If you’re frequently sending money to the Philippines from the UK, consider opening a BPI Europe account so that you can enroll this account in BPI Express Online and then make your money transfers online.

2 Ways to Open a BPIE Star account:   (Star means Save, Transact And Remit)

1.  Visit BPI Europe in London and open an account.  Bring the required documents.

BPI Europe PlC
26A and 27A Earl’s Court Gardens
London, SW5 0SZ

2.  Or Send the required documents thru post using the address above.

The documents required are the following:

• Original or Authenticated copy of your passport or UK driver’s license with photo

authentication by your GP, solicitor or your bank

• Original copy of proof of address

can be your bank statement, credit card statement, utility bill or council tax bill

• One ID photo
• Initial cash deposit of 10 pounds

can be a check issued to your name

• Filled-out Customer Information Sheet

can be downloaded from the BPI Europe website (bpieuropeplc.com)
or can be requested thru email (bpinoy@bpieuropeplc.com)

For more info:

Tel No.: 0207 835 0088
Office hours: from Monday to Friday and Sunday

Related Articles:

Secured BPI Credit Cards for OFWs

BPI Credit Card Payment for College Tuition Fees

Again, I say that credit cards are like KNIVES — they are useful, but they can kill if you don’t know how to use them.

How can they kill you?

1. If you misplace or lose your credit card, you’ll be charged with thousands of pesos you didn’t use in just a few minutes. It’s super easy for thieves to use a stolen card.

2. You’ll buy and buy and charge and charge, and in just a few hours, you’ve accumulated 20,000 pesos or much more in debt.

When you have 20,000 pesos, or 100,000 pesos, or more in credit card debt, and you can’t pay even the minimum due, you’re in BIG TROUBLE. The stress can KILL you.

Nevertheless, if you’re careful with money, a credit card can be used as a convenient temporary gap filler.
(Hindi ka na kelangang maghagilap pa ng kung sino-sinong mahiraman, kasi nakakahiya. Gagamitin mo ang credit card to pay something very important while waiting for a certain amount of money that is SURELY coming, na babayaran din agad yong credit card debt nang BUONG-BUO, in FULL AMOUNT, pag andiyan na yong pera.) Additionally, you can build a good credit record for future purposes.

I’ve written previously a blogpost on credit card for OFWs.

Here’s a better and clearer info from Bong, as he has shared in the Comments section.

For Secured Credit Cards, the requirements are simple — the same as the requirements needed when opening an ordinary bank account.

The thing is, since “secured” ang credit card, the bank gets to hold your passbook for as long as you hold the credit card. The maximum credit limit depends on the amount you deposit with them (usually 80% of your total deposit).

For example, I applied for EXPRESS START (secured credit card program ng BPI), opened a passbook account with BPI (I chose the highest yielding passbook account type – they will ask you what type of account you would like to open with the Express Start), then submitted the requirements (basically just 2 valid IDs & pictures, thats it!).

After that, may ipapa-sign sila na contract — Deed of Assignment — which basically says that the bank will hold your deposit for as long as you are using the credit card. 1 year yata ang minimum, but you can terminate the contract for a fee of course.

The good thing about this is — this is hassle-free because of minimum requirements, plus maingat ako sa gastos kasi basically hawak ng bank ang deposits ko, and at the same time, hindi ko pa nagagalaw ang ipon ko — 100,000 pesos ang deposit ko sa BPI, 80,000 ang assigned credit limit ko.

After a year of use, the bank can even give you an “UNSECURED CARD” kung maganda ang credit score mo. By the way, kung sa BPI kayo mag-apply, choose MASTERCARD. Don’t choose the BPI express credit classic.

Notes from Nors:

Advantages of BPI Mastercard:

- More merchants use Mastercard than Classic
- Can be used for international purchases
- Can be used for Internet purchases
- Can be used to apply for free E-credit (credit limit solely for Internet purchases,
so the rest of the credit limit is protected)

Advantages of BPI Classic

- Can be used to pay tuition fees in BPI accredited schools (the card is swiped by school cashiers)
- Lower interest rate
- Lower annual fee

Additional Notes From Bong:

Actually, ang BPI (Express Start), HSBC, BDO, UNIONBANK (Visa), Metrobank and PNB (ASK card specifically for OFWs) all offer secured credit cards. All you need is an account sa bank nila and that’s all.
Try the PNB ASK card, inquire na lang kayo. I heard this type of secured credit card was made for OFWs.

