John Gokongwei Jr. was the only legacy awardee from the Philippines at the 10th ASEAN Business Awards. Tagged as the biggest and grandest ASEAN awards ceremony, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) hosted the awards last Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Solaire Resort and Casino. This was one of the highly anticipated activities of the yearlong ASEAN@50 celebration in the Philippines.
We welcomed over 900 guests composed of ASEAN economic ministers, government officials, delegates, members of the diplomatic corps and entrepreneurs. Four hundred of our guests flew in from different Asian countries to witness and celebrate this auspicious event of recognizing outstanding ASEAN entrepreneurs and enterprises that have become integral to the growth of the ASEAN economic community.
President Rodrigo Duterte was our guest of honor. He commended the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the private sector for being “instrumental in realizing our common aspirations of the inclusive growth of our peoples in service and platform to provide valuable guidance and empowering our enterprising entrepreneurs to become the bedrock of a stronger regional economy.”
The ASEAN Business Awards recognized 47 awardees, including special recognition for the ASEAN economic ministers, ASEAN BAC Philippines founding members, and legacy entrepreneurs.
The Legacy Awardees from ASEAN: (from left) Haji Musa Bin Hj Adnin from Brunei, Rattana Prathoumvan from Laos, Aung Ko Win from Myanmar, Dr. (H.C.) Sudhamek AWS from Indonesia, ASEAN-BAC Philippines members George Barcelon and Tessie Sy-Coson, chair...
President Duterte greets Elizabeth Gokongwei, wife of legacy awardee John Gokongwei Jr., son Lance Gokongwei and daughter Robina Gokongwei-Pe.
Jose Concepcion Jr., one of the founding members and former chair of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, receives special recognition from President Duterte and his son, now current ASEAN BAC Philippines chair Joey Concepcion.
Laos Ambassador Phoxay Khaykhamphitoune, Thailand Ambassador Thanatip Upatising and wife Monthip, George Barcelon and wife Irene, Josephine Gotianun-Yap, and Singapore Ambassador Kok Li Peng Gary Valenciano caps off the well-attended awarding ceremony...
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala signs the Hand-in-Hand Prosperity Mural depicting the collective efforts of private and public sectors and big brothers-small brothers to provide prosperity across the region.
Karen Davila and Rico Hizon host the ASEAN Business Awards 2017.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez
ASEAN economic ministers are recognized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council country chairs.
Tony Executive Fernandes Secretary and Salvador Medialdea. As group chairman of AirAsia, Fernandes flew all the way to the Philippines to receive AirAsia’s award in the Priority Integration Sector-Tourism category.
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, US Ambassador Sung Kim, and Lance Gokongwei
Lizzie Razon, Marissa Concepcion, and Lizzie Zobel de Ayala
Washington Sycip with Alfredo Yao
Michael Tan