Thriving in harmony at BPI

By: Madelein Embalado, BPI

A night of music and recognition: BPI Voices Chorale performs at the Padayon Awards Night, hosted by the Retail Loans and Bancassurance Group, held at the National Museum on March 18, 2025.

While the workplace often centers around business goals and deliverables, it’s moments beyond the daily grind that shape a fuller, more meaningful employee experience. At the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), these moments are nurtured through communities of shared passion and purpose, among them interest clubs that bring people together, start friendships, and enrich organizational culture.

BPI supports employees’ off-the-clock pursuits that contribute to personal well-being and professional growth, from expressive dance rhythms to the quiet determination of a morning run. It’s a philosophy that resonates across the Ayala Group, where fostering a balanced, human-centric workplace is a shared commitment.

Communities in Motion

For Pamela Villaflores, a member of BPI Sayaw, being part of a community that shares her interests brings value to her professional growth.

“It’s more than dancing in sync,” she says.

In Sayaw, movement becomes a language of friendship, spoken in harmony. Whether she’s performing with the BPI Street Squad or the Cheerdance team, she describes a space built on trust, support, and genuine connection. The long hours of rehearsal and shared performances have taught her more than choreography—they’ve instilled values of humility, teamwork, and authenticity.

The BPI Sayaw Club, joined on stage by various Ayala and BPI leaders, wins 2nd Runner-Up at the 2024 JZA Cup Streetdance Competition, where they showcased their talent, energy, passion, and team spirit in an unforgettable performance.

That same harmony defines the experience of the BPI Voices Chorale. While musical excellence is always the goal, the deeper reward comes from interpersonal dynamics shaped by team practice. Members learn to listen, adjust, and blend not just as vocalists, but as colleagues.

“Harmony is both a musical pursuit and a way of being,” says  choir member Ma. Claudina Santos, capturing how collaboration within the chorale nurtures both skill and kinship.

Behind the harmony: BPI Voices Chorale records “Buong Buo ang Aking Pasko”, the heartwarming soundtrack of the bank’s 2022 and 2024 holiday campaign Love the Life You Live, created for BPI branch TVs.

Meanwhile, in the BPI Runners Club, individual goals—like beating a personal best—are achieved in a company of peers who motivate and uplift one another.

“It may be an individual sport, but at BPI, it’s a shared journey,” says Hazel Quiambao. The club has become a family for its members, bonded by a commitment to health, discipline, and self-improvement. Whether navigating race routes or swapping stories post-run, the community finds joy not just in the finish line but in the road traveled together.

Throwback to a pre-pandemic moment: BPI Runners Club members posing together before joining the Milo Marathon in Quezon.

On the badminton court, Adrian Mark Kuan of the BPI Badminton Club finds that what powers performance is the strength of friendships built off the court.

“Being close with teammates makes communication easier, especially during matches. The real win is when everyone brings their best game and the team delivers a collective smash,” he says.

BPI Badminton Club returns to Centro Atletico, Quezon City for the 2024 JZA Tournament, joined by BPI Chief Human Resource Officer Gina Eala and President and CEO TG Limcaoco for a fun and memorable team moment.

Forging friendships across the Ayala Group

While these clubs foster strong connections within BPI, many have also become gateways to a broader network—linking employees with kindred spirits across the Ayala Group.

For Adrian, inter-company events like the JZA Badminton Tournament have expanded his circle beyond the bank. “The experience opened doors to new friendships,” he says, adding that many of these connections have continued through regular meetups and informal games.

BPI Badminton Club members proudly showcase their medal and trophies at the 2009 JZA Tournament in Centro Atletico, Quezon City.

Pamela has yet to perform in an official cross-company event but recalls a memorable dance class she took with an Ayala Land colleague. That brief encounter, she says, revealed the shared enthusiasm for movement across Ayala.

“I look forward to future collaborations,” she adds. “Whether in workshops, performances, or competitions, I hope to strengthen the bonds between Ayala Group members through creativity and shared purpose.”

Hazel echoes this sentiment: “We’re looking forward to more chances for cross-company collaboration. Whether through fun runs or wellness events, we hope to see friendships across Ayala companies truly thrive. After all, a common interest is a great starting point for meaningful connections.”

Meanwhile, BPI Voices Chorale has already experienced these connections firsthand. Performing at events such as the Ayala HR Summit, the group has had opportunities to engage with fellow employees from across the conglomerate. These performances underscore the role of the arts in strengthening bonds and building a more connected Ayala community. For the chorale, every performance is not just an expression of talent—but also of belonging.

Celebrating Connections

Behind every club is a story of friendship—of people coming together through passion, practice, and purpose. At BPI and throughout the Ayala Group, these communities are not just about hobbies or competitions. They are about building something lasting: a workplace culture where support runs deep, collaboration comes naturally, and relationships are as rewarding as achievements.

In motion, in harmony, and across the group, these stories remind us that when we move together, we move stronger.

Some BPI Runners Club members enjoying a weekend run with friends during Ayala Car-Free Sunday