Related Articles:
No Annual Fee Credit Card in the Philippines — Metrobank M
Free from Credit Cards, At Last!
Credit Cards in the Philippines — Unfair Collection Practices
Credit Card Fees — Credit Cards Philippines

You can also use SIP to pay for nursery, prep, elementary and high school fees.

For accredited schools, you just ask the school cashier to swipe your BPI Express Credit card.

For non-accredited schools,  submit school assessment slips or statements and school receipts to a BPI Express Center or a BPI/BPI Family branch. You’ll receive cash through your BPI account the next banking day if you apply at an Express Banking Center or within 3 days if you apply at a branch or a check within 3 days of application.

Here’s an alphabetical list of colleges and universities accredited by BPI for instant credit card payments at school cashier counters:

Ama Computer College
Asia Pacific College
Asian Institute of Management
Assumption College – San Lorenzo
Ateneo de Manila – Quezon City
Ateneo de Manila – Rockwell
Ateneo de Davao University
Central Philippine University
Centro Escolar University
Colegio De San Juan De Letran
Colegio de San Lorenzo
College of Oral Implantology
Don Bosco Technical College
Far Eastern University
Fatima Medical Science
FEU-East Asia College
First Integrated Educational Systems
Holy Child School of Davao
Informatics College Manila Inc.
ICCT Colleges Foundation
Kester Grant College
Lyceum of the Philippines
Meycauayan College
Meycauayan Doctors
Miriam College
MSA Group Inc.
National College of Science
Our Lady of Fatima College
Our Lady of Perpetual Succor
Pasig Catholic College
Philippine Women’s College of Davao
Saint Pedro Poveda College
San Beda College Alabang
San Juan De Dios Education
Siliman University
Sotogrande Teaching Institute
Southville International School
Southwestern University
St Jude College
St Paul University
Thomas More College
Trace College
University of Asia and the Pacific
University of San Jose Recoletos
University of Santo Tomas
University of Perpetual Help
University of San Carlos
University of St La Salle

*The list of accredited nursery, prep, elementary, high schools and other institutes will be included in another blogpost.

Other notes:

1.  The monthly add-on rate ranges from 1 to 1.5 percent.

2.  The minimum amount to be charged is 3,000 pesos.

3.  You must be in good credit standing with BPI.

4.  Your SIP credit limit can be increased up to 3 times depending on how long you’ve been a BPI credit cardholder and how you’ve handled your payments.

5.  The promotional interest rate can change without prior notice.

How to Compute Your Monthly Payment:

Multiply the loan amount by factor rate (Refer to the table)

Example: Loan amount is 20,000 pesos with term of one year.

Monthly payment = 20,000 pesos x 0.093333 = 1,866.66 pesos

You pay BPI 1,866.66 pesos every month for 12 months.

Ang total payment mo would be 1,866.66 x 12 = 22,399.92

Ang total interest na babayaran mo ay 2,399.92

Related Articles:

Tuition Fees at FEU and Some Other Universities in Manila, Philippines
Low Interest Personal Loans in the Philippines
Some Cheap Loans in the Philippines Are Not Really Cheap

As an investor in bank stocks, certainly you want your bank to have a high Return on Equity (ROE) rate.  As investors know,  ROE represents a company’s net income in comparison with stockholders’ investments.  ROE = net income divided by stockholders’ equity.

But as a plain bank customer, do you want your bank to top bank rankings based on ROE?

Oftentimes we ask ourselves why banks give so little interest on our time deposits and then later we see them declaring super high levels of net income and ROE.

Based on Return on Equity, here are the top banks in the Philippines as of September 2010:

