Comelec Chair, George Erwin M. Garcia as Man of the Year at 6th Asia Leaders Awards

The man of the year for his impact on the elections is truly one of the nation builders of the country today. A soft spoken but the public servant we want. There is no question that this lawyer is a brilliant election law practitioner with big high level clients under his wings. His level of professionalism and dedication to his field of practice is unlike any other. When Atty. Garcia makes legal strategies, he maps out his plan from start to finish even before the beginning of a case. 

George Erwin M. Garcia is a veteran election law practitioner. He is the 23rd Chairman of the Comelec. He had a short yet productive stint as Commissioner before his present appointment.

Prior to joining Comelec, he was the principal and founder of G.E. Garcia Law Office. As a private practitioner, Chairman Garcia was widely known for his superior legal mind that enriched jurisprudence of various landmark cases.

He served as Dean of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila's College of Law and Law Center.

Chairman Garcia has under his belt an academic experience of three decades; he was also an MCLE lecturer and a resource person in election law.

He rendered pro bono services to UNTV for 10 years as anchor in its segment "Huntahang Ligal" to fulfill his mission of promoting social awareness, legal literacy, and access to justice to all.

In Comelec, he staunchly advocates for transparency, inclusivity, and progression. His decisions have always been geared towards productive engagement with all key stakeholders and innovative policy reforms in the Commission's constant pursuit of fair, honest, orderly, and credible elections.

All his actions are, indeed, Para sa Bayan.

For his unparalleled dedication to public service, he was recognized as the Man of the Year and was awarded as one of the Top 50 emerging leaders in the Philippines.

Here are the categories and honorees at the 6th Asia Leaders Awards. 

Men of the Year

1. BIR Commissioner: Romeo Lumagui Jr

2. Comelec Chair: George Erwin M. Garcia 

3. DFA: Dr. Jesus “Gary” Domingo 

4. LGU: Gov. Hermilando Ingco Mandanas

Company of the Year

5. Franchising: Shawarma Shack 

6. Human Capital: Viventis Asia 

7. Global: 24/7 AI 

8. Tech: realme

9. Global IT: Atos Philippines 

Woman of the Year

10. President Atty. Agnes Devanadera - Clark Development Corporation  

Young Leader of the Year

11. Mary Elaine Timbol of Sakahon

12. Vice Mayor Ronin Leviste of Lian, Batangas 

Influencer of the year

13. Caesar Vallejos - Media 

14. Puey Quiñones- Fashion Design

Woman of Substance 

15. Rayla Allertsen: IamSam 

16. Merle Mendoza Balicao: Mernels 

17. Alodia Gosiengfiao Quimbo

18. Mharicar Castillo-Reyes: Asticom 

19. Chi Atienza Valdepeñas 

Fastest Growing SME of the Year 

20. Asian Consulting Group- Mon Abrea 

The night is a power celebration with the attendance of the families and colleagues of these icons. The program started with the welcome remarks of The Manila Hotel President Atty. Jose David Lina, the former Senator, DILG Secretary and former Governor of Laguna then followed by a keynote of one of the youngest entrepreneur in skin care, Glenda Dela Cruz of Brilliant Skin Essentials. 

Andria Terese Nicolas, The Vice President of Tag Media Group shares the snippets about Asia Leaders Awards and mentioned that these honorees are the nation builders of today and the next generation. The other speaker who inspires everyone was His Excellency Malaysia Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino who is also part of the board of advisers of the organization. 

The event was attended also by US Embassy; Bret and Marisol Campbell, Embassy of Romania William Anton Korbl, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Mel Robles, Atty. Carmela Lumagui, Dr. Elton See Tan of The E Hotels and Philippine Korea Economic Council, Makati Tourism Foundation Inc. Tanyu III, Choy Bernardo of Jcuppacakes, Robert Laurel Yupangco of Yupangco Group, Andrew and Grace Nicolas of Tag Media Group, Darius Razon, Philippine Red Cross Governor Baby Ortiz, Manuel Negado, Ethiopia Consul David Ackerman and Atty. Salvador Panelo among others. 

The objective of the event is to highlight and recognize exclusively the nominees who gets in among thousands of nominations to inspire the nation. The award is given to world-class leaders, both in the private and public sectors.

COMELEC under Transformative Progress

Coming in full circle, Hon. Garcia has a panoramic understanding of the COMELEC and the way the institution operates inside out: from grassroots challenges to broader policy issues that are part and parcel of election management and administration. With this, Hon. Garcia’s first year in leadership was devoted to providing the COMELEC with a blueprint that sketches the implementation of innovative policy and legislative reforms and imbeds the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in its institutional processes.

