Last July, we had the very distinct pleasure of welcoming Tom Crimi — CTO of Quantbot — for his first visit to the Philippines. To make it memorable, the HPC team went with Tom to Bataan for a weekend getaway.

The trip began with a visit to the iconic Mt. Samat. As we hiked up to the large Memorial Cross, the team delighted in sharing stories about Philippines history, making the first leg of our journey both scenic and enriching.

We then went to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a unique cultural heritage site that further transported us to the grandeur of local history.

As we strolled through the cobblestone streets, we couldn’t help but marvel at the architectural beauty of the old houses, leaving the team with plenty to ponder about — Tom seemed to be impressed by the colonial-era buildings, too, capturing the details in photos as he took in the historic sights.

In addition to the explorations we had, the team enjoyed a kalesa ride, immersing ourselves in a traditional Filipino experience. Tom was also entertained by an interactive play that vividly portrayed local history and culture. Watching and learning about these lively performances added another layer of enjoyment to the visit.

It was a very eventful Saturday, filled with rich cultural experiences and memorable activities. As Tom’s PH trip progressed, he spent the next few days enjoying dinners with the team where discussions flowed naturally over delicious meals. These dinners provided a valuable opportunity to catch up on each other’s projects and share insights.

We hope that Tom thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to meet our team in person and learn more about our projects. We’re looking forward to the next visit!