Artists, Sportsmen, Businesswomen & BINI: Meet the Filipino Honorees in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2025
Forbes Magazine’s list of breakthrough individuals from an array of industries under the age of 30 this year includes the Philippines’ hottest girl group, artists, businesswomen, and a chess prodigy, among others.
When it started list in 2011, the American magazine initially released one list of 30 people before expanding it to separate ones of 30 individuals in 20 categories. Forbes then published separate 30 Under 30 lists across several regions.
A new class of entrepreneurs and innovators has been named and these are the Filipinos featured in the annual list of breakthrough talent.
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BINI
Category: Entertainment and Sports
Ages: 20-23
The eight-member P-Pop group BINI unsurprisingly snagged a spot on the list after their catchy and infectious love songs took the Philippines and Asia by storm. The group’s stardom culminated in a 15-city world tour and a sold-out 50,000 person show at the Philippine Arena last February.
The P-Pop juggernauts skyrocketed to stardom after the release of their summer smash-hits “Salamin, Salamin,” “Pantropiko,” “Karera,” and the accompanying viral TikTok dances.
BINI started out as trainees under the ABS-CBN talent management and have now accumulated more than 100 million streams on Spotify and other major streaming platforms.
The group consists of Gweneth Apuli (Gwen, 21); Maraiah Queen Arceta (Aiah, 23); Sheena Mae Catacutan (Sheena, 20); Mikhaela Janna Lim (Mikha, 21); Mary Loi Yues Ricalde (Maloi, 22); Johanna Chritine Robles (Jhoanna, 20); and Nicolette Vergara (Colet, 23).
The act was formed in 2019 after they were handpicked from the 250 participants of ABS-CBN's Star Hunt Academy.
The group's career so far has not been without controversy. The P-Pop octet sensation faced backlash earlier this month after a video of BINI’s leader Jhoanna and members Stacey and Colet along with two members of the GAT P-Pop boy group supposedly made sexually suggestive jokes about a 13-year old.
BINI has since made a public apology for the fiasco as they “offer no excuse for our actions, reactions, and choice of words. We take full accountability,” based on a statement released on their official social media accounts.
The group has also dropped a track called “Cherry on Top” which was produced during a writer’s camp with prominent industry writers Shintaro Yasuda, Skylar Mones, Boy Matthews, Gaby Ramirez, and members Colet and Maloi. Their latest single is “Blink Twice,” released in February this year, which is part of the group's second EP BINIverse that features collaborations with eaJ and AGNEZ MO.
In the Forbes list, BINI is the only girl group in the Asia list that also includes K-pop acts such as Stray Kids and Big Ocean.
Raya Buensuceso
Category: Finance & Venture Capital
Age: 29
Early stage venture capital firm Kaya Founders Managing Director Raya Buensueso was recognized for her work within the startup industry in the country and across the Southeast Asian region.
The company has so far made over 50 investments amounting to about $29 million in total assets under management.
Earlier this year, she also made Esquire Philippines’ list of movers and shakers in the Philippine startup ecosystem thanks to her efforts to support local entrepreneurs and to develop the region’s startup environment.
Buensuceso, who holds an economics degree from the prestigious Princeton University, helped build Kaya Founders as a company that pushes for melding private sector capital and innovation to boost economic development.
She oversees the company's day-to-day operations, research activities, and key stakeholder programs. Buensuceso also leads the Manila Chapter of SoGal Foundation, a US-based nonprofit organization on the empowerment of women entrepreneurs and investors that has over 70 members.
Earlier this month, the firm expanded its Venture Partner Program to include a more diverse group of seasoned tech players, former founders, and experienced angel investors.
Daniel Quizon
Category: Entertainment and Sports
Age: 20
Daniel Quizon is one of the fastest-rising chess prodigies in the world and is a wunderkind through and through. In September last year, the 20-year-old decorated 65-year-old Monaco grandmaster Igor Efimov.
“Quizon has been the reigning Philippine Chess Champion since 2021,” Forbes said about Quizon. “He was undefeated in the ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships 2023 and dominated the Hanoi Grandmaster Chess Tournament in March 2024.”
Quizon has a FIDE rating of 2,461 in standard chess, 2,317 in rapid and 2,394 in blitz setups. Master-level chess players typically have a rating of 2,200, while grandmasters are at 2,400 and above. His contemporary and top-rated global chess player and grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju (18) is also on Forbes’ list.
Other Filipinos on the List
Forbes also recognized Ysabel Chua, the vice-president of Singapore-based venture capital Forge Ventures. Much like Buensuceso, she has extensive experience in investing in early-stage startups in the region, boasting a portfolio of 16 firms.
Under the American magazine’s Social Impact category, the list includes food sustainability advocate Anna Beatriz Suavengco, who hosts the “Urban Farmer TV” series, an informative show on making hydroponic vegetable farms.
Also landing in this category is youth leader Jasper Ruby Vijar, who made the list for leading the Team Dugong Bughaw organization advocating for mental health and sexual reproductive and health rights.
Visual Artist Pulitzer Prize finalist Renren Galeno is also recognized for his social commentary peace and reporting on “Searching For Maura” published in The Washington Post.
The Forbes team in Asia scouted more than 4,500 candidates aged 29-years-old or younger to decide on the 30 Under 30 list based on funding/revenue, social and sectoral impact, and potential.
“This year’s cohort is backed by the biggest funders (they have $3.6 billion in cumulative investments) and counts fans across the globe (300 million + social media followers) who are following along their founder journey,” Forbes said. “As the world continues to rapidly change, the 2025 Under 30 class sees its youth as a superpower, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to spark the future in which they want to live.”
