What do Michelle Dee, Meagan Young, Georgina Wilson, Isabelle Daza, Solen Heussaff, Liz Uy, Angel Locsin, and Ann Curtis all have in common? Aside from being beauty queens and actresses, all of them have, at one time or another, served as brand ambassadors of commercial banks in the Philippines.

Not to be outdone, Chinabank, one of the top four private banks in the country with over 100 years of banking experience and history, recently welcomed one of its own to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Photo shows Michelle Dee (center), together with (from left to right:) Patrick Cheng, Chief Finance Officer of Chinabank; Romy Uyan, President & CEO of China Bank, Joy Romina Marcelo, Vice President of Sparkle GMA Artist Center; and Jonas Gafud, Creative Director of Miss Universe Philippines.

Chinabank has recently signed up Michelle Marquez Dee as its first-ever ambassador who will be the face of the brand in the years to come. The collaboration was formalized earlier this month at the Chinabank head office in Makati City.

With Michelle now on board, Chinabank is hoping to strengthen its brand presence and build a more profound connection with the new generation of dynamic and forward-thinking banking customers.

As a brand ambassador, the beauty queen, actress, host, athlete, and model will also spearhead the bank’s ‘Rise with the Dragon’ campaign whose objective is to help steer every Chinabank customer’s path towards wealth and prosperity.

A fitting and inspiring representative

“This engagement with Michelle Dee signifies the beginning of many things to come (for us),” said Romeo D. Uyan Jr., President & CEO of Chinabank, during the contract-signing.

“For us, Michelle is family. But beyond her obvious lineage to the bank’s co-founders, we firmly believe that Michelle has the qualities to aptly represent a bank with a storied history and an unwavering commitment to building an inclusive and sustainable future for every Filipino,” he further stated.

The reigning Miss Universe Philippines is, indeed, a fitting and inspiring representative for Chinabank.

After all, Michelle, who has won the hearts and minds of Filipinos and the world with her charisma, authenticity, and sense of purpose, is redefining contemporary Filipino culture on a global stage.

Her lifelong autism acceptance and inclusivity advocacy have led her to a degree in BS Psychology and to use her platform and her work with the Autism Society of the Philippines to create awareness about the condition.

Michelle, for her part, expressed her happiness and excitement for her new role, noting that she and Chinabank are a good fit as they share the same high regard for building trust, making an impact, and bringing about change.

“Chinabank isn’t just any bank, it’s been a beacon of trust and resilience for over a century,” she said.

“Now, that’s a lot of years of making a difference in people’s lives and making dreams come true, but it’s also the spirit of making a difference that resonates with every Filipino heart. I would like to keep it real. I’m here to share my stories and the incredible work (that) Chinabank does. I can’t wait to make memories and make such groundbreaking opportunities for everyone around us as well,” she added.

Chinabank founder Dee C. Chuan was Michelle Dee’s paternal grand-uncle. Her grandfather was former Chinabank Chairman Dee K. Chiong whose leadership shaped the bank into prominence. He also led the bank’s early foray into computer technology, becoming the first bank in Southeast Asia to process deposit accounts online.

Chinabank is currently the fourth largest private universal bank in the Philippines.

This year, Chinabank is intent on launching an advertising campaign that would feature Michelle as the bank continues to innovate and improve its products and services with a keen focus on its customers.

By Ralph Fajardo

Ralph is a dynamic writer and marketing communications expert with over 15 years of experience shaping the narratives of numerous brands. His journey through the realms of PR, advertising, news writing, as well as media and marketing communications has equipped him with a versatile skill set and a keen understanding of the industry. Discover more about Ralph's professional journey on his LinkedIn profile.