Innovation and Communications Experts Lead Gawad Alunig x Dalumat’s Panel of Judges

 

DOST-TAPI taps advertising experts and photographers for the contest’s fourth edition

Ilonggo innovation strategist and businessman Ken Lerona and National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) Education Section Chief Rita Dela Cruz led the panel of judges for the fourth edition of the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) campaign. Organized by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI), the GAxD campaign awards science visual storytelling through creative advertising.

Development and Innovation Experts for Gawad Alunig

Ken Lerona, founder of Visayas-based consulting firm, Cornelius Magnate Engagement & Consulting, led the Gawad Alunig panel of judges. He’s an experienced marketing leader and seasoned communication executive. His vast experience in innovation gave him a special eye for identifying what makes a short-form video advertisement truly remarkable.

He was joined by Museo Pambata consultant Katrina Angela May Mallillin, a creative industry leader with over a decade of experience in design, education, and entrepreneurship. Development communication professional John Gabriel Almera also lent his expertise. He’s a development communication professional specializing in strategic communication and knowledge management.

Another member of the panel was Celso C. Santiago Jr., a Communications Consultant at Vital Strategies, a lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University, and a former PCOO Assistant Secretary with leadership roles across several sectors.

​​Completing the Gawad Alunig panel of judges was Vonn Vincent Tanchuan, a Social and Behavior Change Communication expert and media strategist. He has led over 40 campaigns on plastic pollution, the circular economy, tobacco control, and youth engagement in partnership with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Science Communications Giants for Gawad Dalumat

Leading the panel as Gawad Dalumat Head Judge was Rita Dela Cruz, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute’s (NFRDI) Education Section Chief and Assistant Division Chief of its Training Division. She is a multi-awardee with an extensive background in communication and photography.

Joining her was Christine Ingrid Espinosa, a Chevening alumna and a multimedia science communicator who brings clarity and creativity to complex ideas. The panel also included Grace David, founder and general manager of Waymaker, whose work has helped young people navigate education and career pathways.

Another member of the panel was Mel Patrick Kasingsing, founder of Kanto.ph, Brutalist Pilipinas, and Modernist Pilipinas. He is an art director, photographer, writer, and heritage advocate. Completing the panel of judges for Gawad Alunig was Gian Nealega, a Creative Director at Dentsu Creative Philippines, bringing industry perspective and creative leadership to the panel.

Determining the Best Creative Advertisements

The 2025 edition of Gawad Alunig x Dalumat campaign focused on science visual storytelling through creative advertising. The Gawad Alunig and Dalumat shortlists were announced on the DOST-TAPI Facebook page.

The Gawad Alunig entries were judged based on the following criteria:

• Concept and Message: 35%

• Creativity and Originality: 30%

• Advertising appeal: 25%

• Audience engagement: 10%

Meanwhile, Gawad Dalumat entries were evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Storytelling, Cohesion, and Narrative Flow: 30%

• Visual Impact: 25%

• Brand/Product Communication: 20%

• Technical Excellence: 15%

• Audience Engagement: 10%

Each member of the panel of judges agreed to take part in the GAxD as an individual, driven by the campaign’s alignment with their personal advocacies and ongoing initiatives. Their participation was made in their personal capacity and does not represent the organizations or institutions with which they are currently affiliated.

The GAxD campaign has been a platform for Filipinos to use their creative storytelling and leverage shareable and engaging content to propel Filipino technologies to the national stage. It also provided and will continue to provide an opportunity for DOST-TAPI to extend support to innovations featured in selected GAxD entries.

Before the announcement of the grand finalists, all entries submitted to DOST-TAPI underwent verification and quality checks. Only shortlisted entries were then forwarded to the panel of judges for evaluation. The judges’ scores, combined with those of DOST-TAPI management, determined the final rankings, culminating in the announcement of winners during the agency’s 39th anniversary celebration on January 30.

The 2025 GAxD campaign would not be possible without the help of industry storytellers and communicators. As an institution that encourages innovation, TAPI continues to welcome collaboration with industry experts to help hone aspiring creatives’ skills while promoting homegrown ingenuity.

For more information about the GAxD campaign, please visit the DOST-TAPI website (TAPI.DOST.gov.ph) and follow the DOST-TAPI Facebook page.

The Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is among the DOST’s service agencies tasked to promote technology commercialization and innovation support services, created under the Executive Order No.128 on 30 January 1987.

For more information about DOST-TAPI’s programs and services, you may email info@tapi.dost.gov.ph, call (02) 8582 1450 loc. 2167, or visit the official DOST-TAPI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.

TP in the Philippines recognized by ANZCHAM for Industry Leadership and Community Impact

TP continues to foster strong relations with the Australia and New Zealand business communities with its long-standing partnership with ANZCHAM. Present to receive the awards during ANZCHAM’s 45th AGM were, in photo from left, TP in the Philippines’ Executive Vice President for Domestic and ANZ Operations Patrick Lopez and Business Development Director Rita Ugarte

TP in the Philippines (formerly Teleperformance) has been recognized by the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ANZCHAM), receiving both the Thought Leadership Award and the Community Engagement Award. This milestone underscores the company’s growing role in strengthening business collaboration across sectors while driving impactful community initiatives.

“Being recognized by ANZCHAM with these two awards is a meaningful affirmation of our commitment and responsibility not only to drive innovation and industry progress, but also to create positive and sustainable impact in the communities we serve,” said Rahul Jolly, TP in the Philippines Chief Executive Officer.

