Bankers celebrate anew at BSP’s Fort San Antonio Abad

MANILA, Philippines — Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governors and officials, Monetary Board members, Finance secretaries, members of the diplomatic community and who’s who in the Philippine banking community trooped to the central bank headquarters in Manila last Friday.

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. welcomed around 300 guests within the walls of the Fort San Antonio Abad with open arms for the 2024 Annual Reception for the Banking Community.

Former central bank governor Jaime Laya is flanked by (from left) The STAR business editor Marianne Go, CTBC vice chairman William Go and The STAR columnist Iris Gonzales.

“I am especially delighted to join you in this yearly tradition because tonight’s celebration is a very special one. This year marks 75 years of central banking in the Philippines,” Remolona said.

“It is fitting that we gather here at Fort Antonio Abad. This fort, together with Intramuros, was designated a national cultural treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines,” the BSP chief added.

Recto and Malaysian Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino were spotted in the crowd.

According to Remolona, the fort played a significant part in the history of Manila and similarly to this, the BSP has come a long way as a central bank from its inauguration on Jan. 3, 1949.

Cabinet secretaries led by newly appointed Ralph Recto of the Department of Finance and Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority attended the event.

Former BSP governors Amando Tetangco Jr. and Benjamin Diokno as well as former Central Bank governors Jose Cuisia Jr. and Jaime Laya joined the reception during the windy Friday evening.

Also present were former BSP deputy governors and Monetary Board members Armando Suratos and Juan de Zuñiga Jr.

Former finance secretaries Jose Pardo, now chairman of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and Roberto de Ocampo, now chairman of Philippine Veterans Bank, were also spotted during the reception. BSP Deputy Governors Chuchi Fonacier, Francisco Dakila Jr., Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Mamerto Tangonan and Eduardo Bobier were in full force to support Remolona in welcoming the guests.

Going forward, Remolona said the BSP has an ambitious reform agenda and sought the help of former BSP officials, as well as major players to the Philippine banking industry.

All smiles were BDO Unibank chairperson Tessie Sy and Bank of the Philippine Islands chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

Also spotted at the reception were BDO president and CEO Nestor Tan, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. president and CEO Fabian Dee, BPI president and CEO Jose Teodoro “TG” Limcaoco, Rizal Commercial and Banking Corp. president and CEO Eugene Acevedo, Security Bank president and CEO Sanjiv Vohra, UnionBank president and CEO Edwin Bautista as well as CTBC vice chairman William Go.

State-run banks were ably represented by Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Lynette Ortiz and Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Michael de Jesus.

To make the event more memorable, the seven-member Monetary Board was complete during the evening.

Aside from Recto and Diokno, Monetary Board Members Anita Aquino, Rosalia de Leon, Romeo Bernardo and Bruce Tolentino joined Remolona during the toast to officially cap the evening.