Photos released to the Mindanao Examiner show honorary Consul Ramon Balaguer from the Embassy of Spain, Congresswoman Maria Isabel Salazar, BPI President and CEO Aurelio Montinola III, BPI Vice Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat and Tourism-Intramuros Administrator Jose. Capistrano, Jr. And BPI’s famous antique teller’s cages used during the early period of 1912. The teller’s cages are made of hardwood and have been used until 2002. Recreated with period furniture dating from around the 1900’s to the 1930’s, the Grand Sala, captures the essence of gentility and graciousness of Zamboangueno social and cultural life during the colonial era. And Archdiocesan Administrator Monsignor Crisologo Manongas and Fernando Zobel de Ayala crowns the Our Lady of the Pilar during the mass sponsored by the bank.
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 23, 2012) – A hundred years ago, the Bank of the Philippine Islands opened its first branch in Mindanao at a then frontier town called Zamboanga, at the residence of General John Jacob Pershing, owned by Chinese entrepreneur who converted to Christianity – Don Francisco Barrios.
The house, where the original BPI Zamboanga opened in 1912, remains intact and the bank branch operating there continuously serves its community. The centennial anniversary of the historic BPI branch took place August 17 preceded by a Catholic mass at the shrine of Our Lady of the Pilar where her crown – in safe-keeping at the BPI vault – was brought out to be placed on her head. A historical marker in front of the BPI building was unveiled, and the BPI Museum opened to the public.
As part of the centennial celebration of BPI’s historic Zamboanga branch, the second floor of the bank had been converted into a museum. Period furniture, vintage photographs, and an exhibit is represented throughout the 6 rooms and a grand sala. The rooms, included the one used by Pershing; the Managers’ Room assigned to BPI branch managers who lived there later, and a dining hall, a weapons room, and an array of material on BPI history and the Zamboanga branch history.
Those who graced the occasion were BPI Vice Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, BPI president and CEO Aurelio Montinola III , National Historical Commission Chairperson Maria Serena Diokno, Zamboanga Mayor Celso Lobregat, Congresswoman Maria Isabel Salazar, Zamboanga Archdiocesan Administrator Monsignor Crisologo Manongas, Department of Tourism Intramuros Administrator Jose Capistrano, Jr., Honorary Consul Ramon Balaguer, from the Embassy of Spain.
In welcoming visitors to Zamboanga, Lobregat said: “This significant event brings us back to the birth of the country’s oldest banking institution to have withstood the time and witnessed the growth of Zamboanga City from the American occupation to the present time. In short, BPI and Zamboanga stood side-by-side as history unfolded. The bank has seen our community develop from a small town of calesas and wooded houses to the bustling modern city that it is today.”
Aurelio Montinola noted in his brief message that “through all these years, BPI, which has since expanded from one to four branches, has served Zamboanga with pride. BPI had made and upheld its commitment to become this City’s partner in building its businesses and growing our customers’ personal wealth. This commitment was true then, as it is now.”
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