They're experts at moving money

Networking has been defined as “forming and maintaining a circle of contacts.” It is about forming relationships and creating connections and affiliations. But who to associate with and determining the degree of closeness the bond will take should be considered carefully. After all, the links we make will most likely affect our social, emotional and even financial well-being.

The issue of connectivity takes on new dimensions in the digital age. This is a time when well-linked individuals who are able to form large networks attain more than just fame, when a strong network translates to the capacity for setting trends, influencing public opinion or affecting the movement of consumer goods. But while good connections can translate to influence, power, and even marketing or financial clout, the preponderance of online scams has taught the public the importance of prudence in matters that concern financial transactions.

After 160 years in business, Western Union has earned the enviable reputation as one company that we can believe in and trust. With a long history of “pioneering new services, new ways of connecting people, from singing telegrams, facsimile and satellite communications to helping establish the basis of commercial e-mail,” it remains at the forefront of efficiency and dependability by using the latest available technology today.

The aim of Western Union is the same as when it began: “To connect people to enable positive change in villages, towns and cities across the globe.”

The company’s growth from the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in1851, to a company with 455,000 locations in 200 countries and territories, is nothing but impressive. It speaks well of Western Union’s dependability as a leader in global payment services.

In the Philippines, the contribution of overseas Filipino workers to the country’s economy is reflected in the remittances sent through the company. From remittances of P626 million in 1980, the figure transferred via Western Union ballooned to P19.766 trillion in 2009. The figures are so impressive that the company’s assertion, “We like to think we know a thing or two about moving money,” seems, in fact, too modest.

Giving back is also important to the company. Through the Western Union Foundation and the Our World, Our Family program, one contribution has been “to operate as a socially responsible company by looking after the environment, human rights issues, our operations and supply chain, our governance, policies and ethics, philanthropy and more.” Apart from disaster relief, the company “partners with local nongovernmental organizations and governments to support education, and financial literacy.” It supports scholarships and job creation through small business. It gives training, education and resources, and encourages its employees to do volunteer work in communities.

But on the occasion of its 160th anniversary, Western Union celebrates its unique status by asking, “Are you the most globally connected person in the world?” Patricia Riingen, Western Union senior vice president for Pacific and Indochina, explains that by taking the Western Union Network Challenge, individuals will be able to determine how well-connected they are. They can compare their ranking against their Facebook friends, others in their country and others in the world.

“Western Union as a company has never known borders,” says Riingen. “This is a chance for people to see their personal connections; an opportunity for Filipinos to make a name for themselves in the global community as the most geographically connected persons in the world. With the Philippines recently being hailed as ‘the social networking capital of the world,’ with nine out of 10 Filipinos on Facebook, it also stands a strong chance of being one of the most geographically connected nations globally.” She continues, “Filipinos have come a long way, venturing out into strange lands, building their personal networks and immersing themselves in new cultures while maintaining strong ties with family and friends back home.”

While Western Union is serious about its role in connecting people, it celebrates its 160th anniversary with “a fun way of celebrating the power of human connectivity.”  

To check how well-connected you are, go to www.westernuninonworld.com/ your world and type in your Facebook log-in details.