2017 started as a good year for Revenue District Officer (RDO) Amanoding Esmail, CPA, MPA who is the Founding President of Philippines Association of Islamic Accountants (PAIA) and Chair of ICIFE Philippines Chapter. But the silver lining was that it brought about a greater forced re-brand in his personal and professional life that had been a long time in coming to recognize this leadership competencies, community services and regional connections as the President of Southeast Asian Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAICCI) and the Chair of Mindanao Halal Hub Corporation (MHHC) respectively.

Just recently in Mindanao at the 43rd Induction and Turn-over Ceremony, RDO Amanoding was proclaimed as the President-Elect of Rotary Club of Cotabato City-South. His term as Rotary President will commence on July 2017. With the strong encouragement from his spouse, PAIA Secretary & ICIFE Member Dr Soraida Esmail, CPA who is currently serving as System Budget Director @Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi; RDO Amanoding has been elected on Board of Director of the Philippines Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) representing North Mindanao Region. PICPA is the national-level organisation of all certified public accountants in the Philippines. It has been announced that commencing July 2017, the Board position of Amanoding in PICPA will be elevated to higher position as PICPA Senior Director. ICIFE is proud to be associated with Amanoding & Dr Soraida and pray for their greater success and more power!

In organising the Summit on Bangsamoro Economics Development (SBED) on 17 February 2017 at Manila Hotel and the International Conference on Islamic Economics & Finance (ICIEF) on 18 February 2017 at Heritage Hotel; RDO Amanoding as SAICCI President has build collaboration with the National Peoples’ Movement for Federalism (PENAMFED) and connect as co-organizers with Authonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); Anak Mindanao Party List (AMIN); Mindanao Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI); National Commission of Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) under the Office of Philippines President; MSU Marawi City; De La Salle University, (DLSU) Manila; PAIA; Accounting Research Institute (ARI) of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia; and ICIFE.
It has been resolved that on 17 February, Philippines President H.E. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Senate President Hon. Aquilino Pimentel III and Former Philippines President Hon Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is currently a Congresswoman at the House of Representatives will grace the official opening of SBED and deliver keynote address. Following which on 18 February, Chairman of ICIFE Eminent International Advisory Board, Hon. Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim has been invited to grace the official opening ICIEF and deliver a keynote address. This landmark Summit will bring together many Philippines and international foremost Islamic finance scholars and leaders to discuss ways in ensuring that the region and in particular Mindanao remains the most thriving center for trade and industry in the world.
Just over a year ago ICIFE Philippines Chapter under the leadership of RDO Amanoding Esmail came into being. 17 February SBED & 18 February ICIEF in Manila will be a major milestone for ICIFE Philippines Chapter. In fact, at ICIFE 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30 January 2016 @Seri Pacific Ballroom Kuala Lumpur, Amanoding tabled a resolution for ICIFE 3rd AGM in 2017 to be held @Manila and it was unanimously approved with a big round of applause. It was further reaffirmed by Amanoding in obliging the request of ICIFE President at 18 July 2016 International Islamic Finance Conference organised by NCMF in Manila that the 3rd AGM would be linked with SBED & ICIEF 17 – 18 February 2017. However at its Retreat meeting on 28 December 2016, ICIFE Exco has decided to shift the venue of 3rd AGM to UiTM Shah Alam, Malaysia and instead the vacuum in Manila to be filled up with the Eminent International Advisory Board meeting.