On its 124^th anniversary, the Manila Bulletin unveils another milestone as it recalls the year 2023 marked by the end of the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In its effort to inform, inspire, and empower its audience during the recent health crisis, the media giant highlighted the champions of good news in its UPLIFT awards, recognizing the hopefulness, resilience, and fortitude of individuals and organizations. 

Today, as it celebrates another momentous year, the Manila Bulletin is fully committed to being an exponent of progress as it opens itself and welcomes new challenges and opportunities brought by its enduring existence, both in the publishing industry and digital landscape.

Broader and wider in scope, the first Manila Bulletin Newsmakers of the Year Awards rolls out with ten personalities representing themselves or organizations that have captured the nation’s attention and imagination with their achievements full of inspiration and motivation. 

On February 15, the anniversary celebration marking the 124^th year of the Manila Bulletin will take place in The Tent City, Manila Hotel. As a major part of the event, the MB Newsmakers of the Year awardees will be presented and honored for achieving prominence and relevance in the past year.

The stories of each awardee tell of their challenges, failures, and accomplishments. Each narrative reveals where they come from and stand on issues that matter, revealing their truths. These revelations expose their strengths, weaknesses, and their dreams for the future. Their insights and experiences help us reflect, learn, and grow in a safe and supportive environment. With these in consideration and after careful selection by the panel of management executives and editors, the MB Newsmakers of the Year 2024 are Sarisuki, GAMABA awardee Magdalena Gamayo, Gilas Pilipinas, Kathryn Bernardo, Jeremy de Leon, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Expedock, Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Kindred, and Tagbilaran City. 

Each awardee will be conferred with a trophy especially crafted for the ceremony. The MB Newsmakers of the Year trophy stands tall on a wooden block with a rolled-up and stylized metal printing plate, an integral component of the newspaper printing process. The plate transmits images to paper and is then discarded as waste. In support of the company’s sustainability efforts, these printing plates are now given a new lease on life, representing the publishing industry which remains an important media platform in the digital era. Since the press plates can only be used once, no two trophies are the same, just like the stories and impact of each newsmaker of the year.

As a media company that recognizes its effective role in amplifying and shaping people’s perspectives on important events, it is highly pertinent that Manila Bulletin turns the spotlight on these newsmakers who have made the past year worthy of retrospection.

The Manila Bulletin Newsmakers of the Year Awards is co-presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Gcash, realme, SM Development Corporation, and The Medical City. This event is also supported by major partner SM Supermalls.