4 Filipino Entrepreneurs and 16 Filipino Companies Win Big at Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2019
Twenty Philippine entrepreneurs and organizations were awarded at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) 2019 held at the Shangri-La Fort on November 22, 2019. In its 13th year, the Philippine leg of APEA gathered 300 entrepreneurs from over 15 industries. The Philippines is currently the ninth market/country to organize the awards this year, and 2019’s theme focused on inclusive development and sustainable entrepreneurship.
This year’s Entrepreneur of the Year award was given to two CEOs: Edgar Saavedra, chairman and CEO of Megawide Construction Corporation; and Frederick D. Go, president and CEO of Robinsons Land Corporation. Saavedra has been working to embed corporate social responsibility in the Megawide's DNA to emphasize how engineering and CSR go hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, Go’s philosophy of making sure each project contributes to improving a person’s quality of life has led to Robinsons Land Corporation’s status as one of the leading real estate companies in the country.
Two entrepreneurs were also recognized in the Oustanding Category: Michael Deakin, founder and president of Lifeline 16911 Medical, Inc., and William Ti, Jr., principal architect of WTA Architecture Design Studi. Deakin’s Lifeline was the first ambulance company to be accredited by the Department of Health. Each ambulance includes cutting-edge medical equipment, medication, and a team of trained professionals. Meanwhile, Ti’s passion to build, design, and create led him to forming an architectural firm with plans of becoming a Philippine-based regional, and possibly global, firm. A Shenzhen office is scheduled for 2020.
The 16 companies to be recognized in the Corporate Excellence category include: 24/7 Customer Philippines, Inc.; ACM Landholdings, Inc.; Asian Institute of Management; Bloomberry Resorts Corporation; C & E publishing, Inc.; Far Eastern University; First Vita Plus Marketing Corp.; Global Business Power Corporation; Mabuhay Filcement Inc.; MediLink Network, Inc.; Philusa Corporation; RDAK Transport and Equipment, Inc.; Reyes Tacandong & Co.; Robinsons Land Corporation; Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.; and Sunnies Studios.
APEA prides itself as the oldest business awards program in Asia, buoyed by Enterprise Asia’s reputation as the region’s leading non-government organization in the business field. Some of APEA’s most high-profile awardees since its inception include the late SM tycoon Henry Sy and Jollibee Foods Corporation’s Tony Tan Caktiong.
