Later today, all roads lead to historic Fort San Antonio Abad for the annual banking reception for the Banking Community. This event is a milestone – first time for Bangko Sentral PIlipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona to host the cocktail party with almost all of the top brass in the banking, financial and equities markets as well as economic managers attending.
It also marks the first time after the pandemic that the reception and any other significant events of BSP will again be held in Fort San Antonio Abad. Located within the sprawling BSP complex, the Fort was used by the Spaniards as “polvorista” (little fortress) and was known as Fuerte de Polverina.
Just a bit of history: the fort was transformed during the 1762 British invasion of Manila into a garrison. At the end of the British occupation in 1764, two years later, it became a gunpowder storage facility. It, too, was used as a bunker by the imperial Japanese troops during World War and sustained “considerable damage.”
Now back to tonight’s affair. Thrilled may not be enough to describe the feeling of some invitees. Interested, why? Let’s just backtrack a bit to last Monday when Gov. Eli administered the oath of office of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as a member of the Monetary Board, the BSP’s policy-making body.
Consequently, the question raised was: “Will Ate Vi be attending the event?” As a protocol, wives of the monetary board members are automatically invited. Thus, it goes without saying that the movie celebrity-turned politician, the Star for All Seasons and the “Grand Dame” of Philippine Cinema is expected to be present.
That’s right Virginia, tonight’s affair for a stoic economic journo, like me, will be something for the books, considering that for the first time a banking event is being graced by a lady icon of the movie industry in the caliber of a Vilma Santos. The wife of SecFin Recto will be hobnobbing with the top brass of the banking, equities and financial markets, and the tycoons.
The first male icon that visited BSP was Joseph “Erap” Estrada. This was in June 1998, shortly before his assumption as the country’s 13th president. Also, because then the outgoing BSP Governor Gabriel C. Singson was his neighbor at Polk Street, North Greenhills and the incoming Gov. Rafael B. Buenaventura was his high school classmate in Ateneo.
At tonight's affair, I believe there’ll be more! If the “Ate Vi” goes, will Lucky and wife Jessy Mendiola not be far behind? Again, let’s just backtrack a bit. On July 3, 2023, Lucky was among those who witnessed the turnover ceremony of outgoing BSP Gov. Philip Medalla to Gov. Eli.
As we all know, TV-host, actor Lucky or Luis (Luis Philippe Santos Manzano) as he wants to be called now, is the son of Ate Vi and the husband of Jessy Mendiola. I, too, was slightly dumbfounded when I learned of his presence during the turnover ceremony.
Lucky did not do a song and dance number, neither hosted the event. He was there as the representative of his wife, Jessy, the “kamag-anak” incorporated of Gov. Eli. Just to digress for a moment. Unlike other celebrities who assumed a different name, the Mendiola in Jessy’s is her real surname, the same as that of Gov. Eli’s middle name. Simply put, both are related. Gov. Eli is the uncle of Jessy.
“Of course, they will be all invited,” was Gov. Eli’s quick response.
Observing the gathering will be more animated and entertaining with “Ate Vi” being the main attraction. And tonight, this dye-in-the-cast economic journo transforms and wears an entertainment writer’s hat.
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