MANILA, PHILIPPINES — For the first time, the ONE Asia Creative Awards judging is being held outside of China, marking a monumental shift in celebrating creative excellence across the Asia Pacific region.
Hosted in Manila, the 2024 judging session kicked off with a spectacular dinner hosted by Arcade Film Factory, an award-winning production house known for creating next-level film and television content.
“We’re honored to host the One Asia welcome reception. This city is bursting with creativity, and we’re proud to showcase its talent. It’s a privilege to contribute to celebrating and elevating the creative brilliance of the APAC region.” said Jeorge Agcaoili, President and Film Director of Arcade Film Factory. The dinner was held at the culturally enriched Manila House, a sophisticated space located in Bonifacio Global City, designed to inspire creativity and collaboration.
The evening offered the Manila creative community a unique opportunity to connect and celebrate in the grand setting of Manila House’s Bonifacio Dining Lounge. With its long, free-flowing space reminiscent of grand homes and picture galleries, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for creative minds to mingle and share ideas.
Top Filipino creative boutique agencies, including Leron Leron Sinta, Sgt Pepper, and Tony &, partnered with The ONE Asia Awards Team to design bespoke event materials ranging from airport signages to tote bags and judge badges. Local creative talents like Auggie Fontanilla, Nikki Golez, and Raymund Sison also contributed to the overall aesthetic, adding a uniquely Filipino touch to the event.
Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club for Creativity, officially opened the judging with an introduction of key team members, including Alison Bourdon, Director of Systems, and Adam Izen, Director of The One Show. Kevin also recognized the invaluable contributions of One Asia’s APAC team, Season Zhou and Sarah Hou, with a special shout-out to adobo Magazine’s Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief Angel Guerrero for her insightful advice and unwavering support. International board members Judy John, Reed Collins, and Thomas Hong-tack Kim, were recognized and served as moderators, with Tay Guan Hin now officially joining The One Club for Creativity team as its APAC Regional Director.
Guan Hin spoke on the broader impact of creativity in APAC, emphasizing how a thriving creative community can fuel economic growth, cultural preservation, and social innovation. He underscored the power of local stories in showcasing APAC’s unique perspectives on a global stage, ensuring that the region’s creativity continues to be celebrated worldwide.
Furthermore, he shared why their team decided to bring the judging to the Philippines: “Manila is our first choice because we’re deeply moved by the passion and strong sense of family brought by the local advertising community.”
During the briefing, Kevin highlighted a new addition to the judging process this year: board members will not cast votes, but will work alongside juries to oversee the judging process. He emphasized The One Club’s mission to celebrate creative excellence globally, noting how the ONE Asia Awards have expanded since their inception in 2020 to include the entire Asia Pacific region, reflecting the growing prominence of creativity in APAC on the world stage.
“This is a historic moment for ONE Asia,” said Kevin. “Winning here can significantly elevate a creative’s career and boost an agency’s global reputation. It’s a tremendous opportunity for the Asia Pacific region to shine.”
The ONE Show China regional awards show initially focused on Chinese agencies in 1997, but thanks to Thomas Hong-tack Kim and Angel Guerrero, the ONE Asia jury sessions, starting back in 2018, have now branched out to other parts of the Asia Pacific. Kevin made sure to appreciate this initiative saying, “Angel’s persistent encouragement led to the event being held in the Philippines, showcasing the country’s hospitality and community spirit.”
The ONE Asia Creative Awards is renowned for its rigorous judging process carefully designed to ensure integrity and recognition for the very best creative work. The winners of the ONE Asia Creative Awards will be featured in global rankings, including The One Club’s Global Rankings and Campaign Brief Rankings, providing invaluable exposure for top agencies, networks, and creatives from the region.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the ONE Asia Creative Awards.
