Education is a once-in-alifetime opportunity. You will experience happiness and contentment to look back at your university, your professors and even at the armchair you have sat on and say, ‘I did my best.’”

WHEN Ryan Gabinete was entering college, his ardent wish was to become a lawyer.

It was 1988 and the nation was undergoing an unprecedented political transition. One of the more prominent personalities at the time was humanrights-lawyer-turned-senator, Rene Saguisag.

The then 19-year-old Gabinete idolized Saguisag, a poor boy from Pasig who graduated cum laude from the San Beda College of Law and placed sixth in the 1963 Bar examinations.

He sees himself in the former senator who beat the odds and persevered to become one of the most respected Filipino leaders in the nation’s political history.

The then gangling teener found himself in the Benedictine enclave in Mendiola where Saguisag emerged as one of its best and brightest.

“My grade school ambition was to become a priest, but I was not given the support and opportunity to enter the seminary,” disclosed Gabinete, now senior vice president and chief audit executive of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

“My serious dream was to become a lawyer. I just did not find time and energy to pursue it as I started a young family, and my profession did not allow extra time.”

From Saguisag’s life and work ethic, Gabinete came to value honesty and integrity.

“I have learned that above all, we need to act with integrity, and if we fall, the best solution is to stand up with a smile,” he said.

Fallback

Gabinete enrolled in Accountancy, the other academic program where San Beda College (now a university) has consistently produced state licensure exam topnotchers.

He explained that he could’ve chosen to take up other pre-law courses like political science, management or economics, but he opted to take up Accountancy for practical reasons.

“At least, I would have a great fallback in the mighty course of Accountancy,” he said.

Surviving college was tough for Gabinete. Coming from a “poor” family, he earned his pocket money by doing side hustles.

“I made term papers or research reports in exchange for free lunch or a small amount,” he disclosed. “Sometimes, I would get treated to bottles of beer or even ‘sisig.’ I accepted even bit roles in the movies for P500 a day. I just had to earn something to support myself,” he revealed.

“It was tough for me. The ruggedness of studying accounting. I had to earn something on the side to support myself. Eventually, I got to finish college and graduate on time. I was the proudest when I passed the CPA Board exam,“he added.

Thirty-one years after college graduation, Gabinete can boast of having chalked up more than three decades of solid professional work in almost all facets of accountancy.

“Education is a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he asserted.

“You will experience happiness and contentment to look back at your university, your professors and even at the armchair you have sat on and say, ‘I did my best.’

“As a CPA (certified public accountant), it is fulfilling to contribute to the profession and the industry. Aside from experiencing almost all facets of the CPA profession, it is my honor to return the fruits to my beloved profession by helping through technical and motivational activities.”

Gabinete believes he was able to put into good use his learnings in college.

“I have more than 30 years of professional work experience in almost all facets of accountancy, particularly in the fields of financial audit, accounting, tax compliance, internal audit and business consultancy,” he beamed.

Gabinete has admirably attained senior positions — from being a partner and group leader in Big 4 firms in the Philippines, Qatar and Indonesia to a senior executive role in a government financial institution.

He has undoubtedly brought honor to his profession and gave inspiration to his colleagues. He was twice feted by the Association of Government Internal Auditors for his best practice in internal auditing. Gabinete joined the government via DBP in 2017. How challenging has that job been in the last six years?

“I would assume working in the government is really a challenge, more so, with a government financial institution,” he said.

“The Philippine government sector of internal auditors are in a distinct position when it comes to reporting to the public and different stakeholders. Notwithstanding the need to satisfy the expectations of its board and/or management, they also need to meet requirements with their political and public stakeholders.

“Internal audit is a cost center of every public sector, but its mandate is very important to safeguard the resources, prevent misappropriation, maximize the assets and to prevent/detect fraudulent activities. Further, it will help the public sector to achieve good governance, manage risk behavior and promote efficiency.”

Gabinete hardly had difficulty transitioning from working in the private sector to practicing the profession in government.

“I believe in all sectors, the difference would only concentrate on the culture and values,” he pointed out.

“There are certain different protocols within sectors. The best way to adjust is to listen and understand. Then we apply agility, we need to adapt and become fit to work efficiently and more intelligently to provide risk assurance and more value to the organization.”

Main challenge

At the height of the pandemic, the main challenge that Gabinete encountered was how to deliver his work despite the limited interaction and normal working hours.

“Good thing our internal audit team in preparation has resolved before the pandemic to be more agile and digitally fit,” he said.

“Our adoption of an automated audit system, our Internal Audit Group has promoted the internal audit’s proper monitoring, adopted robust audit procedures and provided better assurance and insight generation for the public sector’s good governance and risk management policies. It assisted in the dramatic reduction of risks, misappropriation of assets and, to a large extent, fraudulent activities.”

He deals with all levels of clients with the same respect, transparency and healthy discussion.

“Maybe, the only difference is having a selfie,” he said.

He does travel for work, both locally and internationally.

“I think the last place was Tacloban, and a month after [the] lockdown was announced,” he said.

To add as his hobby, he administers the activities for the Philippine Cigar Aficionados.

Dividing his time between work and home is not too much of a problem for Gabinete.

“My mantra is we have 24 hours a day to divide work and home, also friends. Prioritization is the key, coupled with love and commitment.”

Unwinding for him means “whiskey and cigar with friends, dining and golf with my family.” Teasing his family is Gabinete’s utmost hobby. “My normal day aside from [the] office is [to] talk to my family using any medium possible. Weekends are usually spent at home, at the golf club or at the mall — generally with my family.”

His family — wife Marj and children Raymar Bryant, Adrianni Nicole and Moira Anne — is very supportive.

“They let me do what I want to do, and they listen to my rants.”