October 14, 2025 / Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom / PwC Certified Scrutineer / 15+ Award Categories
Asia CEO Awards 2025
The 16th ASIA CEO AWARDS filled the entire Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott — the largest – 5-star event facility in the nation and the only one able to hold the event. More than 1,000 of the nation’s most senior leaders attended and looking their best. See Grand Winners and Circle of Excellence awardees below.

All Filipinos congratulate the Chairman, President and CEO, Metro Pacific Investments Corporations as Awardee of Asia CEO Awards 2025.
Manuel V. Pangilinan receives Lifetime Contributor Award from Board of Judges at Asia CEO Awards 2025
The contributions of Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) have impacted the lives of all Filipinos. His Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC) has transformed the nation's infrastructure through PLDT/Smart (telecom), Meralco (power), Maynilad (water), tollways, hospitals, and more. MVP is also one of the nation's biggest supporters of sport through ownership of PBA teams, founding of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), and the MVP Sports Foundation — helping Filipinos become world-class athletes on the global stage.
CEO & President, Pili AdheSe Inc.
Country General Manager, IBM Philippines
President & CEO, Upgrade Energy Philippine
Agri-business enterprise in the Philippines
Global outsourcing & customer experience company
Pioneering plant-based meat technology in the Philippines
Leading sustainable real estate investment
trust
Global data annotation & AI solutions company
Grand Winner from official 2025 source
Global provider of BPO & contact center services
Grand Winner from official 2025 source
The official same day edit capturing the highlights of Asia CEO Awards 2025 — filmed and edited on the night of the event.
Watch the complete 16th Annual Asia CEO Awards ceremony — the full event recording from the Manila Marriott Grand Ballroom.
Engr. Mark Kennedy Bantugon has transformed agricultural waste into pioneering adhesive products, earning international patents and prestigious accolades. His work significantly advances sustainable manufacturing across industries, supporting Filipino farmers and reducing import dependence while fostering global partnerships. Bantugon’s innovation, strategic foresight, and impactful leadership embody the essence of a visionary young leader.
Sanjiv Gupta has transformed IBM Philippines into a leading global technology consulting and delivery powerhouse, driving record financial growth, pioneering AI and digital transformations, expanding high-value markets, fostering workforce development, and consistently elevating the Philippines’ profile as a preferred technology hub.
From day-one onboarding to public advocacy, Innodata’s 2025 DEIB engine delivers adoption at scale—77 inclusive events, 6,702 participants, 247 i-GROW courses, PFIP-certified leaders—setting a national benchmark under lived inclusion.
PSG’s technological achievements, like Anna AI, redefine recruitment through cutting-edge AI integration. Built on LLM technology—the same breakthrough behind ChatGPT—Anna AI acts as a digital recruiter, using AI to engage candidates with human-like interaction. PSG has honed Anna AI with its recruiting expertise, combining advanced natural language processing with workflows that ensure candidate engagement, personalization, and empathy, driving efficiency, scalability, and business growth.
Agridom is a Philippine-based agritech company pioneering the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for precision agriculture, offering services like drone spraying, surveying, and data analysis resulting to significant boosts in farm and crop productivity, sustainable livelihood, and operational efficiency.
TP in the Philippines redefines service excellence by fusing AI innovation with human empathy, delivering measurable impact, industry-first solutions, and award-winning customer experiences across global markets.
TP in the Philippines redefines service excellence by fusing AI innovation with human empathy, delivering measurable impact, industry-first solutions, and award-winning customer experiences across global markets.
Ruth is a dynamic executive with over 20 years of experience in renewable energy, from wind, hydro, to solar projects, through which her leadership of Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP) has enabled the company realise its mission of providing sustainable energy solutions across commercial and industrial estates, while enhancing the DEI space and socioeconomics in the countryside.
Jean Henri Lhuillier exemplifies visionary leadership, merging business innovation with social impact, as he transforms PJ Lhuillier Inc. into an integrated financial ecosystem, empowering millions of Filipinos.
