17/10/2025
IBPAP President & CEO Jack Madrid's Keynote at the 16th Asia CEO Awards 2025: Predict The Future By Creating It. | October 14, 2025
“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate achievement, but to rekindle something deeper: our belief in the Filipino spirit, our faith in this nation, and our hope for a brighter future.
The Asia CEO Awards is not just a ceremony. It is a mirror that reflects what’s best about us: our courage to lead, our capacity to endure, and our will to excel.
Year after year, this stage honors those who remind us that even in the most uncertain times, there are Filipinos who rise, who innovate, and who inspire.
Let’s be honest, it is a challenging time for many of us.
The headlines often paint a picture of division, uncertainty, and global and domestic instability.
It’s easy to be swept up by the doom and gloom, to lose sight of what’s working, and to forget how far we’ve come.
But I believe this is precisely when leadership must offer perspective, to remind our people that the Philippines is not defined by its problems, but by its potential.
Because the truth is this: we are still one of the most promising stories in Asia.
We stand at the center of ASEAN, the fastest-growing region in the world.
A region that is now home to 700 million people, a young workforce, and an expanding digital economy.
And within this dynamic region, the Philippines holds a strategic advantage:
• A population that is educated, English-proficient, and globally trusted.
• A service economy led by ITBPM that continues to power GCCs and global enterprises.
• And most importantly, a people known not just for talent — but for empathy, creativity, and grit.
While the world debates recession, the Philippines continues to grow.
While others retreat from globalization, we continue to build bridges — through trade, technology, and talent.
While pessimism seems to dominate the global narrative, our story is one of optimism, renewal, and possibility.
The essence of being Filipino has always been resilience…but I believe we are now moving beyond resilience.
We are learning to transform adversity into advantage.
We are learning to convert challenges into creativity.
And we are learning to lead, not just follow…in this new, fast-changing world.
Every time I speak to a young entrepreneur, a contact center agent mastering AI tools, a startup founder building from scratch, or an OFW sending hope back home…I see the same spark: hope in action.
That hope multiplied millions of times across our people is the true engine of our growth.
And that is what tonight represents.
Our awardees and finalists embody the very best of who we are: bold, innovative, and determined to succeed on a global stage.
They are proving that a world-class Philippines is not an aspiration. It is a reality taking shape before our eyes.
They remind us that we can compete, we can lead, and we can inspire.
They remind us that optimism is not naïve. It is a strategy.
And they remind us that even in the most difficult times, we can always choose to see opportunity, not despair.
To our awardees and finalists — congratulations.
You are the face of the new Philippines: confident, competent, and compassionate.
You are proof that the Filipino spirit shines brightest when the world seems darkest.
Together, let us keep that light burning.
Let us keep believing.
And let us keep building a world-class Philippines, powered by hope, talent, and vision.
But our greatest opportunity lies ahead…in our people.
The future will belong to the nations that can reskill, empower, and unleash their human capital.
As AI and automation reshape industries, we must double down on what makes the Filipino workforce unique: emotional intelligence, cultural fluency, and creativity.
We must invest in continuous learning — in digital skills, communication, critical thinking, and leadership, so that the Filipino talent remains the most agile and sought-after in the world.
Let this be our collective mission: to prepare our people not just for the jobs of today, but for the opportunities of tomorrow.
So tonight, as we celebrate excellence, let us also celebrate hope…the quiet, steady hope that built this industry, this economy, and this nation.
Yes, the world is changing fast. But so are we. And if we stay united in purpose, in partnership, and in belief, there is no limit to what this country can achieve.”
