Amex hits the high notes as it turns 100 in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – American Express ushered in its 100th year in the Philippines with a musical extravaganza held at the Forbes Ballroom of the Conrad Manila. And what better way is there to celebrate such a star-spangled milestone than by turning to one of America’s greatest inventions — jazz!

The elegantly decorated ballroom became the backdrop to a musical spectacle (aptly called “Pop meets big band jazz”) that transported guests to a hundred years of jazz — from 1920s New Orleans where the genre emerged, to the ‘40s and ‘50s where the standards were born, to its modern pop days in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, all the way up to its big band days at present.

Hundreds of VIP guests filled the ballroom, led by no other than BDO Unibank chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, BDO executive vice president and consumer lending group head Rolando C. Tanchanco and American Express International Inc. Asia president YC Koh; along with members of the business community, VIP cardholders and members of the press.

“The 100 Years of American Express Gala is a grand celebration befitting the prestige and prominence that American Express is known for. Conceptualized and organized specifically for American Express card members, this night is our way of giving back to them, as well as our partners, for their continued patronage throughout the years,” said Tanchanco.

Koh shared the same thoughts. “I want to give special thanks to our partners and our customers for their trust and support over the past century. American Express’ aim is to be the world’s most respected service brand, and we look forward to working with BDO to deliver a world-class experience to our customers as we enter our second century.”

Bringing “all that jazz” to American Express’ stage were top performers like Cris Villonco, Bituin Escalante, Mon David and Charito, who all delivered memorable renditions of timeless jazz music. The foursome opened big with their performance of award-winning musical Chicago’s All that Jazz, which was followed by a string of renowned hits from jazz and pop legends Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Michael Bublé and more. Among the night’s well-received performances was Cris Villonco’s romantic rendition of Someone to Watch Over Me, a song once popularized by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

The singers were joined onstage by equally talented ensemble of musical artists such as Yuki Arimasa, Juasa Kanoh, Kengo Nakamura, the AMP band and Mel Villena.

Another highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the revitalized Platinum Card from American Express. Designed for affluent seasoned travelers and their families, the iconic Platinum Card offers a better travel experiences and a world of rewards and benefits for the card members.

American Express and Cathay Pacific also gave away 80,000 Asia miles (convertible to a round-trip Business Class ticket to Hong Kong or Taipei), two Business Class round-trip tickets to Hong Kong and two Business Class round-trip tickets to Los Angeles to lucky guests whose names were drawn by event host Paolo Bediones and AMEX executives.

American Express opened its first office in the Philippines at 36 Escolta in Manila in 1916. While it is now known for its wide range of banking services and credit cards, especially after it forged a partnership with BDO in 2007, American Express first started its business in the Philippines by offering a variety of shipping services, custom brokerage and traveler’s checks.