Citi celebrates a history of excellence with its annual alumni event
MANILA, Philippines — “Citibank University” or the “Univer-Citi of Banking” is of course not an actual university; these are the nicknames of the financial giant Citibank N.A. which, over the course of its operations, attracted the brightest minds to join its workforce for the opportunity to learn from, and be trained by, the best of the best.
This legacy of attracting and developing top talent is deeply rooted in Citibank's extensive global presence and its long-standing history in various markets.
Citi’s history in the Philippines dates to July 1902, when the International Banking Corporation, forerunner of Citibank, established a branch in Manila. Today, Citi Philippines is the largest foreign bank in the country in terms of asset base, proudly serving the public sector, top-tier local corporates, multinationals and financial institutions through corporate banking, treasury and trade, markets and investor services, as well as transaction services facilitated by its Citi Solutions Center.
Throughout its 123 years in the country, Citi alumni have strived to make a positive financial and social impact on the country, even when they have long left Citi.
The firm continues to celebrate their contributions and impact on the broader financial landscape through its annual alumni event. This year, Citi held its Alumni Event and honored two former colleagues who are both luminaries of the banking industry. William Go, founder of Chinatrust Philippines and served as its president, is the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for Leadership and Eugene Acevedo, former president and CEO of RCBC and author, is the recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award for Network Development.
These distinguished honorees join a prestigious lineage of individuals. The list of Citi Philippines’ recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) is a who’s who of the business sector: 2013 awardee for Leadership and Ingenuity is Gerry Ablaza Jr.; 2014 awardees are Rene Almendras for Leadership and Ingenuity and Flor Tarriela for Community Involvement; 2015 awardee is Rose Montenegro for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2016 awardees are Max Edralin Jr. for Community Involvement; Hermie Pugeda and Danny Ignacio for Network Development and Teddy Montecillo for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2017 awardee is Tito Ortiz for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2018 awardee is Gigi Montinola for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2019 awardee is Sonny Vistan for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2020 awardee is Edwin Bautista for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2021 awardee is Nina Aguas for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2022 awardee is Carlos ‘Do” Ejercito for Leadership and Ingenuity; 2023 awardee is Gil Buenaventura for Leadership and 2024 awardee is Peter Favila for Leadership.
So, what makes a Citibanker different from his peers?
Flor Tarriela, 2014 Distinguished Alumni Awardee for Community Involvement said, “You can always rely on a Citibanker to deliver. A Citibanker is reliable, trustworthy, resourceful and performs in a timely manner with excellence.”
Tarriela is Citibank’s first Filipina vice president, former PNB chairman and former undersecretary of Finance. She adds, “My biggest lesson from Citi was do the right thing all the time—meaning to follow the rules and always be compliant. To be compliant but at the same time to ask questions when needed and to have a critical mind.”
Peter Favila, former monetary board member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas serving two terms and the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for Leadership adds, “A Citibanker is given access to global resources that makes him stand out from his peers. We also learned to embrace change and make it work.”
Like Tarriela, Favila also served in both the public and private sector. He has served as chairman and director of the Philippine Stock Exchange and former Trade and Industry secretary during president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration. He was also president of Philippine National Bank, Security Bank and Allied Banking Corporation.
Danny Ignacio, businessman and recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award for Network Development said, “The Citibank experience opened opportunities for me that helped me succeed as head of various real estate companies and establish my own real estate company.”
Ignacio was the executive in charge of the famous Citibank Tower Building in Makati. After his Citibank stint he worked at Philam properties Corporation, Robinsons Land and Eton Properties.
He adds, “Citibankers bring with them the culture outside of Citibank and it stays for life. We are always ready to help one another.”
In his welcome remarks for this year’s alumni event Paul Favila reiterated this message, “In this industry, we often measure success through performance and results. But this event reminds us each year that the real strength of the firm is its people, the “Citibankers”—it’s the lessons learned, values shared and shaped, and the impact we carry forward throughout our careers.”
Favila also believes the contributions of Citi alumni both in the banking industry and in nation building, sets the stage for the next generation of Citibankers, “We recently witnessed this pride reflected at our Alumni gathering, where past colleagues expressed their admiration for the continuing legacy we are diligently building together.”
Editor’s Note: This press release for Citibank is not covered by Philstar.com's editorial guidelines.
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