‘People of the Year 2019’ Tycoons, titans, thespians & a tot

PeopleAsia magazine unveils its “People of the Year” 2019 and the roster of business, political, social and cultural heavyweights includes tycoons and a lovable tot.

This year’s triple-cover issue is a first: featuring all the awardees in one cover; Scarlet Snow Belo, the youngest ever awardee in the history of PeopleAsia; and the moving forces behind the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Wilcon Depot’s William Belo, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion and Rikki Dee.

The business tycoons in this year’s honor roll (in alphabetical order) include William Belo of Wilcon Depot, which grew from one store in 1977 to 49 today; Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship and The Outstanding Filipino awardee Joey Concepcion, whose Go Negosyo has boosted economic progress by supporting the country’s medium, small and micro enterprises; Rikki Dee, who first tried his luck on one small restaurant on Pasay Road and now caps the year with 195 restaurants and a thriving optical shop business; and Dennis Uy, who started with an inasal stall in Davao and now counts infrastructure, shipping, construction, trading and hotels in his business empire.

Udenna Corp.’s Dennis Uy, Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Heart Evangelista Escudero.

The magazine, which is celebrating its 19th anniversary this year, also honors a titan in the world of sports, Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino to bag a gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games.

The magazine lauds four artists, Heart Evangelista Escudero, actress, painter, political wife and international lifestyle icon; Len Cabili of the Filip+Inna clothing brand that promotes the talent and craftsmanship of the country’s indigenous people; “Asia’s Nightingale” Lani Misalucha; and acclaimed artist Andres Barrioquinto, whose recent unique exhibit at the National Museum drew the country’s gliteratti and literati.

Filip+Inna’s Len Cabili, Lani Misalucha and Andres Barrioquinto.

PeopleAsia is giving an award to the government’s ambitious Build, Build, Build project as represented by its six moving forces — Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Budget Secretary Ben Diokno and Bases Conversion Development Authority president Vince Dizon.

Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

For over five decades, the Philippines’ investment in infrastructure projects averaged only 2.6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), while its ASEAN neighbors invested double that percentage.  The Duterte administration wants to change that through “Build, Build, Build.” The President has announced that government spending on infrastructure will rise from five percent of GDP in 2017, to seven percent of GDP by 2022 for a total of P8 to P9 trillion.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Bases Conversion Development Authority president Vince Dizon.

In partnership with Resorts World Manila, PeopleAsia also has two “Lucky Persons of the Year,” National Artist Ryan Cayabyab and singer KZ Tandingan, who transform good fortune into blessings.

National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, KZ Tandingan and Scarlet Snow Belo.

And last but not the least is the country’s youngest social influencer with almost three million followers on Instagram, Scarlet Snow Belo, the “People’s Choice” awardee. She has inspired almost a cult-like following in the Philippines, and she charms fans from all social strata with her intelligence and amuses them with her antics. *

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