LOIDA NICOLAS LEWIS Pens Third Book "Look Younger When You're Older - No Botox, No Surgery"

You've seen her several times in news outlets, shows here and abroad. She's absolutely proud to be a Filipino American. She's also a businesswoman, lawyer, and author. One who doesn't hold back when she needs to speak. She just released her third book properly titled "Look Younger When You're Older - No Botox, No Surgery (Philippine Edition)" under Anvil Publishing last December. This is available in leading bookstores (now part of the best sellers list!) including National Bookstore and online shopping apps Shopee and Lazada. 

She is in the country for a few days for a book signing event at the National Bookstore Edsa Shangrila Mall branch. Guests were treated to discounts on her new book, prizes, and a short meet and greet with the woman of the hour Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis. She dedicates this third one for her family, specifically her grand kids who keeps her company on regular days.

Mind you, this isn't the first time Atty. Mon Abrea hosted Ms. Loida Lewis after meeting several times in the US. He says "It's an honor and privilege to host Tita Loida when she was here last year, this year, this is her despedida because she's leaving tomorrow for NY. I love her wisdom, and meeting at Harvard, I thought she was very feisty and frank. I got connections to make sure she's going to know me before I left school. We tried online and it didn't work, we both forgot about the zoom meetings. We met at Harvard Club later on for lunch, and joined her activity. I met a lot of successful Filipinos through Tita Loida, and what folks may not know is how generous she is. She introduces you to people, she's a mother, a good friend, and when there are times people lose hope, she's a source for that. We are all privileged to be in the presence of our 80 year old friend, who doesn't look like it, Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis!" 

 

 

 

I asked Ms. Loida about taking a breather at this age and she says "I don't consider waking up in the morning as work, I still work even after selling the company because I as trying to build another one. For me, work is not work if you love what you are doing. When folks ask me when I'll retire, I'd say NEVER. Because there's always work to do. When you rest, you die. That's the real rest. When you're still alive, you do what you LOVE to do. You have to enjoy whatever is in front of you. If you're working, do it good, do it well. Joy is our secret ingredient. When you are Christian, God loves you. My good husband may have left but I'm still here. People should look at the positive side of things, and always say THANK YOU LORD! Don't emphasize the negative things in your life, don't mind the vampires and don't do it to yourself. You deserve better."

Tax Whiz Atty. Mon Abrea

Here's more of our conversation on video:

 

 It's such an awesome experience to talk to Ms. Loida, and I've felt how much care she pours out for others while keeping her cup full. Their outlook, and what good things they do while building their network, not minding their net worth because from their eyes, it will follow. Ms. Loida's book also concentrates not just on physical beauty, but more on spirit. There never will be an end to learning, on having the right mindset, to never think of growing older, maintain that young mind, great goals, and value for oneself.  If you want to get a copy of the book, it's available on Shopee and Lazada. I also linked it on the youtube video to make it easy.

 

ACG Set to Hold FAST FORWARD 2025 International Tax and Investment Conference

The Philippines is set to be the host of the International Tax and Investment Conference dubbed "FAST FORWARD 2025" aimed to promote ESG investing in the country. For those who don't know, that stands for Environmental, Social and Governance, a way to evaluate sustainability and ethical impact of a company.

The conference will be very instrumental in this discussion and encouraging more foreign investments in the country. March 26 will start panel discussions, exhibits on local products and the ACG Global Awards to recognize champions and advocates of sustainability. Lead Convenor for this event is Mon Abrea, the CEO of Asian Consulting Group who's tax reform advocacy has moved mountains in the region. To date, ACG has over 191 Billion pesos of savings from BIR cases of their clients. Dr. Bing Limjoco Head of the Philippine Franchise Association and Franchise Asia will be Vice Chairman of this event.

The event will also mark the launch of Mon Abrea's newest book "Re-imagining the World Without Climate Change" which includes real world studies of FAST industries who follow ESG principles, proving it can be done. The press conference also was graced by the one and only Madame Loida Lewis, who was given honors before she left for New York. Young entrepreneur and actress Bea Binene also shared why she trusts ACG and how ESG efforts have made her even trust the firm more in managing her tax and businesses to this date.

Here's the press conference in its entirety!

If you want to join FAST FORWARD 2025 you may email them at itic@acg.ph or visit their website itic2025.helixpay.ph if you want to secure a slot to the event.

ACG's Beyond Borders International Tax Conference Slated June 15

It was certainly one of the nicest conversations over lunch last week when we got to be in the midst of Tax Whiz Mon Abrea (the Chairman and CEO of Asian Consulting Group) and Jose Magsaysay Jr., a founding member of Association of Filipino Franchisors, Inc. and owner of the country's favorite fries, Potato Corner. 

