HSBC INAUGURATES CEBU OFFICE

The HSBC Cebu team led by Cebu Retail Branch Head, Debbie Dy-Realiza, with Graham FitzGerald, HSBC Philippines President and CEO; Betty Miao, HSBC Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management International, Asia Pacific and other HSBC executives from Manila

HSBC stands for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, a global concern that has been in the Philippines for 143 years. The Cebu branch of HSBC recently moved to an elegant address at the Philam Life Center in Cebu Business Park.

That called for a grand celebration held in situ on January 23. I arrived right behind Ambassador Francisco Benedicto, welcomed by HSBC Cebu Branch head Debbie Dy Realiza. Introductions were in order:

The ribbon-cutting was officiated by Betty Miao, HSBC Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management International, Asia Pacific; Graham FitzGerald, HSBC Philippines President and CEO; Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella; and BSP Cebu Regional Director Atty. Leonides Sumbi

HSBC Philippines president and CEO Graham FitzGerald who presided the ribbon cutting ceremony with Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Central Bank's Cebu director Leonides Sumbi, and Betty Miao, HSBC's Hong Kong based head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management for Asia/Pacific.

It was quite a gathering of Cebu VIPs, among them the Central Bank's deputy director Christine Tan, and Antonio Chiu, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Honorary Consul of Slovakia.

(From L-R) HSBC executives Bruce Peoples, SVP Distribution Management; Betty Miao, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management International, Asia Pacific; Graham FitzGerald, President and CEO Philippines; Nigel Burbidge, Retail Banking & Wealth Management Chief Operations Officer Philippines; Debbie Dy-Realiza, Cebu Retail Branch Head; Claro Fernandez, Head of Communications Philippines; and Michael Brennan, Head of Wholesale Banking Philippines

Present were HSBC's top executives Nigel Burbidge, Bruce Peoples, Michael Brennan, and Claro Fernandez who is head of Communications, the new name for what used to be Public Relations.

Among the Cebu luminaries were Mayen Tan, Lolly Diez, Bunny Ludo Alcordo, Bigseed's Jaja Rama who coordinated the event with her usual elan, Mike and Rose Hennessy, BJ Schaap, Jose Cuenco, William and Paulette Liu, US Consular Agent Glenn Loop, Sammy and Emily Chioson, Honorary Consuls of Portugal and Israel, respectively.

There was 100% attendance for the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Commission (CHAC) which met at the Cebu City Library and Museum on January 28. All accounted for:

Erlinda Alburo, Arsenio Pacaña, Melva Java, May Seno, Ricky Dakay, Margie Matheu, Louie Nacorda, Fr. Erik Orio, Joy Gerra, and Bryner Diaz who is the officer in charge at CHAC.

Gail Padayhag represented Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, CHAC chairman, and took down pertinent notes. Also present were Florentino Boligor of the CHAC secretariat, and former editor of the Cebu Daily News, Eileen Mangubat, whose exquisite manners evoke Audrey Hepburn. She is active with Cebu heritage projects.

CHAC is in the process of a Cebu cultural mapping, and the identification of heritage structures. Houses and buildings over 50 years old qualify, and it is important for their owners to be aware.

This CHAC meeting was actually to deliberate on the nominations for Outstanding Institutions and Individuals to be awarded during City Charter Day on February 24. Further deliberations will be made at a meeting set for February 4 at 1:30 PM.

Awardees will be formally announced when all nominations are finally appraised.

Poster of A Chamber Concerto featuring Leigh Cellano playing the violin and Rudolf Golez on piano. Photo grabbed from Leigh Cellano's facebook account.

Speaking of culture, Arts Council president Dr. Vivina Chiu Yrastorza is elated with the success of the piano and violin concert held on January 25 at the auditorium of the Marcelo Fernan Press Center, where the Arts Council stores its grand piano. Featured artists were pianist Rudolf Golez and Leigh Cellano, the Arts Council's scholar for violin. There was standing room only, and a thunderous standing ovation for both performers.

Arts Council trustees are reminded of the regular monthly meeting on February 8 at 6 PM at the Tsai Cheng Chinese restaurant. Dinner follows with Teresin Mendezona asking Pinky Chang to prepare the menu.

Music enthusiasts are reminded of the Arts Council's presentation of Libera on February 23 at 8 PM at the ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

Libera is the internationally famous London-based boys' choir identified for its angelic voices. They have fans all over the world. Some of them have come from Japan and Canada for their three Cebu previous performances.