1 East West Banking Corp.  –  34.27 %
2 Standard Chartered Bank  –  23.09 %
3 Security Bank Corp.  –  22.98 %
4 Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp.  –  20.70 %
5 Land Bank of the Philippines  –  18.64 %
6 Bank of the Philippine Islands  –  17.65 %
7 Deutsche Bank  –  17.20 %
8 China Banking Corp.  –  16.61 %
9 BDO Private Bank  –  16.37 %
10 Union Bank of the Philippines  –  16.06 %
11 Citibank N.A.  –  15.70 %
12 Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.  –  15.63 %
13 United Coconut Planters Bank  –  15.63 %
14 Internationale Nederlanden Groep BK  –  15.12 %
15 Asia United Bank Corp.  –  15.02 %
16 Development Bank of the Philippines  –  14.49 %
17 Philippine Trust Co.  –  13.14 %
18 Banco de Oro Unibank  –  11.12 %
19 Philippine National Bank  –  10.89 %
20 Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ  –  9.83 %
21 Chinatrust Philippines  –  9.26 %
22 Philippine Veterans Bank  –  7.84 %
23 Korea Exchange Bank  –  7.81 %
24 Mega International Commercial Bank  –  7.48 %
25 Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.  — 7.24 %
26 Allied Banking Corp. –  6.96 %
27 Bank of Commerce  –  5.25 %
28 JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A.  –  4.21 %
29 Royal Bank of Scotland Philippines  –  1.94 %
30 Mizuho Corporate Bank Manila  –  1.11 %
31 Bangkok Bank Public Co.  –  1.05 %
32 ANZ Banking Group  –  0.09 %
33 Bank of America N.A.  –  -0.02 %
34 Bank of China Manila  –  -1.47 %
35 Maybank Philippines  –  -1.85 %
36 Al-Amanah Islamic Bank of the Phil  –  -6.00 %
37 Philippine Bank of Communications  –  -11.92 %
38 Export and Industry Bank  –  -36.15 %

It’s interesting to note that the banks in the list above — those with highest ROE — are not the banks with the highest deposits, assets or capital.

Look at Metrobank — it’s second in total deposits, second in total assets, and second in total capital as of Sep 2010, but it’s 25th in ROE. Does this mean Metrobank is not taking much from customers?

Based on Total Deposits:

1. Banco de Oro Unibank  –  693.903 billion pesos
2. Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co.  –  570.332
3. Bank of the Philippine Islands  –  494.465
4. Land Bank of the Philippines  –  398.668
5. Philippine National Bank  –  234.086
6. China Banking Corp.  –  189.121
7. Union Bank of the Philippines  –  184.719
8. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.  –  172.048
9. Citibank NA  –  140.905
10. United Coconut Planters Bank  –  136.553

Related Articles:

Top Banks in the Philippines Based on Alexa Ranking

Top 10 Banks in the Philippines based on Assets, Deposits and Capital

List of Banks in the Philippines — Universal Banks, Commercial Banks

Top 27 Savings Banks in the Philippines — or Top 27 Thrift Banks

Walang mawawala — instead all to gain kapag nanalo ka — at panalo ka pa rin kahit wala kang napanalunan sa promo dahil at least may pera ka sa bangkong gusto mo.

The Landbank promo runs up to August 31, 2011.
The BPI promo runs up to April 2011.

LANDBANK  –  Land Bank of the Philippines

What you can win:

Raffle for three 20,000 cash prizes on each of these following dates:

March 25, 2011
April 29, 2011
May 27, 2011
June 23, 2011
July 29, 2011
August 26, 2011
September 30, 2011

Grand raffle for one 100, pesos cash prize on:

September 30, 2011

What you should do:

Open a new regular peso savings or checking account or
maintain your regular peso savings or checking account.

For more information, check Landbank’s website landbank.com.

BPI

Who are qualified:

New and current account holders of:

Bank of the Philippine Islands
BPI Family Savings Bank
BPI Direct Bank

What you can win:

Raffle for a set of One Apple iPad and one iPhone for each of five winners on March 21, 2011

Raffle for One Honday City automobile on April 21, 2011

What you should do:

Enroll in BPI’s Internet banking system called BPI Express Online, if you haven’t yet enrolled, and pay your bills online, or reload your cell phone online to get raffle points.

For more info, visit BPI’s website bpiexpressonline.com.

Related Articles:

BPI and BDO Internet Banking — Free and Quick Ways to Send Your Children’s Allowance

of offices or full-service branches, as reported to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) or Central Bank of the Philippines. Included are their telephone numbers and number of offices.

Savings banks cater to individuals or small businesses and organizations. They have lower deposit requirements, maintaining balances and lower fees, compared to commercial or universal banks.

While commercial banks provide big business, construction and development loans, savings banks offer primarily personal loans, housing loans and small business loans.