As the Chairman of an organization described as the bastion of democracy, Hon. Garcia’s transformative leadership is focused on recognizing and navigating complex institutional barriers of the COMELEC and providing feasible and transparent solutions consistent with his commitment to Constitution and the rule of law. His leadership hinges on his ability to make swift yet firm decisions that align with only the best interests of the Commission, the Filipino people, and his own sense of integrity. He recognizes that his role is built on trust and accountability, both individual and collective, within the Commission En Banc.

Hon. Garcia’s transformational practices are mapped out clearly in the blueprint of his chairmanship. In the first year of his tenure, he formulated a framework with policy and legislative reforms attuned with the current developmental needs for a thriving democracy. The template for Hon. Garcia’s framework is designed to endure any interest except the will of the Filipinos. In line with this, Hon. Garcia pursued the codification of all the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code with all other election laws and guidelines into a Revised Code of the COMELEC to ensure stability in the processes of the COMELEC despite changes in its administration. 

The structural and management reforms introduced by Hon. Garcia set out the implementation of data-driven and measurable improvements to elevate the performance and efficiency of the Commission. Currently, the COMELEC implements an overall high-impact operations in the conduct of elections and democratic exercises. In the age of information, Hon. Garcia prioritized the integration of science and technology in its operations to materialize an impactful and accessible voting and registration processes to all qualified Filipino voters, including those abroad.

In demonstrating Hon. Garcia’s belief in the power of voter education, he continued to harness the expertise of the Education and Information Department (EID) to amplify the impact of the COMELEC information drive and voter education campaigns in the pursuit of an informed and engaged electorate. In his daily series of interviews, Hon. Garcia is in the front line of providing timely updates on the latest electoral rules, disseminating information about the innovative strides of COMELEC, and addressing pressing questions from the public with utmost transparency. Recognizing the potential pitfalls of misinformation, he takes it upon himself to clarify intricate areas of election law that might be vulnerable to confusion or misinterpretation.

Moreover, Hon. Garcia’s blueprint sketched out avenues to foster an environment of open dialogue and deliberation and to harness the collective resources of the EID.

ATTY. GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA

      

  CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Hon. Garcia champions not only the mechanisms of governance but also the profound responsibility of nurturing an electorate empowered by knowledge. His commitment to education radiates through each interaction, reminding the nation that the future lies in the hands of those who are informed, engaged, and steadfast in their pursuit of a brighter collective destiny.

He firmly believes that the act of casting a vote transcends mere participation; it embodies a collective responsibility to make informed decisions that shape the trajectory of the nation.

82 COMELEC Lawyers in solidarity supporting Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia

Rising Tigers Magazine received the official statement of the COMELEC Lawyers supporting the honorable Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia 

The the eighty-two (82) Provincial Election Supervisors and proud lawyers of the Commission on Elections, stand in solidarity with the entire COMELEC community as they publicly express their full and unwavering support to the Honorable Chairman GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA.

According to them, the allegations against the Honorable Chairman are patently baseless and unfounded, amounting to nothing more than malicious slander. Even though the accusers themselves admit that their so-called evidence are from unknown sources and speciously unverifiable, they continue to insist on their absurdity. Thus, one cannot help but suspect that the vile design of all this is not merely to malign the reputation of the Honorable Chairman, but as well as to sabotage the preparations for the 12 May 2025 Automated National and Local Elections. 

“For this, we hail and applaud our Honorable Chairman for remaining steadfast in his pursuit for justice and the truth, and as he continues to protect the Commission on Elections and its people.

Our Honorable Chairman GEORGE ERWIN M. GARCIA is a paragon of commitment to public service that all can truly admire, love and respect. On that, we wholeheartedly reiterate our full and unwavering support.”

Asia Leaders Awards “Men and Women of Power and Purpose List” at the cover of Rising Tigers Magazine August -September 2024 issue

Tag Media Group, publisher of Rising Tigers Magazine and Producer of Asia Leaders Awards when conceptualizes an activity, it must be different from the previous. The team who are composed of young and dynamic leaders will not settle for less. So for the Asia Leaders Awards this year with a theme “Men and Women of Power and Purpose” List, showcasing sustainability, peace and economic strength, the team partners with the Indonesia Embassy headed by His Excellency Indonesia Ambassador Agus Widjojo. 

The event’s welcome address was delivered by the co owner of Rising Tigers Magazine, Dr. Brian Poe Llamanzares and mentioned that he is proud for the magazine’s frequent presentation of featured leaders, it means  that more people can be reached to influence and to do more good for the country by being inspired by these leaders we have today. 

