Time to show off your musical talent

Nokia, the only cellphone brand that I use, completed the first area bar tour and elimination round for Nokia Music Connection, a grand music competition that gives unsigned artists a chance to jumpstart their musical career. Twelve aspiring artists showed off their musical talent during the three-night bar tour in Makati as the phone brand tied up with Star Records and Myx in search for the next music sensation. 

Nokia Philippines GM Benoit Nalin said, “Through Nokia Music Connection, we are giving these artists a chance to sing their own songs and make a name in the Philippine industry. We have also tied up with Star Records and Myx to make sure they get the exposure they need.” 

The Nokia Music Connection’s first area elimination and bar tour was held in three of Makati’s popular bars. The first night was held at B Side, The Collective, featuring alternative rock and ‘90s music played by band finalists Bedroom Karma, Flytrap, Trauma and Tres band. At Il Ponticello the following night, pop, ballad and love songs were the theme as solo participants Nicolo Chavez, Daniella Fernandez, Jeffrey Yumol and Don Alrick serenaded guests. The tour ended at Casa Nami with performances of alternative rock, punk and metal music by Mottaka, South of Market, Goldie and the Teddy Bears and Slash N’ Burn.

Comprising the panel of judges were Star Records album producer Jonathan Manalo and managing director Annabel Regalado-Borja, Nalin and guest judges Myx producer Jojo Feliciano and VJ Robin Nievera.

The next area eliminations will take place in the Quezon City and Ortigas areas with a different set of finalists. Six finalists will be selected to compete in the Grand Finals for a chance to win P200,000, a recording contract with Star Records and their very own music video produced by Myx. Contestants will battle it out in a grand concert where each finalist will perform one original “Nokia” song composed by Star Records and one performance piece.

(Watch their performances on www.nokia.com.ph/musicconection and vote online for your favorite contestant. Simply register on the site online and click on the “Vote” button. You can also vote via SMS, just key in VOTE (space) NOKIA (space) the designated number of the artist of your choice and send to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun Cellular subscribers and 231 for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers.)

Back to the Citi

It was “back to the Citi” at least for a night as ex-Citibankers got together with former colleagues to relive the good old times in Balik Citi 2011 Grand Reunion held at the Banking Hall of the PNB Financial Center in Pasay City. Over 450 ex-Citibankers attended the reunion where they enjoyed a sumptuous buffet and overflowing drinks. In celebration of its 109th year in the Philippines, Citi generously contributed P109,000 to host the affair and another P109,000 for a goodwill fund drive.

Citi country officer Sanjiv Vohra said, “Tonight we are reminded of the numerous milestones that have sealed Citi’s reputation as the largest and most trusted foreign bank here in the Philippines. We now have more than 5,000 employees in the country, 99 percent of whom are local. But this evening, if you ask me how many Citi ambassadors we have in the Philippines, that’s the 5,000 plus all the people in this room.”

Bankers Association of the Philippines past executive director Topper Coronel added, “The training and values we’ve learned from Citi have made us stand out in the industries and organizations we now belong to.”

UnionBank’s Hermie Pugeda extended his gratitude to Citi, which donated another P109,000 for the fund as well as to ex-Citibankers and current Citibankers who gave donations in cash and kind. Pugeda shared that the fund raising project to date has already helped at least six ex-Citibankers who were in urgent need of medical, hospitalization and financial assistance.

Some present were ex-Citibankers now holding top positions in other organizations such as BPI’s (the first place I worked straight out of college) Gigi Montinola, PNB’s Flor Tarriela, GSIS’ Bernie Vergara, ANZ Private Bank’s Nina Aguas, Philam Asset Management’s and my good friend Karen Roa and MasterCard’s Poch Villa-real.

Lending significant support to the staging of this reunion were PLDT, Globe, MasterCard, Makati Medical Center and PNB. The members of the steering committee who organized the affair were Ailene Litonjua, Popo Suanes, Dindin Nakpil, Jimmy Paraiso, Dina Paraiso, Tina Mossesgeld, Dawn Dacanay, Dada Cua, Butch Siongco, Lillibeth Fajardo, Cecille Fonacier and advisors Danny Ignacio and Pugeda.