ANN ONG

THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN

Drawn to her grandmother’s jewelry collection at age 12, Ann Ong never thought that her housewife-cum-entrepreneur status would plummet her into the global design arena. Since her humble beginnings in accessories design, Ong has ceaselessly conquered the global design industry cementing the Filipinos’ place in the big leagues citing numerous exhibits worldwide including shows in Germany, Singapore Fashion Week, Fashion Access in Hong Kong, Maison & Objet in Paris and her biggest in New York, where she won the NY NOW Best New Product Design in the Sustainability Category in 2016, earning her the title of the first Filipina to ever win this prestigious award.

To add to her list of accolades, she also recently bagged three Katha Awards for pieces created from the most undervalued of local materials such as coconut twigs and wood from trees hit by typhoons.

Much like the rest of her acclaimed body of work, Ong’s designs have become synonymous with opulence and impeccable craftsmanship. With a bevy of gilded clutches and jewelry, Ong’s works are all one-of-a-kind designs. “I love to create pieces that are nothing and make them into opulent, functional works of art. I design for a purpose and that has to have meaning in my life,” she says. True to form, her Guardians of the Mountain collection was an ode to wildlife in rocky terrain, A Man’s Best Friend was inspired by dogs and pets, while another collection was inspired by the plight of Filipino fishermen, enabling Ann to make statements through her craft and help out local communities.

Doing social good in the name of a beautiful accessory. We can get behind that.—AL

Iam very humbled yet proud of everything I worked hard for to be able to be awarded such honor. It is a validation for me to continue on with my journey as a Filipino designer,” says Ito Kish on being a New PH awardee of MEGA Magazine. Kish began his career as a retailer and in 2000, he opened K I S H which opened more doors for him in interior design. March 2012, when he released his Baluster collection, was his first foray into furniture design. “There was no expectation about an award as I was not sure about the reception. Lucky enough, we won two Kathas (Best Production Design Furniture and Best Booth).” In the same year, his Gregoria won a silver award in Como, Italy. “I didn’t hold back since then and continued my latest role as a Filipino designer.”

Kish has often been featured in design trade shows locally and abroad, including the Philippine International Furniture Show and Maison et Objet Asia in Singapore last year. Last April, he headlined Manila FAME with his indoor and outdoor home décor and accessories entitled Spring Forward. Kish has also won Asia Talents award from Interni Magazine Thailand and his designs have been featured in international publications like Elle Décor, Architectural Digest Italia, Erablago Russia, Home Journal Hong Kong and Habitus Australia.

“Whenever I represent my country, I feel honored and proud. It’s a great feeling when the international community realizes how the Philippines is really a creative powerhouse. As a Filipino designer, these are my greatest moments—to represent the talent and voice of our nation in the work that I do while inspiring a new generation of young local artists.”—RCB

Henry Motte-Muñoz often commands a double take. Half-Filipino and halfFrench, Muñoz is not the typical, run-of-the-mill social worker. In fact, his tousled locks and towering physique almost seem to insinuate otherwise.

It’s a pleasant surprise to find out that Muñoz is, in fact, a man with many causes. An advocate of education, Muñoz founded Edukasyon.ph, a comprehensive website that helps students find prospective senior and college courses with a listing of partner institutions and available scholarships.

Muñoz puts a premium on education, as he knows full well the benefits one can reap from a degree having graduated with an MBA from the Harvard Business School himself, with distinction to boot. While he could have easily ventured into work elsewhere, he chose to return to the Philippines and give back to the country with the hope of creating better opportunities for younger generations through education.

Muñoz, who has been making strides with his advocacy, has been duly recognized for his works and recently included in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 2016 Asia lineup. He was also the only Filipino selected by Asia Society to join the Class of 2015 Asia 21 Young Leaders—a prestigious, rigorous and highly competitive program aimed to train the best minds in public service. Senator Bam Aquino is a notable Filipino alumnus.