The Thought Leadership Award was presented in recognition of TP’s outstanding collaboration with ANZCHAM and its continued efforts to contribute valuable insights to the business community. As a long-standing member since 2018, TP has consistently supported ANZCHAM’s programs and events, regularly contributing subject matter experts to speaking engagements that tackle relevant and emerging topics across various industry sectors. Through these initiatives, TP reinforces its role as a trusted voice in the global business services landscape.

Meanwhile, the Community Engagement Award highlights TP’s dedication to fostering inclusive growth and creating lasting social impact. Anchored in its global corporate social responsibility program, Citizen of the World (COTW), TP continues to implement initiatives that uplift underserved communities. These include programs centered on inclusivity, education, and impact sourcing—ensuring that opportunities are extended to individuals from diverse and often underrepresented backgrounds.

Presented during ANZCHAM’s Annual General Meeting in Taguig City, the occasion marked 45 years of ANZCHAM’s successful partnerships and principles of continuing to share knowledge and insights, multiply business connections, strengthen partnerships with government bodies, and give back to the community through its sustainability strategy.

TP’s partnership with ANZCHAM reflects a shared vision of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and social responsibility. As the organization continues to grow its presence and influence, TP remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that empower industries and uplift communities alike.

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ABOUT TP IN THE PHILIPPINES

Teleperformance in the Philippines is part of the TP Group, a global leader in digital business services which consistently seeks to blend the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world’s biggest brands and their customers. The Group’s comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front office customer care to back-office functions, including operations consulting and high-value digital transformation services. It also offers a range of specialized services such as collections, interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. The teams of multilingual, inspired, and passionate experts and advisors, spread in close to 100 countries, as well as the Group’s local presence allows it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment.

For more information: www.tp.com.

tp.com

Designing Without Limits: The Logistics Behind Rajo Laurel's Global Runway

 

Renowned Filipino designer Rajo Laurel trusts FedEx to deliver his creations across the globe, ensuring each delicate and meaningful piece is handled with care and arrives in perfect condition.

When it comes to Philippine fashion, one of the names that immediately commands respect is Rajo Laurel. Widely regarded as one of the country’s most decorated designers, his creations have graced international runways, dressed heads of state and celebrities, and earned him a lasting place in Philippine fashion history.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Laurel returned home to build a label rooted in Filipino identity and craftsmanship. For over two decades, he has been the designer of choice for milestone moments, from weddings and state occasions to cultural celebrations, creating pieces that carry deep personal and cultural meaning.

For Laurel, fashion has never been just about clothing. It is about memory, heritage, and storytelling. Each garment reflects Filipino identity while offering clients, particularly those overseas, a tangible connection to home.

But even the most beautifully crafted garment is meaningless if it can't reach the person who needs it. A delayed shipment means not just an inconvenience but a missed moment on a global stage. That's where logistics becomes not just a business necessity, but also an extension of the creative process itself.

Having a trusted logistics provider enables creativity

Laurel knows that delivering his vision requires solving a critical challenge which is transporting delicate, emotionally significant garments across thousands of miles without compromising quality.

The answer came through years-long collaboration with FedEx. "What I like about FedEx is that they allow me to be creative and they take care of everything that comes after," Laurel explains. "I've never really had to worry about size or weight of the freight shipments. I'm more concentrated on the creative aspect."

Rather than designing around shipping constraints, Laurel creates first, then collaborates with FedEx on the optimal approach. From specialized protective packaging for textured couture pieces to navigating international customs documentation and clearance requirements, FedEx ensures that delicate, high-value garments move seamlessly across borders without compromising integrity or timeline.

"There's an emotional thing when you send something that's very special. In Filipino, we say ‘pinag-iingatan natin,’” Laurel says. "We use FedEx for these pieces because we know they will arrive on time and cared for at every step of the shipment journey."

With years of collaboration with FedEx, Rajo Laurel can design without limits, focusing fully on creativity while FedEx handles every shipping detail.

Clothes that evoke memories and comfort of home

What makes Laurel different in a crowded fashion landscape isn't just his technical mastery but his understanding that he is not just in the clothing business.

"What we do here is we just don't sell clothes. We sell memories. We share life highlights," Laurel says. "And these are all grounded with something tangible. It goes beyond clothes. It's memories that we make."

This emotional aspect is inseparable from his brand which led him to a powerful realization that wherever Filipinos go, they always seek material attachments to their roots. "Wherever there's a Filipino, there's a tangible customer base," Laurel notes. "I bank on the diaspora of the Filipino. For those who want a connection back home, that's the space where we operate. We provide that comfort of home."

His clients are spread across the ASEAN region, United States, and Europe. For Laurel, there's something profoundly special about clients who reach across oceans to commission authentic Filipino craftsmanship, it's a gesture of trust his team deeply honors and never takes for granted.

Weaving the future of Filipino fashion

The future of Rajo Laurel centers on strategic regional growth within ASEAN, with FedEx as a key enabler in this expansion. He also envisions that material innovation is on the horizon, particularly around abaca fiber, which carries personal significance as Laurel shared that his great-grandmother built her business on abaca rope.

In summer, Laurel will launch his "Playtime" collection, which draws inspiration from childlike innocence and creativity.

For Philippine entrepreneurs with global ambitions, Laurel's path offers clear lessons: creative integrity must be matched with operational discipline. Understanding your market is essential - but so is choosing partners who enhance your capability to expand and allow innovation to move freely across borders.

Discover more inspiring stories from entrepreneurs across Asia Pacific on FedEx Business Insights.

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About Federal Express Corporation

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $90 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions utilizing its flexible, efficient, and intelligent global network. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.