August Breaktime: AOC’s Virtual Celebration of Filipino Resilience
August 6, 2025 – Alas Oplas & Co., CPAs held its monthly Breaktime, a virtual gathering themed “Stress Ka Lang, Pinoy Ako: Matatag at Masayahin – Virtual Celebration of Filipino Resilience,” bringing together over 215 participants from 16 offices nationwide. The event celebrated the strength and cheerful spirit of Filipinos, offering a space to share positivity, uplift one another, and draw inspiration from stories of hope and perseverance.
The day began with a Holy Mass led by Reverend Father Ogie Orpiada, who reminded everyone that God sets the course of our lives and calls us to trust His divine plan while living in His love.
In line with this month’s focus on resilience, stress emerged as a key topic demonstrating the enduring strength of Filipinos. To provide strategies for managing and reducing stress, particularly in the workplace, Diane Amore Garcia, a registered psychometrician and mental health clinician at Argao Psych, was invited to share her expertise on mental health and overall well-being. She led a comprehensive discussion on the importance of mental health in the workplace, explaining its definition, the dual continuum model, and its impact on employee performance, relationships, and organizational outcomes.
In the #AOCWinStories segment, Queenie Ester Lazaro from the Ortigas Branch, Tax Partner Fernando Santos, and Audit Partner Loraine San Pedro shared personal stories of health battles and life challenges, showing how courage and determination can transform hardships into victories. Their experiences inspired others to face difficulties with hope, faith, and resilience.
The breaktime also featured the introduction of new hires, recognition of August birthday celebrants, and employee anniversary.The breaktime also featured the introduction of new hires, recognition of August birthday celebrants, and employee anniversary.To end on a fun note, Rogielyn Barroga from HR led an engaging quiz on Philippine history, with participants enthusiastically competing to type the fastest answers.
