The anticipated Manila Bulletin Newsmakers of the Year Awards is set to return this year alongside the Manila Bulletin’s historic 125th anniversary celebration.
For 125 years, the Manila Bulletin has remained committed to providing credible, timely, and influential news to millions of Filipinos. As the company continues to deliver its legacy, it also keeps on the tradition of honoring excellence in entertainment, business, sports, arts and culture, corporate leadership, and public service.
Alongside celebrating the company’s anniversary last year, the Manila Bulletin also inaugurated the Newsmakers of the Year awards, recognizing 10 outstanding individuals and organizations for their impactful achievements and breakthroughs. Through their stories, the Manila Bulletin continues to amplify and shape people’s opinions by putting a spotlight on the awardees that made the past year worthy of retrospection.
Honoring those who continue to inspire and uplift the nation
The 2025 Newsmakers of the Year Awards will recognize 16 individuals and organizations whose efforts in the previous year uplifted communities and inspired Filipinos. Spanning athletics, business, innovation, entertainment, public service, and sustainability, these honorees have attained a lasting impact on the nation.
Three world-class athletes will be honored for their phenomenal performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Carlos Yulo dominated artistic gymnastics, securing two gold medals, while Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas won bronze medals in women’s 50 kg boxing, showcasing Filipino resilience on the global stage.
GoTyme Bank, a record-breaking digital bank in the line-up of awardees, earned the Startup of the Year Gold Award last year for its pioneering financial solutions. BingoPlus, a leading reliable digital entertainment platform, set a milestone by awarding its largest jackpot prize of last year for the Bingo Mega Jackpot game, and mounting numerous CSR programs that helped various communities, making them one of the worthy Newsmakers of the Year. A revolutionary app aiding children with autism and speech delays, Mylo Speech Buddy, will also be honored. It was recognized in and won multiple KMC Startup Awards 2024, including the Social Impact Award and silver awards for Best Newcomer and Innovative Product of the Year.
P-pop sensation BINI will also be one of the awardees for continuing to break barriers, earning a Best Asia Act nomination at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and becoming the first Filipino act on Spotify’s Global Top Artists Chart. Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, who made history with “Hello, Love, Again,” which became the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time last year, will also be recipients of the Newsmakers of the Year award.
One of the highlights of the awards night will be the awarding of Mayor Francis Zamora, whose leadership in San Juan City empowered the city to earn 2nd place in the Most Improved Highly Urbanized Cities category and earned its second Seal of Good Local Governance in 2024.
The SM Foundation, the social good arm of the SM, is also one of the worthy ones to earn the Newsmaker of the Year award. Last year, it was named Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Company of the Year at the 15th Asia CEO Awards 2024 and won a Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in CSR Videos and a Bronze Stevie Award for Community Relations/Public Service Communications at the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards 2024.
Two notable individuals are also recognized for their contributions—Dr. Victor Erwin D. Jocson for his notable work in medicine and community service and Dr. Noel Peter Tan for his works on revolutionizing nanotechnology in relation to scalable nanofiber membranes and eco-friendly biodegradable packaging.
RLC Residences, Robinsons Land Corporation’s residential arm, earned a spot in this year’s MB125 Newsmakers of the Year Awards for earning multiple local and global honors for innovation, sustainability, and design last year. Known for its strong reputation and trust from homeowners and investors, RLC continues to set industry standards. Also recognized this year is Kawayan Collective, a social enterprise in Dauin, Negros Oriental, that promotes bamboo as a sustainable building material for Filipino homes, highlighting its commitment to improving housing. ACEN, Ayala Group’s energy company focusing on renewable energy, will also be one of the honorees for providing clean, reliable, and affordable power across the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region, solidifying its role in business and sustainability.
While these awardees continue to contribute significantly to a more sustainable future, the Manila Bulletin will steadfastly document their journeys and inspire others to follow in their footsteps. With a mission to make this a beacon of hope, encouraging others to embrace innovation, initiate positive change, and strive for a more sustainable future.
The Manila Bulletin’s Newsmakers Award continues to honor individuals and organizations whose inspiring stories and innovations have become catalysts for change, embodying the power of human potential.
For 125 years, the Manila Bulletin has stood as a symbol of credible journalism in the Philippines. Its enduring legacy, grounded in trust and a commitment to informing and inspiring the Filipino people, reflects its remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving media landscape.