A powerhouse group of men came together as PeopleAsia magazine recognized its “Men Who Matter” 2018 Awardees at the Grand Ballroom of the New World Makati Hotel recently. Diplomats, business leaders, celebrities and other notable gures attended the highly anticipated affair.
Now on its 14th year the “Men Who Matter” Awards are PeopleAsia’s annual ode to men who make history with their achievements in business and the arts, contributions to nation building, and other advocacies. Among the most notable recipients of the award in the past are former Senate President Manny Villar, Sen. Sonny Angara and Sen. Chiz Escudero; furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue; businessmen Felix Ang and Bernie Liu; athletes James Yap and June Mar Fajardo; and actors Robin Padilla and Piolo Pascual, among others.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim led PeopleAsia’s roster of “Men Who Matter.” Dubbed by former Secretary of State John Kerry as “the George Clooney of the Foreign Service,” Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea to a diplomat father. Since starting his diplomatic career as a vice-consul in Hong Kong in 1988, the former state prosecutor had also been appointed to various positions, most notable of which was as US Ambassador to South Korea from 2011 to 2014. Kim was also once appointed as Special Representative for North Korea Policy, with the rank of ambassador; and played a role in laying the groundwork for the historic June 12 meeting of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Joining Kim on the list are 11 other distinguished gentlemen from business, public service, Medicine, communication and the arts. They include The Philippine STAR columnist, book author and speaker Francis Kong, neurosurgeon and Philippine General Hospital director Dr. Gerardo ‘Gap’ Legaspi and dramatic actor Jericho Rosales, who recently debuted his new ABS-CBN soap titled Halik.
Business leaders are also front and center in PeopleAsia’s list. They are rising scion Kend- rick Tan, executive director and research and development manager of Emperador Distillers Inc.; lawyer Albert Arcilla, the driving force behind Swedish car brand Volvo and American carmaker Chevrolet in the Philippines; Ton Concepcion, who has run in 15 marathons, while running the business of Italian home brand Smeg and homegrown Condura, among others; Grant Lim, founder and CEO of local furniture and design store Home Studio Inc., and Bruce Winton, cluster manager of Marriott in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the creative elds are well represented by sculptor Daniel de la Cruz, veteran TV host and actor Ryan Agoncillo and fashion designer and educator Jojie Lloren, who believesthat “teaching is one form of self-gratification.”
Special Guest of Honor during the awards was Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, who delivered the opening remarks for the evening. The awards were also handed out by notable personalities in Philippine business and media, such as The Philippine STAR Chairman Atty. Ray Espinosa, PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, and former awardees, Sen. Sonny Angara, Penshoppe’s Bernie Liu, The Philippine STAR’s Lucien Dy Tioco, and Henann Resorts’ Karl Chusuey, as well as Lexus’ Raymond Rodriguez, to name a few.
PeopleAsia’s “Men Who Matter” 2018 Awards Night was presented in partnership with the New World Makati Hotel, and was sponsored by Lexus Manila, Tygie, Megaworld Corp., Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp., Qualibet, BPI, Gan Advanced Oseeointegracion Center, Fundador, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., The Belo Medical Group, Unilab Inc. and The Philippine STAR.
Mariano Garchitorena, Jo-Ann Bitagcol, Jojie Lloren and Albert Avellana
Ambassador Babe Romualdez with Ryan Agoncillo and Lexus Manila Inc.’s Raymond Rodriguez
Ambassador Babe Romualdez with Emperador Distillers Inc.’s Kendrick Tan and Karl Chusuey
Ambassador Babe Romualdez with Marriott Manila’s Bruce Winton and Sara Soliven-De Guzman
Ambassador Babe Romualdez with Francis Kong and Sara Soliven-De Guzman
Philippine Airlines’ Kit Javier with Sen. Sonny Angara and wife Tootsy
Bargn Farmaceutici Phils Co.’s Red Gatus and Niño Bautista
Ambassador Sung Kim and Atty. Albert Arcilla
Connie Haw, Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, Agile Zamora and Linda Ley
Emperador Distiller’s Inc Judd Reyes, Gelline Domingo, Diego Torres, Raphael Carpio, Rain Lu Tan, “Men Who Matter” 2018 awardee Kendrick Tan, Adel de Jesus and Joey Divino
“Men Who Matter” 2018 awardee Ton Concepcion with daughters Mykie, Izzy and Carina, mother Menchu and wife Karen
Hotel of Asia Inc. ‘s Brian Ong, Gel Gomez and Jinjiang Inn Makati’s Wesley Ann Go Sta. Maria
Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila’s Kirk Llamas, Ronie Marie Reyes and Jaisa Candelaria with Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos
Tygie’s Mike Harold Nario, Ivy Nario, Nicole Balaoing and Rob Leocario
