This year, 2025, assigned to the Wood Snake, represents good wisdom, intuition, and strategic growth. Reflecting these, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) celebrated the Lunar New Year alongside its 150th anniversary of its presence in the Philippines with optimism for expansion, growth and strengthened partnerships.
Held on 22 January at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, HSBC’s “Fortunes Unfolding” brought together stakeholders, partners, and special guests for an evening of a grand feast for all senses — from a dragon dance performance to a sumptuous meal.
“This year will be filled with opportunities for growth and expansion. We look forward to strengthened partnerships among our stakeholders, bridging our customers to a world of opportunities,” HSBC Philippines president and CEO Sandeep Uppal said.
The evening’s four-course dinner was rich in symbolism. The appetizer — a suckling pig, roast duck, jellyfish, and crispy prawn with salted egg — celebrated the power of digital innovation. The main course featured a baked cod fish with XO sauce, accompanied by broccoli, fluffy egg white, crispy leeks and ginger, symbolizes enduring wealth for future generations. For dessert, guests indulged in a jasmin and white chocolate mousse with vanilla, honey, calamansi, and bergamot, symbolizing HSBC’s future growth, nurtured through its people.
Entertainment also filled the night with fun and festivity, with performances from The Voice US Season 26 grand winner Sofronio Vasquez III who captivated the audience with his rendition of “A Million Dreams,” “Feeling Good,” and “Don’t Stop Believin.”
Asia’s Song Bird, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, also charmed guests with classics including “I Love You Always Forever,” “Dadalhin,” and “Dancing Queen.”
Adding more energy to the night, Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, took the stage alongside his children, Kiana and Gab. Their performances included a father-daughter duet of “If I Ain’t Got You,” a song-and-dance number of “Shake It Off” by Gab and his father, and Gary’s timeless hit “Shake It Off.”
Reflecting on the bank’s milestone, Valenciano acknowledged the people who kept HSBC going for long years.
“Though it may seem like you’re all living a legacy, the legacy that has been left behind for you to live, you’re actually continuing that legacy for many, many more years.”
HSBC began its Philippine operations in 1875, and continues to serve customers through its wholesale banking, global banking and markets, and wealth and personal banking services. It operates six branches in Manila, Cebu, and Davao, alongside a Global Service Center.