On a very rare occasion, leaders from various organizations gathered for an afternoon coffee and tea session recently held at the Rockwell Club in Makati. The event fostered exchanging of thoughts and best practices on how each of their businesses can continually improve in creating a positive impact in the country.
The event was coined as the Men in Business and Power meeting, as indeed attended by seasoned and influential entrepreneurs in the country. Former AFFI Executive Director, Raffy Galang Canare, a socially active business community builder and social entrepreneur, championed the event. The event was highlighted by the powerful talks presented by Potato Corner Co-Founder, Jorge Wieneke, Rairaiken CEO, Joey Garcia, Social Spiritual Entrepreneur Leader and Tangere Partner, Jonathan Camcam, and ASEAN Business Leader Awardee, Rosanna Llenado. The event was attended by key business organization leaders such as the Rotary Club of Greenfield District, JCI Makati, Philippine Marketing Association, Assn. of Filipino Franchisers, Inc., Financial Executives Institute Inc., Philippine Ecommerce Assn of the Philippines, World Trade Center Business Club and members of the Business Press Corp.
The event aims to provide a venue to gather key opinion leaders and businessmen to network and exchange business thoughts and ideas. MBP Lead Convenor, Raffy Canare envisioned to continue to bridge big players and small business players in collaborating for business and social progress.
Manila, Philippines— Over the past year, business leaders all around the world and across the country had one goal in mind – growing the economy in a post-pandemic setting. The industry landscape experienced numerous ebbs and flows in recent months. Companies with leaders who can pivot and diversify their business are the ones changing the game. The Asia CEO Awards 2023 returns to give recognition to these movers and shakers, honoring their commitment to the progressive Philippines.
Now in its 14th year, the Asia CEO Awards is reimagining its overall mission and vision, in line with the rapidly-shifting world around it. ACA founder Rebecca Bustamante hopes to further reinforce the Philippines’ standing as a center of business excellence and sees the awards as a platform to develop future industry leaders. “The Philippines has so many business leaders waiting in the wings for their chance to drive the economy to greater heights. They are strong, compassionate, and resilient,” shares Bustamante. “We see this every year, and now we want to do our part to help nurture this potential.”
For 2023 and beyond, the ACA’s rallying cry is ONE TRUE PRIZE. Bustamante and her team were inspired by the idea of the awards being the first, genuine, and among the highly-regarded peer organizations in the country. They hope to set a standard for excellence for others, and that their recognition will inspire a positive impact on the community.
Asia CEO Awards – Rebecca Bustamante and Richard Mills present their donation to Globe’s Hapag Movement.
Nominations for the 2023 batch of game-changing and accomplished organizations are now open.
Philippine-based individuals and corporations who have shown exemplary leadership achievements in their work in the region over the past year are eligible for the awards. Criteria for each category zeroes in on a positive contribution to the development of the country’s economic capabilities and international reputation through their work, business involvement, or heritage. Coupled with a heart for the Filipino people, these nominees will be paving the way for a brighter future for the country.
The award categories open for nominations are
Airspeed SME Company of the Year
Figari Entrepreneur of the Year
Foundever Young Leader of the Year
Kyani Wellness Company of the Year
Lionheart Farms Sustainability Company of the Year
Microsourcing Service Excellence Company of the Year
PLDT Enterprise Global Filipino Executive of the Year
iCXeed Diversity Company of the Year
Reed Elsevier Top Employer of the Year
Sprout Solutions Technology Company of the Year United Neon Most Innovative Company of the Year
CSR Company of the Year
Expatriate Executive of the Year
Executive Leadership Team of the Year
Nominations are now open and will end on August 15, 2023.
At the recently concluded media launch, the esteemed panel of judges for this year’s awards were announced. Reviewing the entries will be the likes of Architect Jun Palafox, business leaders Bing Sibal-Limjoco, and Don Felbaum, PWC Chairman Alex Cabrera, public and private sector figure Darlene Berberabe, and economist Bernie Villegas. Finalists for each award category are announced once a shortlist has been made by the panel.
The Circle of Excellence Awardees and the Grand Winners will be presented at the 2032 Asia CEO Awards to be held in October of this year.
Going beyond just the pageantry of an awards night, the ACA is putting in the work. During this year’s presentation, Bustamante will be launching the Learning Excellence & Active Development (L.E.A.D.) Center. The promise is a transforming experience, aligned with the idea that “Together we can do more.” It is focused on producing highly competent, well-rounded, proactive individuals who will be the future drivers of the nation. Through diversity, equity, and inclusion, they hope to build a foundation for informed and intelligent business practices across all sectors. The leadership development framework will also include advocacy and outreach work for poverty and hunger alleviation. The L.E.A.D. programs will be initially offered online this April, but they hope to hold sessions in their soon-to-be-built Tagaytay facility.
The ACA and its programs are made possible by valuable partners who have shared the same vision over the years. For 2023, Globe Telecom returns as the grand title sponsor. Their participation extends beyond the awards, highlighted by their support of the L.E.A.D Center program through nation-building initiatives. In turn, the ACA presented a donation to Globe’s landmark project, The Hapag Movement, during the media launch.
PWC’s Alex Cabrera delivers the welcome remarks at the Asia CEO Awards media launch.
Asia CEO Awards Elite award sponsors include Airspeed International, Figari, Foundever, Kiyani, Lionheart Farms Corporation, Microsourcing, PLDT Enterprise, Reed Elsevier, Sprout Solutions Philippines, Inc., IcXceed, and United Neon. Prestige sponsors are Beepo, and PSG Global Solutions. Stepping in as a knowledge partner is PWC. Official Venue Partner Marriott Hotel Manila. Media partners are ANC, BusinessWorld, Business Mirror, The Philippine Star, The Manila Times, SMNI, Net25, and The Philippine Business And News. PR Partner is A-List Partners and Consulting, Inc.
