The beauty of Citibank then was that we had yearly management conferences not only in New York, but in other places like one in Florida in a resort. We used to go to India because the rupee was blocked, and India had a lot of blocked earnings. It was beautiful. We stayed on boathouses, one officer per boat, and a valet each. Fantastic! We felt like maharajahs. And we were only junior officers then.
When China re-opened in 1978, Citibank was the first to bring its entire senior management to Beijing for a planning conference with George Vojta. Every country head in Asia was there. We joked on the plane that if it ever crashed, we would have been violating Citibank rules. But we said "Never mind; they can write us a memo afterwards telling us never to do it again." Someone said "Dont worry. Thats 13 new vacancies for country head."
Some of us visited places where Citibank had been. For people like Ray Kathe (the banks "Mr. Asia"), this was an emotional homecoming because he was the last senior officer to leave China in 1949. I think Rays parents were missionaries there.
Rafael B. Buenaventura
Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Class of 1965
One Christmas, the group composed a song snide remarks about another expatriate officer. Someone must have squealed, because we were all summoned to Wheelers office again to sing the jingle we had composed right there, standing in front of him. He was so mad. So mad. But that was part of the ritual of not only bonding, but strengthening the officer corps in Citibank. Not just having a rowdy time psychologically, I think it was needed.
Antonio H. Ozaeta
President, Philippine Trust Company
Class of 1961
Ramon S. Orosa
First Filipino Citibank Resident
Vice President, 1971
Class of 1961
Under the program, Manila will serve as a nucleus for reorienting operations specialists from Hong Kong, Japan, Malaya, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The Philippine phase of the program, lasting one year, is designed to develop and upgrade equipment, forms, procedures and services. The extensive studies of work flow procedures will benefit all banks in the Philippines as they involve many operational matters common to all banks in the community.
Edward S. Go
CEO, United Coconut Planters Bank
Class of 1962
"Manila Picked for FNCB Operations Team Program"
Manila Times, 14 March 1964
Teodoro B. Montecillo
Member, Monetary Bank,
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Class of 1965