MB NEWSMAKERS Top row, from left: Mylo Speech Buddy Founder Vincent Rocha, President of Bingo Plus Rafael Jasper Vicencio, President & CEO of HSBC Philippines Sandeep Uppal, Dr. Victor Erwin Jocson, Head of Star Magic PR (representing Bini) Thess Gubi, Co-Chairperson of Kawayan Collective Agriculture Cooperative Dr. Noel Peter Tan, Kate J. Tubog, SVP & Business Unit General Manager of RLC Residences Chad Sotelo, Co-CEO of GoTyme bank Albert Tinio. Buttom row, from left: Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Carlos Yulo, Luzviminda 'Min' Bernardo (mother of Kathryn Bernardo), Alden Richards, Mayor Francis Zamora, CEO of Alliance Global Group, Inc. Kevin Tan, President & CEO of ACEN Eric Francia, Executive Director for Education Programs of SM Foundation Carmen Linda Atayde
For 125 years, The Manila Bulletin (MB) has been more than a chronicler of events—it has been a witness to history, a record of the tides that have shaped the Philippines and the world. This milestone isn’t just about looking back, it’s about recognizing those who are shaping the future.
The Manila Bulletin President and CEO Dr. Emilio C. Yap III delivers the opening remarks at the 2025 Newsmakers of the Year Awards Night
Gathered on Feb. 10 at The Tent at the Manila Hotel, an icon in its own right, we honored the Newsmakers of the Year, individuals and institutions whose impact in the past year has rippled across industries and communities. Among them: GoTyme, ICTSI, SM Foundation, RLC Residences, Alliance Global, Mayor Francis Zamora, Carlos Yulo, and Alden Richards—leaders and changemakers redefining what’s possible in business, governance, lifestyle, sports, entertainment, and philanthropy.
MB Publisher Sec. Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. and Alliance Global Group, Inc. President and CEO Kevin Tan
MB Business Development Manager Jordan and Star Magic Head of Public Relations Thess Gubi (representing BINI)
MB Executive Editor Ed Bartilad with Kawayan Collective Agricultural Cooperative Co-Chairperson Kate J. Tubog and Luzon Franchise owners, Carmela Prado and Diana Prado
MB Executive Editor Ed Bartilad with RLC Residences Head of Marketing and Chief Integration Officer Karen Cesario and Robinsons Land Chief Marketing Officer and RLC Residences Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager John Richard "Chad" Sotelo
BingoPlus President Rafael Jasper Vicencio and MB Executive Editor Pinky Colmenares
But this night wasn’t just about recognition. It was a testament to MB’s enduring role in Philippine journalism—not just as a storyteller but as, in the words of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., “the herald of truth,” a role that MB president Emil C. Yap III underscored in his keynote speech: “No sugar-coating, no whitewashing, no editorializing—just plain, simple, and accurate facts.”
MB Publisher Sec. Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. and Luzviminda “Min” Bernardo (mother of Kathryn Bernardo)
Kapuso Actor Alden Richards
HSBC President and CEO Sandeep Uppal with MB Business Development Manager Jordan
Mylo Speech Buddy Founder Vincent Rocha and MB Executive Editor Pinky Colmenares
ACEN President and CEO Eric Francia with MB Executive Editor Ed Bartilad
And yet, truth-telling is only part of the equation. A legacy that lasts 125 years is built not just on tradition but on reinvention. As the world moves ever faster into the digital age, MB moves with it, sometimes ahead of the curve, bridging the past and the future, embracing change while staying true to its core—responsible, unbiased, accurate, and truthful journalism.
The Medical City President and Group CEO Dr. Stuart Bennett, Interventional Neuroradiologist Dr. Victor Erwin D. Jocson, MB Business Development Manager Jordan Tan, and The Medical City Group Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer Dr. Christian G. Delos Reyes
HARI (Volvo's official distributor in the PH) Vice Chair, President, and CEO Maria Fe Perez Agudo, and Chemical Engineer Dr. Noel Peter Tan, with MB Business Development Manager Jordan Tan
GoTyme Bank Co-CEO, Co-Founder, and Chief Commercial Officer Albert Tinio and MB Executive Editor Pinky Colmenares
MB Publisher Sec. Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr., Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo, and DigiPlus Vice President of Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Sustainability Celeste Jovenir
At the heart of it all, this night was about more than awards. It was a reaffirmation—of a shared mission between MB and the people it serves: to inform, to inspire, to uphold the truth.
MB Publisher Sec. Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora
MB Executive Editor Pinky Colemnares with Olympic boxing medalist Aira Villegas, ICTSI Executive Director Filip Laurena, and ICTSI Foundation Program Operations Manager Francis J G. Bartolome
MB Executive Editor Pinky Colemnares with Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio, ICTSI Executive Director Filip Laurena, and ICTSI Foundation Program Operations Manager Francis J G. Bartolome
SM Investments Corporation Senior Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Victor Chan, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Programs Carmen Linda Atayde, and Manila Bulletin Executive Editor Ed Bartilad
As the celebration came to a close, one sentiment lingered in the air: “Life is better.” This simple yet powerful theme is guiding MB through this historic year, and one that will carry it forward into the next 125. Because the story doesn’t end here.
