Eighteen individuals and institutions were recognized for their contributions to making 2024 a year worth celebrating at the Manila Bulletin Newsmaker Awards, held at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday, Feb. 10. The awards were given as part of the Manila Bulletin’s 125th anniversary.
Now on its third iteration, the Newsmaker Awards recognizes individuals and/or institutions who made significant contributions in uplifting the Philippines and the Filipino.
These newsmakers honored that evening were Nesthy Petecio (the first Filipino woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing) and Aira Villegas (Olympic bronze medalist); GoTyme Bank; P-pop girl group BINI; BingoPlus; Mylo Speech Buddy (an app designed to help children with autism and speech delay); Kathryn Bernardo (a Newsmaker awardee for two years in a row); Alden Richards (for his versatility as an actor, representing one of the best the industry has in his generation); Dr. Noel Peter Tan (for his work on plant-based, biodegradable materials); RLC Residences; ACEN; SM Foundation; Dr. Victor Erwin Jocson (an interventional radiologist and body interventional radiologist who performed a procedure on a 105-year-old patient who has since recovered well); Kawayan Collective; HSBC Philippines; Alliance Global Group Inc. (represented by its president and CEO, Kevin Tan); two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo; and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.
This year’s Newsmaker Awards was co-presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Volvo, the Medical City, BDO, and DigiPlus. The trophies were presented by the Manila Bulletin executive editors Ed Bartilad and Pinky Colmenares, Business Development Manager Jordan Tan, and its Publisher Herminio “Sonny” Coloma.
Apart from the awardees, also present that evening as guest of honor was First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos, as well as the Manila Bulletin Chairman Basilio C. Yap, and the Manila Bulletin Vice-Chairman and President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III. Various members of the diplomatic corps, city officials, and other members of the Manila Bulletin board were also in attendance.
Founded in Feb. 2, 1900, the Manila Bulletin is considered to be the longest-running newspaper in the country. It has since operated as a multimedia platform, present not just in print but also in the digital space. Its Newsmaker Awards is an avenue for the Manila Bulletin to recognize those whose efforts continue to uplift the Filipino nation.