A stronger partnership

A warm reception was held for the inauguration of the new HSBC Cebu branch at the corner of Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Samar Loop, right at the heart of the Queen City of the South’s business district. 

(From left) Claro Fernandez, Betty Miao, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Graham FitzGerald, Nigel Burbidge and Bruce Peoples.

The inauguration was hosted by HSBC Philippines president and CEO Graham FitzGerald, who officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also leading the ceremony were Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Cebu regional director Leonides Sumbi and HSBC head of retail banking and wealth management for international and Asia Pacific Betty Miao.

FitzGerald said, “Our investment in Cebu is seen as one of the major and important investments of HSBC Philippines. Its continuing prosperity presents opportunities to HSBC in serving our growing number of retail and corporate customers. I trust that this marks the start of an even stronger partnership in the years to come.”

(From left) Beatrice Anne Liu, Primary Structures Corp.’s Paulette Liu, Ma. Rosario Teresa Nocon-Wilson, Amazon Operations Services Philippines’ Andrew Wesley Wilson, Betty Miao, Primary Structures Corp.’s William Christopher Liu Jr. and Michael Brennan.

For her part, Miao said, “At HSBC, we put the customer at the heart of everything we do. Making life simpler, better and faster for our customers, both face to face at branches and via digital channels, is crucial for the future success of HSBC.”

(From left) Llama Construction and Development Corp.’s Jimmy Sy, Mehitabel Furniture’s Robert Booth, Profood International Corp.’s Justin Uy, Michael Brennan and William Christopher Liu Jr.

During the inauguration, there was a traditional lion dance to bring prosperity and good luck. Guests feasted on grilled prosciutto-wrapped tiger prawns with Thai basil pesto, rice paper rolls with confit magret duck, lobster maki rolls with ogo seaweed salad and mango, smoked and cured salmon gravlax with lemon dill cream cheese on roesti potato, roast black Angus beef tenderloin with cabernet sauvignon jus, and sliced organic pork lechon with atchara wrapped in mini-buckwheat tortilla.

Health & fitness in full color

From Left: AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Rungta and wife Indu.

To demonstrate their commitment to promoting the importance of health and wellness, executives of AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, took part in the fun-filled Color Manila Run at the SM Mall of Asia event grounds recently.

AXA Philippines president and chief executive officer Rahul Hora said, “Our participation in Color Manila Run is a fun way to underline the importance of health and fitness. And AXA has the superior products people need for total health protection.”  

The insurance company’s comprehensive products such as Global Health Access and Health Max are designed to protect people’s finances in times of medical emergencies.

Segment director of retail proposition Grace Mallabo, ‘I Bounce for Health’ challenge winner Chrenz Garin and brand and digital marketing director Alma Gruenberg Aldip.

During Color Manila Run, AXA had the “I Bounce for Health” trampoline challenge as a fun way for people to start their health journey in 2019. Those who joined the challenge received a free AXA personal accident insurance card. The participant with the most number of jumps also took home a wearable fitness gadget.

Color Manila brought almost 13,000 color-splattered runners to 200-meter, 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K routes.

On the way to global citizenship

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Arton Capital founder and president Armand Arton.

Arton Capital and EnterPH formed a new partnership that will allow Filipinos to engage in investment programs for second residency and citizenship-by-investments in North America, the Caribbean and Europe.

The partnership was launched in an exclusive two-part event at the Grand Hyatt Manila recently. A media briefing was held in the afternoon, while potential investors and other stakeholders were invited for dinner.

(From left) Lawyer Rocky Chan, Monaco Vice Consul RJ Ledesma, lawyer Mary Ellen King Chan, Montenegro Consul Vanessa Ledesma, Armand Arton, Philippe May and Lorenzo Jooris.

Arton Capital empowers individuals or families to become global citizens by investing in second residency and citizenship in Canada, the US, Antigua and Barbuda, Portugal, Bulgaria and Malta. Soon, the firm will launch operations in Montenegro. In the last five years, the Canadian financial advisory firm’s global operations have attracted more than $4 billion in foreign direct investment. 

Its founder and president Armand Arton said, “The Philippine launch is a very important leg of our Asian campaign and we are ecstatic to see so much interest towards global citizenship. We are excited to work with EnterPH as our partner in the country.”

Armand Arton, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and lawyer Rocky Chan.

Arton Capital’s newly certified partner is EnterPH, a business consultancy firm co-founded by lawyer Rocky Chan and Monaco Vice Consul Rene “RJ” Ledesma Jr., who is also EnterPH’s vice president for business development. The firm specializes in investor relations, helping companies conveniently establish an enterprise in the Philippines.

 (For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 0918-9382602.)

The art of dimsum making

Learn the art of dimsum making at Shangri-La at the Fort’s Canton Road.

Learn from Shangri-La at the Fort’s expert Chinese chefs as they give an overview of techniques and trade secrets of dimsum making. Play chef for the session as Canton Road stages a two-hour dimsum-making classes on Feb. 9, 14 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The class includes a dimsum feast at one of the restaurant’s private dining rooms. *

 (For inquiries and reservations, call 820-0888 or e-mail [email protected].)

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(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)