Ranked based on number of offices/branches:

1.  Philippine Savings Bank (PSBank)
885-8208; 885-8203; 843-5003; 885-8219 — 175 offices

2.  BPI Family Savings Bank
754-6908; 845-6995; 754-6743 — 138 offices

3.  RCBC Savings Bank, Inc.
634-7008; 633-9850; 687-5430; 687-0827 — 117 offices

4.  Planters Development Bank
(02) 884-7600; 884-7800 — 70

5.  Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank
818-5151 to 71; 830-2260; 818-6637 — 62

Note: Banco Filipino closed on March 15, 2011 because of lack of cash to fund withdrawals. This bank also closed from 1985 to 1992.

6.  Producers Savings Bank Corporation
(02) 667-3021; 667-3022; 667-3811; 667-3812 — 56

7.  Philippine Business Bank, Inc., A Savings Bank
363-2129; 363-3333 — 55

8.  Robinsons Savings Bank Corporation
638-3173 to 86; 635-2381; 702-9500 — 53

9.  First Consolidated Bank, Inc. (A Private Dev’t. Bank)
(038)411-5445; 411-5058 — 51

10.  Citibank Savings, Inc.
423-6600; 423-6732; 995-9440 — 38

11.  Premiere Development Bank
852-3526 to 29 — 38

12.  Luzon Development Bank
(049) 531-2353; 531-2498; 531-7295 — 35

13.  UCPB Savings Bank
819-1922; 892-6810; 892-6567; 811-7231 — 33

14.  Asiatrust Development Bank
373-4101 to 20; 373-3409/2422/2421; 324-5623; 373-2421 — 28
Note on Asiatrust here.

15.  Philippine Postal Savings Bank
525-9392; 525-9394; 527-0053 — 25

16.  Citystate Savings Bank, Inc.
637-8397 to 98; 637-4189; 636-3333; 637-8743; 470-3333; 706-5860; 706-5849
24 offices

17.  The Real Bank (A Thrift Bank), Inc.
927-8984; 413-7429; 928-5545 loc. 201 — 24

18.  Opportunity Kauswagan Bank, Inc. (A Microfinance TB)
(033) 329-3628; 320-4038 Loc.204 — 23

19.  Sterling Bank of Asia, Inc. (A Savings Bank)
Direct Line: 535-6100; Trunkline 535-6168 — 23

20.  Allied Savings Bank
816-3311 loc 3142; 814-0596; 812-8352 — 22

21.  GSIS Family Bank, A Thrift Bank
(02) 706-0487 to 89; 706-0490 — 22

22.  Equicom Savings Bank, Inc.
815-1049 to 53; 856-0108; 828-3784 loc 201; +63918-9445128
17 offices

23.  HSBC Savings Bank (Phils), Inc.
817-1002; 840-7000 loc 7896; 830-5198 — 16

24.  Malayan Bank Savings and Mortgage Bank
814-0884 to 89 —14

25.  Queen City Development Bank
(033) 729-3144; 336-8055 loc. 120 — 14

26.  Legazpi Savings Bank, Inc.
(052)480-7008; 480-7758; 820-2970 — 11

27.  Wealth Bank – A Development Bank
(032) 415-8261 to 64 — 11

Based on total assets as of June 2010, the top four savings banks or thrift banks are:

1.  BPI Family Savings Bank
124.1 billion pesos in total assets and 10.73 billion pesos in total stockholders’ equity

2.  Philippine Savings Bank
89.15 bilion pesos in total assets and 9.56 billion pesos in stockholders’ equity

3.  Planters Development Bank
48.72 billion pesos in total assets and 3.6 billion pesos in stockholders’ equity

4.  RCBC Savings Bank, Inc.
47.22 billion in total assets and 6.24 billion in stockholders’ equity

Asset data for 5th-placer and 6th-placer in number of offices were not provided:
5th – Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank
6th – Producers Savings Bank Corporation

PSBank is a subsidiary of Metrobank while BPI Family is a subsidiary of BPI.

Related articles:
Top Savings Banks in the Philippines, Based on ROE Dec 2010

BPI, BDO, or Metrobank Fees — Why Keep Paying Them?
List of Banks in the Philippines — Universal Banks, Commercial Banks
Savings Accounts in the Philippines with the Lowest Maintaining Balances
Savings Accounts for OFW Remittances
Best Savings Accounts for Students in the Philippines

Bank fees of 10 pesos, 2 pesos, 1.50 pesos, 150 pesos — they add up.
Let’s avoid them.

