Hands-on experience as Controller and Accountant both in industry and in public practice provided her with strong accounting operational skills. She honed her mentoring and coaching skills at Douglas College as a Business Advisor for the Self-Employment Program teaching business plan development classes, and facilitating training workshops. Equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, Shirley has been instrumental in the founding, operations and sale of several small businesses which gave her a strong background in sales, marketing, logistics and finance.
Michael Infante
2016 President, 2017 President
2019 President, 2020 President (Current)
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2014
Committee Involvement: Professional Development & Education
About Michael Infante
Michael graduated with a BCom-Accounting from the Sauder School of Business UBC in 2010. He is a Certified Management Accountant with over 4 years of experience. Michael started his career in the private sector working for an investment company. After attaining his CMA, he transitioned into his current role as an Intermediate Accountant with the BC Teachers' Federation. In addition to his professional career, Michael has helped found the Kabayan Academic Mentorship Program and currently serves as the head of Finance and as a mentor for newly immigrated Filipino youth. Michael is also involved with KABA UBC Alumni and runs a mentorship program. In his spare time, Michael does CrossFit, likes to go hiking, travelling, and taking part in professional and personal development activities.
Teresita "Tess" Martires
2012 President
Membership Type: Regular
Member Since: 2008
Committee Involvement: Nomination & Election, Mentorship Program Coordinator
About Tess Martires
Tess is currently serving as a Director of AFCA-BC and a Mentorship Program Coordinator for Year 2011. A Philippine Certified Public Accountant, she was born and raised in Daanbantayan, Cebu, Philippines. She finished her Bachelor in Business Administration from the Arellano University in Manila with honours as a Magna Cum-Laude. She is blessed with four children: Serg, Carl, Andrea and Nicole. Her husband Andy is also a member of AFCA-BC.
Before landing in Canada with her family in July 2005, Tess has worked for 14 years as a Corporate Accountant of a big franchised group of the Jollibee Foods Corporations, Inc. In Canada she worked as a Senior Accountant at a Canadian publicly listed company and as a Tax Accountant of a medium public accounting practice firm. For 3 years now, she manages her own small to medium public accounting practice, the SMART TAX & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS http://www.smartaxteam.ca/ Passionate in reaching out to others, she mentored a number of newcomer accountants and most of them gained entry to Canadian workplace in the field of accounting.
