Filipinnovation Forum Celebrates Filipino Creativity & Global Impact in NY
NEW YORK, 22 January 2025 – Nearly 150 attendees filled the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York for the Philippine Consulate General’s forum, “AD-vancing Filipinnovation: Filipinos as a Global Creative Force.” Organized to celebrate Filipino creativity and leadership in the global creative economy, the event featured keynote addresses and a panel discussion with Filipino and Filipino-American trailblazers in marketing and advertising.
Mr. Badong Abesamis, Founding Partner of GIGIL, and Mr. Vince Lim, Chief Creative Partner of Dentsu Creative, delivered keynote messages at the forum. Mr. Abesamis highlighted the success of GIGIL in the Philippines, showcasing how the agency’s creative campaigns have transformed brands into household names. He also shared how GIGL is making inroads into the U.S. market, proving that Filipino creativity has a place on the global stage. Meanwhile, Mr. Lim discussed how his cultural upbringing shaped his unique perspectives in crafting campaigns with universal appeal. He reflected on his journey, from creating the iconic “Fearless Girl” campaign in New York to revitalizing brands like Kraft and Mr. Peanut, emphasizing how cultural sensitivity and diverse experiences fuel innovative storytelling.
The panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Tina Kuriyama, Content Marketing Manager at Coindesk, featured four distinguished Filipino professionals who shared their unique journeys and insights. Ms. Lisa Angulo Reid, CEO and Co-Founder of Dear Flor, shared how she merges Filipino flavors such as ube and calamansi with cannabis products, breaking barriers in an emerging and often controversial industry. Mr. Jon Luigi Caña, a Cebuano immigrant and Senior Marketing Manager at LinkedIn, explored the importance of blending personal identity with brand storytelling and leveraging LinkedIn to advance professional growth. Mr. Izzy Manaloto, Client Partner at Fandom, discussed the influence of Filipino values in pop culture and media, providing practical advice for aspiring creatives. Finally, Mr. Ralph Roma, an XR Design Consultant and 3D Generalist, showcased his work on the Sentro Rizal Metaverse Museum and offered insights on how Filipinos can carve a niche in cutting-edge fields like 3D design and virtual reality. Together, the panelists underscored the importance of representation, collaboration, and cultural pride in driving Filipino success in the global creative economy.
In his remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile highlighted the significant contributions of Filipinos in the marketing and advertising sectors. “Filipinos are also making their mark globally. Here in the United States, many of our kababayan work–and even hold leadership roles–in major agencies and have been instrumental in delivering innovative campaigns. Tonight, we celebrate these individuals, whose work continues to elevate Filipino creativity on the world stage,” he said. He also promoted the 2025 VIP Tour Next Gen, an initiative aimed at engaging younger generations of Filipinos in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots and experience the best of the Philippines, urging the audience to support the program in July.
Coffeeright, owned by Filipino-American entrepreneur Anne Estonilo, fueled the attendees with its signature coffee and artisanal desserts, including espresso brownies and adobo chocolate chip cookies.
The forum marked another milestone in the Filipinnovation series, which celebrates Filipino creativity and leadership across industries while inspiring the next generation of innovators. END
