MANILA – October 10, 2013 – For the first time in its 34-year history, the Agora Awards recognized winners in every category, with Alaska Milk Corporation taking home the Marketing Company of the Year title.
The Agora Awards is held by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), and recognizes excellence in the Philippine marketing scene. Winners are inducted into the association.
The awarding ceremonies were held on October 9 at the Peninsula Manila.
The following individuals and companies were named winners:
- Bato-Balani Foundation for Outstanding Achievement in Advocacy Marketing
- GMA Kapuso Foundation for Outstanding Achievement in Advocacy Marketing
- Rita Neri, president and founder of Rita Neri Events Planners, for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship – small scale
- Catherine Ilacad, CEO of Posh Nails, for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship – medium scale
- Dennis Uy, president and CEO of Phoenix Petroleum, for Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship – large scale
- Enrique Soriano III, Marketing Cluster chair at Ateneo Graduate School of Business, for Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Education
- Pete Delantar, president of Natures Legacy, for Outstanding Achievement in Export Marketing
- Irwin Lee, vice president and managing director of P&G UK/Ireland, for Outstanding Achievement in Overseas Marketing Excellence
- Edwin Totanes, vice president for marketing at Universal Robina Coroporation, for Outstanding Achievement in Marketing Management
- Alaska Milk Corporation for Agora Marketing Company of the Year
Former president Hon. Fidel V. Ramos was also awarded an Honorary Agora in Nation-building. The award was presented to him by Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares, who was the keynote speaker.
"At the core of every good marketing is really a good story to tell," said Bato-balani Foundation chairman Saturnino Belen said, thanking the PMA for their award.
"I guess the advantage of working in education development over the past 20 years is that we have a lot of good stories to tell," he said.
Meanwhile, Rita Neri said that her win will only push her to bring her business to new heights. "Because of this award, Rita Neri Events Planners will now have to strive harder, soar higher, and be better," she said.