As the Philippines moves forward into the future, the Asia CEO Awards is focused on supporting the business community and its nation-building efforts. They continue to work to achieve a stronger economy and first-world status for the Filipino people.
For more information, visit the Asia CEO Awards website, and on Facebook.
FinTech Alliance. ph, the Philippines’ premier digital trade organization, which is composed of startups and unicorns that account for over 90% of digital-initiated transactions volume in the country, has teamed up with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines to showcase the Filipino fintech talent atupcoming global events including AsiaTech x Singapore (ATxSG) and Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) happening in Singapore, and Collision 2023 that will take place in Toronto, Canada.
This collaboration aims to promote excellence, ingenuity, and diligence of the Filipino FinTech players on the world stage by connecting them with global partners for cross-border digital technologies and services, including e-commerce payments and remittances for expertise building, knowledge exchange, technical assistance, and investment stimulation. The Embassy of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in the Philippines will be facilitating business-to-business meetings between Filipino FinTech players and Canadian companies exhibiting at these events.
“This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity to leverage our collective strengths and expertise as Filipino FinTech players, and bring innovative financial solutions to the global stage. Through this collaboration, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem for FinTech innovation, and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the Philippines,” said Lito Villanueva, Founding Chairman, Fintech Alliance. ph.
“The Canadian FinTech ecosystem is highly competitive and is home to over 850 companies and several financial hubs, the largest being Toronto. This collaboration would open opportunities for Canadian FinTech players to connect and do business with key partners in the fast-growing economy of the Philippines, as well as foster and sustain a successful FinTech innovation ecosystem,” said Guy Boileau, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Embassy of Canada.
AsiaTech x Singapore is the gateway to the world’s fastest-growing digital economy and leading platform where the international tech and enterprise communities congregate for conversations and networking that set the agenda for key tech trends, governance, and innovation impacting businesses and society in the region. This year’s conference will happen in Singapore.
The Singapore Fintech Festival brings together the global FinTech community to engage, connect, and collaborate on issues relating to the development of financial services, public policy, and technology. As the world’s largest FinTech festival, last year’s edition brought together over 62,000 participants from 115 countries. SFF is organized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Elevandi, and Constellar and in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore.
Collision 2023, North America’s fastest-growing tech conference dubbed as the “Olympics of Tech,” will feature sessions that gather tech experts, cultural icons, and global policymakers, as well as interactive Q&As, masterclasses, roundtables, and speaker experiences.
Lloyd and Judith Barran seemed to have it all– a blossoming business, a great marriage, but one must simply know how they came to achieve all of this. There is one word for it: love.
A couple’s shared love and passion
Before they married and had three wonderful children, Lloyd and Judith were in different worlds– almost literally. Lloyd was born in Guyana, South America while Judith first saw the light of the world in Davao, Philippines. Even as a young man, Lloyd did everything with passion and grit. He was a stellar student– up till he entered college at the University of Saskatchewan, he continued his love for science by taking up Pharmacy.
However, science took a break for a while when he went back to Guyana to become a corporate secretary to six companies in the Booker, McConnell Group of Companies. It was a great undertaking, but his love for science still prevailed as he went back to Canada, eventually opening up a retail pharmacy that lasted for 25 years. That was the time when Lloyd met Judith– an encounter like no other.
Judith and Lloyd Barran: The couple’s love for aromatherapy and their strong bond has been crucial for the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare to rise to greater heights.
Judith was a Commerce graduate, but she was also keen on discovering and making new paths for herself. She studied interior decorating, and affluent people from Davao would acquire her to decorate their mansions. She followed her heart and married Lloyd in 1992, and moved to Canada a year later. In 2000, She attended Aromatherapy school, and Lloyd followed her the next year. Their love for each other and their interest in aromatherapy brought forth the existence of Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare– a testament of dedication and passion to their craft.
Judith is currently focused on marketing its products in Western Canada, preparing for the launch of its product in the fall of 2022.
A product of their love and dedication
The Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare features a wide range of products that seek to enlighten one’s well-being and promote a healthy and invigorated lifestyle as well. Like the name Cleopatra, which originated from Ancient Egypt, they also want their customers to experience beauty in its most refreshing form. They have several products that seek to help people feel naturally better. They have several aromatherapy blends for Muscle & Joint Pain, Cold Sores, Headaches, and Cold & Flu, among others. All of their products are made from 100% essential oils and are used and recommended by doctors and dermatologists alike.
During the pandemic, they have also created their skincare line, Cleopatra Luxury Skincare. It features a variety of luxury serums–the Scar and Stretch Mark serum, the Youth Serum Elixir, and the Acne Blend. Customers from all over the world have been raving about it, as it enhances their youthful beauty and nourishes the skin!
On to greater heights
Despite all the odds, the couple’s love for aromatherapy and their strong bond has been crucial for the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare to rise to greater heights. Their partnership, sense of duty, and love for each other have helped them grow together and as individuals. In turn, the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy is now growing and thriving, never backing down.
Lloyd and Judith are now hand in hand in managing their business, which has also helped people from all around the world discover what it takes to take their health and beauty to a higher level. Judith is currently focused on marketing its products in Western Canada, preparing for the launch of its product in the fall of 2022. One thing is for sure– their love for aromatherapy and each other will never waver, much like the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy’s success.
