HSBC remains steadfast in its commitment to help clients prosper this Lunar New Year
With the Lunar New Year in the Water Rabbit sign, HSBC, one of the country’s premier banking and financial institutions, treated top clients and guests to a fabulously elegant celestial celebration, the Shanghai Luxe gala. Held at Shangri-La The Fort last Jan. 19, the hotel’s grand ballroom was enveloped by the vibrant cosmopolitan flair of 1930s Shanghai, where there was a meeting between East and West.
“It's a momentous occasion for us to be face to face celebrating the Lunar New Year,” said HSBC Philippines President and CEO Sandeep Uppal during his opening speech. “The Lunar New Year is a time where millions of families travel across the globe to spend time with each other and enjoy the festivities. We hope that the Year of the Rabbit brings you fortune, health, and boundless possibilities.”
The festivities kicked off with the Dragon and Lion Dance where Sandeep was joined by HSBC Philippines senior management: Peter Faulhaber, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking; Corrie Purisima, Head of Markets and Securities Services; Mimi Concha, Head of Wholesale Banking; and Ailene Manzano-Litonjua, Head of Private Banking.
“At HSBC, we look forward to nourishing our relationship so that we become your trusted banking partner. We remain committed to manage your banking and your wealth in order to help you prosper,” Sandeep continued. “I will also take the opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the Philippines where we have been since 1875 or for 148 years. We opened and have been in Binondo for a hundred years, and we hope we will be here 100 years later.”
The Chinois-Francais menu, prepared by the executive chefs of Shangri-La The Fort, was one of the highlights of the social function. It was a delicious symphony of East-West dishes, including the Lunar New Year Trilogy entree. It was consisted of torched scallop with XO sauce, seaweed salad, suckling pig, foie gras mousse on profiterole, poached yellow chicken ginger scallion sauce, cucumber, and coriander.
For the soup, there was the Herbal Poultry Consommé with peking duck julienned, cordyceps, and goji berries. The main dish was Slow Braised Beef Short Rib Chu Hou served with Renmano Chairman's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.
The night ended with spectacular performances from the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha, serenading guests with renditions of Grace Chang’s “Wo Yao Ni De Ai” and Katy Perry’s “Fireworks,” among others.
Wishing the new year brings fortune, peace, wealth, and endless joy, Sandeep concluded his opening remarks: “The sign of the rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity. The rabbit is also believed to provide a sense of calm. Considering what the world had gone through in recent years with the pandemic, all of us could do with a level of calmness.”