Also passionate about speaking up against corruption, he also cofounded Bantay.ph in 2012, an anti-corruption website that aims to make the government accountable to its citizens, as well as educates citizens about their rights without having to pay bribes via a user-friendly interface. Muñoz has always wanted to give back and his efforts are not going unnoticed.—AL

Lav Diaz or Lavrente Indico Diaz is a multiawarded filmmaker whose works transcend time and space. With films that run for long hours, tirelessly narrating the current social and political situation in the Philippines, Diaz introduces Filipino culture in his own artistic style. His most recent film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis or A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery was screened at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival. The experience left the audience in awe as Diaz’s film transported them into a marriage of true Filipino history and mythology.

A true definition to his title, Diaz uses the medium as a political and spiritual tool to express and inspire. He takes a new approach with his long-take aesthetic by going beyond images and words. He follows the ideology of early Filipinos who he said originally had no concept of time and only follows the governance of nature and space. The concept of time as he has mentioned before, is Western in nature. His stories and his style are Filipino in all aspects. He creates a semblance of our rich and poetic history and methodically brings it to the screen for the world to see. The broad international recognition has inevitably earned Diaz a membership to the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2010 and the seat as president of the jury at the 2013 Locarno Film Festival. With several international awards and a mind like no other, Lav Diaz sets the path for aspiring Filipino filmmakers ablaze.—PE

Charice Pempengco’s career took flight the minute she began posting videos on YouTube back in 2007. Since then she has won awards and honors like being the first Asian solo singer in history to land in the top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 album charts and she also managed to secure a spot on Forbes first-ever 30 Under 30 Asia. Garnering international recognition from top personalities all over, Pempengco’s almost laser beam trajectory success has since been a beacon for Filipino pride.

Beyond her successful career, Pempengco has also served as a model for many young Filipinos who have struggled with their sexuality. Pempengco has not once shied away from the public eye. Her choice of coming out on Philippine television is a testament to her bravery. For embracing her true self and for overcoming personal and public criticisms, MEGA honors her as a New Ph awardee. Undeniably one of the most talented Filipinos today, Pempengco now uses her voice for others.—PE

ollibee is beloved not only by the millions of Filipinos who pack each one of its ubiquitous stores in the Philippines, but also by homesick Pinoys abroad and foreigners who have fallen in love with the distinctly Pinoy flavors of the Chickenjoy, Yumburger and the sweetstyle Jolly Spaghetti (just ask Anthony Bourdain). Jollibee has become one of the emblems of Filipino pride and culture; its stores—1,050 and growing fast in countries such as the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bahrain and Vietnam to name a few— are consistently lauded for the quality of its food and service by the likes of The Daily Meal and Bon Appétit magazine. With chairman Tony Tan Caktiong at the helm, Jollibee has been honored by the Asian Wall Street Journal and the Forbes Asia as one of the most admired and top companies in the Philippines. With Philippine cuisine enjoying newfound popularity among global foodies, the happy, busy bee is sure to keep on buzzing. This success story truly smells— and tastes—langhap sarap.—TEB

She has gone a long way since winning the reality talent show, Search for a Star in 2004. Rachelle Ann Go’s humble beginnings of singing contests and local noontime shows completely contrast her scintillating success today. Since then Go has headlined local and international concerts, bagging awards and recognition that bring pride to the Filipino name.

Go has gone on to bigger and brighter screens. Her filmography now boasts film, television and theatre. She has played the most iconic of roles known by many today, as her resume lists down spine-tingling renditions of Gigi Van Tranh in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables. Go brings with her pure passion and heart as she stands before a global audience with courage that is unmistakably Filipino.

As the household name is plastered along with other stellar international performers, Go has obviously shown the world that she has grown way beyond the title of “The Rising Singer.” This fact remains and rather than demanding all due esteem or regard, as many people of her caliber do, Rachelle Ann Go sweetly replies with the same unpretentious retorts from 2004.—TEB