FoodFlow as the pioneering force behind plant-based meat technology in the Philippines, exemplifies leadership through its unique extrusion technology that contributes to sustainable food advancements, empowers local agriculture, enriches Filipino nutrition, and drives innovation in regional and global markets.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to any Philippines-based organization that achieved important success at workplace health promotion activities or organizational policy designed to support healthy behavior in the workplace and to improve health outcomes of employees. The accomplishment(s) must demonstrate Filipino (or mixed Filipino/expatriate) management talent performing at the highest standards and be recognized as internationally significant.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Management Achievement
Describe the specific health and wellness initiatives and programs that led to improvements in the organization. These could include enhanced employee engagement, retention, absenteeism, net promoter score, reduced costs, profitability, etc. Provide documentation that could include internal reports and articles, pictures, etc.
Workplace Enhancement
Explain the results of the health and wellness programs using comparative data (previous year vs. current) in retention, punctuality, attrition, employee engagement and satisfaction, service levels, etc.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions, articles or reports related to the health and wellness programs and organizational improvements. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Financial Contribution
Show with comparative data that the health and wellness programs helped improve financial results, such as reduction in the health care costs.
Social Commitment
Provide any information and documentation showing that the organization’s health and wellness programs were promoted outside the organization and helped in influencing healthy lifestyles for people in the community.
Asia CEO Awards
This award is open to organizations in the Philippines that demonstrated proactive acceptance and respect for human differences. Human differences may include, but are not limited to race, religion, gender, gender identity and physical ability.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the organization for its diversity and inclusion initiatives. Supporting documentation could include internal reports, newsletters, media coverage, etc. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Pioneering Achievements
Explain what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the organization’s diversity and inclusion programs.
Social Commitment
Describe how the organization’s diversity and inclusion initiatives are extended outside of its organization to have positive impact on society.
Management Achievement
Describe the diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives of the organization and how these helped improve the organization. Examples include growth and new business, employee satisfaction and retention, improved recruiting, etc. Supporting documentation can include comparison data over previous years, news articles, company website screenshots, internal newsletters, etc.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to corporate organizations, academe and startup companies that focuses on Information and Communications Technology, Bio Technology & Material Science, Sciences and Math & Engineering.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Management Achievement
Describe how the Technology company used scientific, technical and engineering expertise and advancements to enable business expansion and growth.
Financial Contribution
Show the financial impact of the scientific, technical and engineering expertise and advancements by comparing prior and current year’s financial performance (financial statement are compelling evidence).
Social Commitment
Describe how the Technology company is helping to improve the nation through its scientific, technical and engineering capability and achievements.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received related to the Technology company’s scientific, technical and engineering expertise and advancements. Supporting documentation could include internal reports, newsletters, media coverage, etc. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Pioneering Achievements
Explain what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the Technology company’s scientific, technical and engineering expertise and advancements.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to any Philippine-based organization that achieved important success in service excellence. The accomplishment(s) must demonstrate an organization providing high service level standards.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Management Achievement
Describe what service level improvements and advancements were made by the organization to enable business expansion and growth.
Pioneering Achievements
Explain what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the organization’s advancements and expertise in service level excellence.
Financial Contribution
Explain the financial impact (sales, costs, profitability) of the organization’s achievements and advancements in service level excellence to the organization and provide credible supporting information including comparative data (current vs. prior year).
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the organization for its advancements in service level excellence. Supporting documentation could include internal reports, newsletters, media coverage, etc. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Customer Satisfaction
Provide credible supporting documentation demonstrating improved customer satisfaction compared to prior years and industry data of customer satisfaction and service levels.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to individuals who started enterprises from scratch and built them into larger organizations providing pioneering services and product, employment for Filipinos and expansion into multiple locations. The criteria for judging are as follows.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Pioneering Achievements
Provide any information whether the entrepreneur has provided products or services that were unique to competitors or first-of-its-kind for the country.
Financial Contribution
Explain the financial impact of the entrepreneur’s achievements and include credible supporting information including comparative data (current vs. prior year). Data should include sales and revenue growth, net income, units of products sold, customers added, employees hired and other relevant information.
