PICC sparkles on BSP Bankers’ Night

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This year’s annual reception for the banking community, hosted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last Friday, Jan. 23, was held at the newly renovated Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), in time for the Philippines’ 2026 assumption of the chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.

The PICC, which was designed by National Artist Leandro Locsin and constructed in 1976, is known as Asia’s first international convention center and is renowned for its Brutalist architecture.

The facility, which is located at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay City, is owned by the BSP.

A major renovation was undertaken from March to September last year in time for the PICC’s 50th anniversary and the 48th and 49th ASEAN Summits which will be hosted by the Philippines as the 2026 chair of the regional bloc.

Thus, the BSP took the opportunity to offer the first glimpse of the sparkling renovation of the PICC to the Philippine banking community by hosting its annual Bankers’ Night at the PICC’s open-air area facilities known as The Courtyard and The Garden, where sculptural art pieces are displayed, including the “Anito” sculpture by National Artist Arturo Luz.

It seemed the stars truly aligned to make this year’s reception  night extra special with a pleasantly cool breeze and good food catered by BSP Deputy Governor Berna Romulo-Puyat’s favorite caterer Florabel.

DG Berna’s experience as the former secretary of tourism has been an asset to the BSP in hosting its social events.

The night was so pleasant that the normally “early to go home” Governor Eli Remolona Jr. and his usually shy and forever sweetheart wife Marie, along with Monetary Board members Walter Wassmer and his wife Myra, Jose Querubin and his gorgeous and svelte wife Bing, stayed much longer than they had in the previous receptions held at Fort San Antonio Abad at the BSP complex along Roxas Blvd.

The BSP Governor and MB members continued to enjoy the night, along with  former BSP governor and now SMIC chairman Amando Tetangco Jr. and his wife — ever youthful and beautiful Elma, former MB member Peter Favila and son, current Citibank country head and CEO Paul Favila, DG Berna, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. president and CEO Roberto “Bobby” Tan and Yuchengco Group chairperson Helen Yuchengco-Dee.

We had so much fun teasing Paul Favila for “chaperoning” his father and waiting for him to finally leave, as Peter kept getting waylaid and chatting with former colleagues after repeatedly saying his goodbyes.

Even Lance Gokongwei and Bank of the Philippine Island’s TG Limcaoco were comfortably lingering and talking business until 9 p.m.

Normally, the Bankers’ Night is a very quick and efficient reception, with the prompt and early arrival between 6 and 7 p.m. of top bankers, government officials such as the Finance Secretary and diplomatic guests.

At 7 p.m. the BSP Governor gives his speech and leads the formal toast and picture taking to commemorate another year of fruitful and harmonious relations with the banking community.

Thereafter, the top bankers quietly take their leave, so that by 8 p.m. it is mostly the old BSP officers and media left to enjoy the sumptuous buffet, and swarm the BSP Governor for his outlook on the banking and financial system.

Allowing a few minutes to satisfy the BSP press corps, Gov. Eli then declares his curfew.

At the start of his term, Gov. Eli made it a point to head home by 8 p.m. Thus, it was unusual that he and Miss Marie were lingering and enjoying the cool Friday night this time around… but then, who wouldn’t with the chill vibe and good Malbec red wine?

A brief chat with the usually shy Miss Marie revealed that she has become more comfortable with a lot of people, and thus feels more at ease nowadays in social events, and was enjoying the company of the MB wives.

Among those who left early were Finance Secretary Frederick Go, MB members Benjamin Diokno, Rosalia “Leah” de Leon and Romeo Bernardo and his wife Amina, along with DG Berna’s parents, former Budget Secretary Bert Romulo and his beautiful wife Lovely — from whom DG Berna has inherited her gorgeous genes.

Among the personalities who left early were Chinabank’s Hans Sy and BDO president Nestor Tan, along with high-power lawyer Nilo Divina.

I didn’t see Jaime Augusto Zobel around.

Lance Gokongwei and TG Limcaoco gamely posed for photos with our 501 Group (senior banking reporters who have covered BSP governors starting from the late Jose “Jobo” Fernandez, Gabriel Singson and Rafael Buenaventura, and still active Jose Cuisia and Amando Tetangco Jr.).

We were even able to rib Lance for letting  one of his prized hoteliers, Pat Puyat-Palanca, former cluster general manager of Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and Holiday Inn & Suites Manila Galleria, slip through his fingers and be pirated by Megaworld Hotels and Resorts as its new group director for business development.

Well, Lance’s loss is Kevin Tan’s gain as Pat is set to transform some of MHR’s newest hotel developments at the Manila Bay hotel area where the glittering casino-hotel resorts of Solaire, City of Dreams and Okada are located and drawing in both local and foreign tourists.

A brief chat with MB member Wassmer about his 2025 surprise Christmas medley song presentation, revealed that he would prefer to have the BSP secure the services of professional entertainers next year, instead of doing a repeat performance.

Who knew that for the first time, members of the 501 Group would take their leave ahead of the BSP Governor.

But hey, I did not see our lone 501 male member, Dax Lucas of InsiderPH, leave with us. I’m pretty sure he was still inside, getting the scoops!