Over the past months, my daughter accumulated a total deductions of 327.50 pesos
from her BPI Family savings account:

• two 150 pesos for allowing her maintaining balance to fall below 1,000 pesos for three consecutive months
• two 10 pesos for ATM withdrawal in other banks’ ATMs
• three 1.50 pesos for ATM inquiries in other banks’ ATMs

Same with me, I also accumulated a lot of 11-peso and 2-peso deductions
from my BDO savings account for ATM withdrawals in other banks’ ATMs. Obviously, we’re not good examples of what I’m writing about. But since I’ve seen the total deductions on printed paper, I’ve become more conscious about these fees.

My attention to bank fees was also heightened when an OFW in Italy wrote to ask about her BDO savings account which she left dormant. When she comes home this December, she will find that her more than 48K deposit, instead of increasing, has been reduced by about 1,600 pesos. A dormant BDO savings account is charged 200 pesos per month. (Update: BDO increased its dormancy fee to 300 pesos per month of dormancy in February 2011.)

Take note of the following common bank fees. All banks charge them. They just differ in amounts. Let’s avoid them.

1.  ATM Fees for withdrawing in other banks’ ATMs

BPI withdrawal fee: 10 pesos
BPI inquiry fee: 1.50

BDO withdrawal fee: 11 pesos
BDO inquiry fee: 2 pesos

If you withdraw twice a week at another bank’s ATM, you would be
spending 80 pesos a month just for withdrawal.

2.  Service Charge for Not Complying with the Maintaining Balance Requirement

BPI Family: 150 pesos
BPI: 200 pesos
BDO: 200 pesos (increased to 300 on Feb 1, 2011)
Metrobank passbook savings: 250 pesos
Metrobank ATM savings: 200 pesos

The maintaining balances are the following:

BPI Family ATM peso savings — 1,000 pesos
BPI Family passbook savings — 10,000 pesos
BPI ATM peso savings — 3,000 pesos
BPI passbook peso savings — 10,000 pesos

BDO ATM peso savings — 2,000 pesos
BDO Passbook peso savings — 5,000 pesos

Metrobank ATM peso savings — 2,000 pesos
Metrobank passbook savings — 10,000 pesos
Metrobank SSS pensioner — 200 pesos

These banks charge fees for two consecutive months of being below the maintaining balance.

3.  Charges for Dormant Accounts
BPI and BDO:  200 pesos for every month of dormancy (BDO increased its dormancy fee to 300 on Feb 1, 2011)

4.  Service charge for over-the-counter withdrawal for ATM-based Accounts

BPI — 100 pesos
No charge if ATM is off-line or if withdrawal amount exceeds the daily ATM withdrawal limit, which is 20,000 pesos

BDO  –  100 pesos

The daily ATM withdrawal limit for BDO is higher — 50,000 pesos.  If your account is ATM-based, you can’t withdraw over the counter unless you’ve already withdrawn 50K through the ATM or unless you pay the OTC withdrawal fee of 100 pesos.

5.  Fees and Penalties for Returned Checks

Metrobank:  2,000 pesos plus 200 pesos per day for every 40,000 pesos and fraction
of check amount
BPI: 2,000 pesos plus 200 pesos per day for every 40,000 pesos and fraction of check amount

Related Articles:

BDO Deposit Accounts — Baka Maubos Imbes na Lumago

BPI and BDO Internet Banking

BDO Correspondents for Sending Money to the Philippines

BPI Correspondents in Saudi Arabia

BDO Kabayan Savings and BDO Remit Accounts for OFWs

Just go to bpiexpressonline.com or mybdo.com.ph, look for the Enroll Now tab, so you can fill up the enrollment form. Print this form and then bring it to your branch.

Enroll also your children’s accounts. If the accounts are in their names, you need to print your online enrollment and submit them to your branch. If the accounts to be used by your children are in your name, enrollment is purely online — no need to submit anything to your branch.

For many youngsters, the best type of bank accounts are non-maintaining accounts, as they tend to withdraw all what’s in their accounts. BPI Express Cash and BDO Cash Card are the best, as they can be purchased by only about 150 pesos, and BDO and BPI ATMs can be found in many places.

However, choosing another Internet banking system run by the bank operating an ATM in your child’s school is also a good decision.

