Ateneo wins inaugural Philippine CFA Ethics Challenge

Students from the Ateneo de Manila University won the inaugural Local Finals of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Ethics Challenge held virtually on 9 October 2021.

Ateneo’s Ethics Challenge team, called Team Astraea, is composed of Management Engineering seniors Tiffany Diane P. Golangco (Team Captain), Kathleen Anne V. Go, and Shenzen P. Golez. They were mentored by faculty advisor Alfonso Miguel N. Sevidal (BS ME ’17) from the Department of Finance and Accounting.
 
The Ethics Challenge is a competition between university-sponsored teams that analyze a case which contains a variety of ethical dilemmas. The case incorporates common ethical issues and the application of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. 
 
This year’s Ethics Challenge was the first hosted by CFA Society Philippines. For the first round of the Challenge, participants were asked to write a report on a case centered on violations of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and subsequent recommendations about how these violations should be addressed. Out of twenty participating universities, the top four teams were selected to advance to the presentation round.
 
The presentation round’s panel of judges included Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Ephyro Amatong, Cocolife Asset Management President Julio Bucoy, CFA, Social Security System (SSS) Executive Vice President for Investments Sector Rizaldy Capulong, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Managing Director and Chief Audit Exeuctive Jane Chiong, CFA, and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) Chief Operating Oficer Roel Refran.
 
Team Astraea competed with teams from San Beda College-Alabang, Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila, and the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
 
They took home a trophy, medals, and a cash prize of Php 40,000. Team Astraea will also be representing CFA Society Philippines in the regional round, where they will compete with other CFA Societies in Asia.
 
Team Astraea joined by the judges, fellow participants, and representatives from CFA Society Philippines after the announcement of winners.

The inaugural Local Finals for the CFA Ethics Challenge was made possible through the competition’s sponsors: National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and Consulting and Seaoil Philippines.