Fresh from the US and his Harvard Kennedy School studies, Mr. Abrea started telling us about how excited he is about the upcoming International Tax Conference in the Philippines entitled BEYOND BORDERS which will be hosted by the Asian Consulting Group (ACG) which he heads. It will be held on the 15th of June 2023 at I'm Hotel in Makati Avenue, Makati City. Issues regarding global taxes, best practices, local and international regulations, policies, it's digitalization will be discussed by esteemed experts and leaders from across the globe. Speakers include those from The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, OECD, Department of Budget and Management and the Senate.

Mr. Magsaysay also shared anecdotes about how he started the very successful Potato Corner and how they also weathered the pandemic. To say the least, his story was really inspiring, including the reason why he's supporting Mr. Abrea and his initiatives.

 

Mr. Abrea also feels this would be beneficial for those in government institutions, private corporations since it will include third party organization with real concrete data not driven by personalities or politicians. Information about the Philippines will be presented (I heard) without prejudice. 

Surely, it'll be interesting to hear about that as well. If you're interested, you may get in touch with them via itc@acg.ph or their contact number 09176278805.

See you there!

ACG Launches TaxWhizPH 2.0 and Mon Abrea's Iwas Buwis-It 2022

Paying taxes hasn't been something people love on face value. For starters, it's complicated, it takes a LOT of effort, expensive, and not to mention you don't really have that much motivation because of politics, or corruption and just base it off just by being a responsible citizen and hope your taxes won't go to waste in this country. 

The Asian Consulting Group (ACG) has recently launched an update for the TaxWhizPH App. In a nutshell, this is their version 2.0. This app can compute your taxes with up to date rates and policies. It also guides you to take photos of your receipts, so in case there's need to file for VAT transactions and come tax time, you'll be notified when to pay as it's got calendars for it. The app was developed by ACG and for those who don't know, President Nadine Lustre had a hand for the creative part of this app. She's quite involved since the start and now that it's released, she's quite happy with it.

Nadine was game answering several questions about the app, and how she manages working with the ACG team, and her businesses. She personally knows how hard it is for an ordinary joe to file taxes and glad that ACG and the TaxWhizPH app can help a lot of people.

Mon Abrea also launched his new book IWAS BUWIS-it 2022. This is a step by step guide on how to file taxes including those who are into YouTube, the influencers, and businesses. We asked Mon about how he feels about recent news of politicians not paying taxes, I like what he said about it as it MAKES TOTAL SENSE. Check out our coverage of the event on this video.

 
 

 Currently, the app is available on beta and can be downloaded through QR code on Android. Please make sure to follow the ACG social channels for updates about it or check the Google Play Store. It's also FREE which means you don't have to pay to use it. You can also talk through chat, email as they've got support for that too. The book is going to be available through ACG and leading book stores nationwide, you can pre order through them or National Bookstore. See? There are a lot of people who still care about the country, and now this would make it easier to do our part as citizens.

James Reid and Boy Abunda with the Tax Whiz!

Yesterday was a fine day to be worried about taxes. The guru himself Mon Abrea has written the Asian Consulting Group’s “Iwas Buwis-it: What To Do When Tax Attacks!” which is pretty much a very thorough guide about the ins and outs of paying taxes. As you may understand, a lot of people don’t know much about it and are so afraid to put their hands into this topic amidst the corruption laden government office. There has been remarkable changes and they are continuing to do so, but what he wants us to realize is that we should never take that for granted. It also shows life choices, learnings from celebrities like James Reid and Boy Abunda who were also there that evening.

In the book, there are also tell alls and step by step procedures if you’re a business, sme, individual or freelancer, because yes, you have to also pay for that as well. You will also understand why there is a need to do so, plus tips on how not to commit violations especially if you are a business, employing people, or even would want to get amnesty (oh yeah you heard that right!) so as to not be delinquent in doing so.

James and Kean listening to the Tax Whiz

Boy Abunda also gave them really tough questions

Mon Abrea quips “A lot of people are afraid of it but wether we like it or not we have to pay for it. We just need it to be more accessible, easier to understand so people won’t be afraid of even doing or talking about it.”

The book is available at all leading bookstores and the ACG Tax Hub in Mother Ignacia corner Esguerra in QC

ACG has been doing seminars, talks at their Tax Hub in Mother Ignacia in Quezon City plus in different parts of the country. They also have done it in high OFW populated countries so if they would want to engage in business in the Philippines, they would experience ease in doing it if they come back. You would also love the parts where Boy Abunda and James Reid share their personal cases so you would understand it’s not easy to be popular, because that means things are easily tracked and everything has to be accounted for. If you want to know more, you may visit acg.ph for more info.