Social Commitment
Describe activities and initiatives that demonstrate the entrepreneur is interested to improve the lives and conditions of people outside his or her organization.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the entrepreneur for its business achievements. Supporting documentation could include internal reports, newsletters, media coverage, etc. If there are awards received, include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Management Achievement
Describe the entrepreneur’s achievements in business his or her business and overcoming obstacles along the way. Provide information and documentation that the business was started small and grew larger because of the hands-on efforts of the entrepreneur: What markets were penetrated?; What products and services were provided?; What strategies led to market expansion?; etc.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to Filipino women leaders who have achieved remarkable career success in the private sector, government or even sectors like entertainment and sport. Whether they achieved their success in the Philippines or elsewhere in the world, they should also have advanced the nation’s economic and/or social standing in the eyes of the world.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Management Achievement
Describe how the projects and initiatives of the Woman Leader translated to advances in her organization that could include financial growth, market position, customer service, employee engagement, efficiency, etc. Provide supporting documentation comparative data, internal reports (including financial statements) and/or recognition.
Pioneering Achievements
Discuss what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the Woman Leader’s achievements.
Social Commitment
Describe the Filipino executive’s commitment and activities that help improve the country’s economic and social capabilities, and project the nation in a positive manner.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the Woman Leader related to her achievements and organizational improvements. Supporting documentation could include internal reports, newsletters, media coverage, etc. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Asia CEO Awards
Candidates for this award are individual young leaders who have accomplished remarkable achievements that advance the nation’s economy or social standing in the eyes of the world. The young leaders should not be older than 35 years old during the year considered and have the title ranging from manager and up.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Pioneering Achievements
Discuss what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the products/services or techniques/process implemented by the young leader.
Management Achievement
Describe the young leader’s achievements in areas such as sales and marketing, HR, business development, IT, legal, finance, etc that lead to the company’s growth and/or recognition. Please also provide verification of the young leader’s age.
Company Contribution
Explain how the management achievements of the young leader resulted in improvements to the organization. These could be measured in financial growth, market position, customer service, employee engagement, efficiency, etc. Comparative growth data (prior vs. current year) for products/services, manpower, income, operational efficiency, etc. would also be compelling.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions (and supporting documentation) received by the young leader related to his or her achievements and organizational improvements. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to leaders who achieved remarkable success while overseeing an organization within the Philippines. The accomplishment must have made a strong contribution to the development of the country’s economic capabilities, its human capital and contributed to its status on world-stage.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the expatriate executive related to his or her achievements and organizational improvements including supporting documentation. Include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.
Financial Contribution
Explain the financial impact (sales, profitability) of the CEO’s achievements and provide credible supporting information including comparative data (current vs. prior year).
Social Commitment
Describe the CEO’s commitment and activities that help improve the country’s economic and social capabilities, and project the nation in a positive manner.
Pioneering Achievements
Discuss what is unique or first-of-its-kind about the products/services or techniques/process implemented by the CEO.
Management Achievement
Describe the CEO’s achievements in his or her business. Provide information and documentation that the business prospered because of the hands-on efforts of the leader: What new markets were penetrated?; What products and services were expanded or developed from scratch?; What strategies led to market expansion?; What obstacles were overcome?; What was innovative about what was done?; etc.
Asia CEO Awards
The award is open to any Profit-Making Company that achieved important success expanding its business and hiring employees. Candidates can be of any sector but preference is given to companies that involve home-grown concepts with Philippine cultural contributions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are defined as non-subsidiary, independent firms employing between 10 and 500 employees.
The majority of demonstrable results, major new activities or initiative(s) should have occurred within the current calendar year but may have begun earlier.
Judging Criteria
Pioneering Achievements
Provide information that the SME company’s products or services are unique in some manner.
Leadership
Describe the business achievements of the SME company. These could include revenue growth, expansions in locations, new products launched, employee hiring, profitability, etc. Supporting documentation should be included.
Financial Contribution
Explain how the SME company’s financial status has improved over past years. Include any documentation such as financial statements that is available.
Social Commitment
Describe activities and initiatives that demonstrate the SME company is interested to improve the lives and conditions of people outside its organization.
Recognition
Provide any recognitions received by the SME company related to its operational achievements. Supporting documentation could include newsletters, media coverage, press releases, etc. If there are awards received, include the name of the awarding organization, title of award and year.