Whenever your child needs money, just go online and transfer money. No need to fall in line in the bank to deposit money. For BDO, just login to your account, hover over My Financial Services and then click Fund Transfer or BDO Cash Card Reload. For BPI, login and hover over Funds Transfer or Payments & Reloading and then click your Transfer Funds Today or Reload Today.

Related Articles:

Cheap Ways to Send Money to Your Loved Ones Within the Philippines

BDO Kabayan Savings, BDO Remit Cash Card for OFWs

You should also be not more than 21 years old, have no failing grade and currently enrolled in a four-year course.  Specifically, your general weighted average for school year 2009-2010 should be at least 80 percent for the artist/athlete, entrepreneur and community leader awards, or at least 85 percent for the Ibang Klaseng Talino Awards.

You should also be able to write an essay in English titled “What Is My Role in Nation Building As a Child of an Expat Pinoy?” or in Filipino titled “Ano ang Papel Ko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Ating Pamayanan Bilang Anak ng Isang Pinoy Expat?” Total number of words must not be less than 1,500 and not more than  2,000 words.

Ten winners will be chosen:

• Seven winners — Ibang Klaseng Talino Awards
• One winner — Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete Award
• One winner — Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur Award
• One winner — Ibang Klaseng Community Leader Award

Start writing your essay now, as you prepare your papers. This contest ends on September 30, 2010, with the names of winners announced on October 10, 2010.

The ten OFW children who won last year were:

1. Kennie Kabee A. Alegno
BS Accountancy
De La Salle University – Dasmariñas

His mother, Editha A. Alegno, has been working in an office in the United Arab Emirates for five years.

2. Armando G. Araneta, Jr.
BS Marine Transportation
John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University

His father, Armando C. Araneta, has been working as a seafarer in Europe for 25 years.

3.  Jirah Cortes Armandico
BS Nursing
Trinity University of Asia

Her mother, Florida Cortes-Armandico, has been a nursing supervisor in Saudi Arabia for 17 years.

4.  Jezza May A. Boquilon
BS Geology
University of the Philippines – Diliman

Her father, Ronito C. Boquilon, has been working as a seaman in Brazil for 14 years.

5.   Jordan C. Cabandong
BS Political Science
Far Eastern University

His father, Rene M. Cabandong, has been a a Site Supervisor in Qatar for 15 years.

6. Alyanna N. Cunanan
BS Accountancy
University of Santo Tomas

Her father, Paul Ziegfried S. Cunanan,  has been working in China as an operations manager for seven years.

7.  Daryl K. Del Rosario
BS Management
Ateneo de Manila University

His father, Lorenzo P. Del Rosario, has been a seafarer in Great Britain for 27 years.

8.  Maris Cay E. Gabornes
BS Political Science
University of the Philippines – Visayas Tacloban College

Her father, Manuel D. Gabornes, has been a seafarer in Japan for 36 years.

9.  Nikko Jones G. Servanio
BS Marine Transportation
John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University

His father, Banjo J. Servanio, has been a seafarer for 19 years in different countries.

10.  Lean Angelo A. Silverio
BS Physical Therapy (Medicine)
University of Santo Tomas

His father, Leandro R. Silverio, has been working overseas as a lead paint shop operator for 23 years.

Submit entry on or before September 30, 2010.
Mail or personally deliver entry to
Paul Joseph V. Fonte
BPI Search Project Secretariat
9th Floor BPI Card Center
8753 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City

To get application form and more info, visit www.bpiexpressponline.com
or call Program Secretariat at 816-9011 or 845-5414

Thanks to Marist R. Nagera, account executive of BrandSpeakAsia, Inc. for the press release.

Then you can nominate her or him for the fifth BPInoy Awards of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. Any individual or organization can nominate by writing a short article about the nominee, describing:

• how the nominee has contributed to the improvement of the Filipino community abroad
• why the nominee deserves recognition
• what is unique or exceptional about the nominee’s achievements

Nominations must be submitted to bpinoyawards@bpi.com.ph on or before September 15, 2010, addressed to Ms. Athena G. Balleza, Marketing Department, Overseas Customers Segment, Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Last year, the BPInoy awardees were:

• White House executive chef Ms. Cristeta Pasia-Comerford
• Dr. Eli Remalona, chief representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements
• painter Mrs. Anita Magsaysay-Ho

For more info, visit www.bpiexpressonline.com.