MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Last September 15, the Agency of the Year (AOY) Awards, presented by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines (4As Philippines), raised a glass to 25 years of “beautiful evolution” to commemorate its Silver anniversary. Bringing home the big awards were stars of the evening: Independent Agency of the Year went to Gigil and Network Agency of the Year was awarded to TBWA\Santiago Mangada Puno, while The Huddle Room and Leo Burnett Manila bagged Media Agency of the Year and Digital Agency of the Year, respectively.
The AOYs, dubbed “The Award That Matters,” returned this year with a bang for this milestone show. After months of planning, 126 entries judged, and the deliberations of 84 esteemed jury members, the stage was ready to welcome and celebrate the best creatives, from remarkable teams to trailblazing individuals, in advertising.
Wunderman Thompson CEO and 4As Philippines Chairperson Golda Roldan got the ball rolling in her opening speech about the challenges that have shaped the industry into what it has evolved to be today and the persisting mission to let creativity thrive.
“When we are optimistic, we are resilient in the face of adversity,” Golda said. “Optimism is an important superpower to have because it allows us to evolve our ideas, create better solutions, and aspire for a more positive tomorrow.
“We are proud when we look at 25 years of the 4As AOYs, seeing how much we have changed and how much we have grown for the betterment of the industry, she said. “So tonight, we continue to support each other through tough times. Tonight, we celebrate our successes. Tonight, we celebrate each other.”
Tey San Diego, COO and Co-founder of Seven A.D. and Chairperson of the 25th Agency of the Year Awards, also spoke at the prestigious event before the awarding of winners. In her speech, she touched on how much the Filipino advertising landscape has continued to elevate itself — from the industry expanding and more local independent agencies making a name for themselves to Pinoy talent and expertise taking the global stage both through winning works and in judging panels.
“What used to be a pipe dream is now a reality. Proof that Filipinos are indeed capable of world-class creativity,” she said.
Tey also acknowledged the proliferation of diverse and purpose-driven work in creative work as more Filipinos in the advertising game used their talent to tackle serious issues, represent communities in the margins, and double down on the best of Pinoy values.
“We discovered that our purpose is not just to build our brands but to take a stand, to right some wrongs, to build our nations,” she said. “And for that, I feel fortunate to be part of this industry.”
It’s safe to say that, as metals were awarded and stellar talents were recognized, the transformative and resilient power of Filipino creativity truly took center stage at the 25th AOYs.
Check out the full list of this year’s AOY winners:
Agency of the Year
- Media Agency of the Year: The Huddle Room
- Digital Agency of the Year: Leo Burnett Manila
- Independent Agency of the Year: GIGIL
- Network Agency of the Year: TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
Brand Experience Excellence Awards
- Brand Experience Excellence Awards in Creativity and Effectiveness: TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
- Brand Experience Excellence Awards in Creativity and Innovation: TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
Production Excellence
- Production Excellence Awards in Post: EOPLUS Inc.
- Production Excellence Awards in Audio: Hit Productions Inc.
- Production Excellence Awards in Film: Film Pabrika Inc.
Digital Agency of the Year
- Digital Agency of the Year: Digital Excellence in Creativity and Effectiveness: Ogilvy & Mather Philippines
- Digital Agency of the Year: Digital Excellence in Innovation: Leo Burnett Manila
Media Agency of the Year
- Media Agency of the Year: Best in Management of Business: Wavemaker PH
- Media Agency of the Year: Best in Industry Leadership and Community Service: The Huddle Room
- Media Agency of the Year: Best in Media Creativity: GIGIL
NextGen Awards
- NextGen Awards in Accounts Management: Julia dela Rosa, Propel Manila
- NextGen Awards in Strategic Planning: Jean Arboleda, TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
- NextGen Awards in Creative: Ryan Caidic, TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
Best in Industry Leadership and Community Service
- Independent Agency of the Year for Best in Industry Leadership and Community Service: Propel Manila
- Network Agency of the Year for Best in Industry Leadership and Community Service: TBWA\ Santiago Mangada Puno
Best in Market Performance
- Independent Agency of the Year for Best in Market Performance: GIGIL
- Network Agency of the Year for Best in Market Performance: Ogilvy & Mather Philippines
Best in Management of Business
- Independent Agency of the Year for Best in Management of Business: GIGIL
- Network Agency of the Year for Best in Management of Business: Publicis Jimenezbasic
Best in Creative
- Independent Agency of the Year for Best in Creative: GIGIL
- Network Agency of the Year for Best in Creative: Leo Burnett Manila
View the official list of finalists here, and the official list of winners here.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the 25th Agency of the Year Awards.