“These awarding ceremonies are important because they are meant to highlight the accomplishments of noteworthy individuals. These awards give people something to look forward to, to hope for, and to aspire towards. Thank you to our awardees for giving us hope and inspiration.”- Brian Poe Llamanzares 

The inspirational message came from the empowered National President of the biggest business organisation in the Philippines, PCCI or Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Consul Enunina Mangio. 

“Despite obstacles that come your way, you have not only achieved personal success but have also extended your hands to help the marginalized, embodying the true spirit of leadership with compassion.

Your efforts remind us that greatness is not measured by individual accomplishments alone, but by the positive impact we create in the lives of others.”- Enunina Mangio 

The young and dynamic, Andria Terese Nicolas was one of the speakers to share what Asia Leaders Awards is all about. 

“We at Asia Leaders Awards would like to encourage everyone, the Filipino People, to join us to take our stories of our inspiration everywhere. Together we have demonstrated the Bayanihan spirit that sparks the Rising Tiger in every Filipino. Our organization would like call upon everyone to listen, you have proven to us that Filipinos are indeed brave entrepreneurs, political leaders, and citizens. At TAG Media Group, we foster a culture where every voice is heard, every contribution is valued, and give every individual an opportunity to thrive and be seen.”

The Keynote speaker of course was the Indonesia Ambassador, His Excellency Agus Widjojo who at 77 years old is the epitome of a successful leader and who is not tired yet to help his nation. 

For this year, The country’s top leaders, diplomatic corps and innovators attended once again for the exclusive  “Asia Leaders Awards” with an objective to highlight the success of these leaders who in spite of challenges still have time to help the marginalized and rising not just in the Philippines but also beyond. 

Men and Women of Power and Purpose honorees are a combination of local and foreign awardees selected by the Asia Leaders Awards board, endorsed and presented last June 20, 2024. 

Here are the list; 

Women 

1. H.E. Marcela Ordóñez - Ambassador of Colombia to the Philippines

2. Cory Navarro – Founder, Kings Group of Company 

3. Pia Marie Ortaliz-Yanson – Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

4. H.E. Megawati Manan – Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Philippines 

5. Nikki Tang -  CEO, DMark Beauty and DermAsia

6. Glenda Dela Cruz – CEO, Brilliant Skin Essentials Inc.

Men

  1. H.E. Agus Widjojo- Ambassador of Indonesia to the Philippines

2. Rex Wallen Tan- Chief Technology Officer, Southville Global Education Network 

3. Sherwin Yap- Director, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc & President at Kaizen Robotics International

4. Nicki Agcaoili- Chief Country Executive, Carelon Global Solutions Philippines

5. Robert Gerard L. Nazal, Jr. – Chairman of PERRC Construction and Development Corp. and HealthWellnessLifestyle Inc. 

6. Sanjiv Gupta - President & Country Head at IBM Solutions Delivery, Inc. & IBM Business Services, Inc.

7. H. E. Karel Hejč - Ambassador of Czech Republic to the Philippines

8. H.E. Luc Serge Gustave Eugène Véron - Ambassador of European Union to the Philippines

9. Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia – Chairperson, Commission on Elections

10. H.E. Niyazi Evren Akyol -  Ambassador of Turkiye to the Philippines

Company: Philippine Airlines -  Airline of the Year

According to Consul Enunina Mangio during his speech, the event, graced by the presence of top leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and innovators, reflects the shared commitment to uplift the lives of the people. She extended also her heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and honorees selected by the Asia Leaders Awards Board. 

“Your achievements are indeed nothing short of inspiring. In a world filled with challenges, you have demonstrated resilience and determination.”- Consul Enunina Mangio 

All featured leaders are in the pages and cover of Rising Tigers Magazine August - September  2024 issue. To order 09778978877, visit at National Book Stores Nationwide and at Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounges.

The Future of this Nation: DLSU-USG Judiciary held its annual “Law and Politics Youth Summit” in partnership with Rising Tigers Magazine.

July 20, 2024 - The DLSU-USG Judiciary held their annual flagship event “Law and Politics Youth Summit 2024” at De La Salle University - Manila in partnership with the most distributed business and leadership magazine in the country, Rising Tigers Magazine. Law and Politics Youth Summit 2024 is the Judiciary Department's flagship event for 2024 which aims to discuss the specifics of legal advocacy and how it is important for the Filipino youth to engage in politics and the study of law. Further, it also has the goal of portraying the benefits of being politically aware in modern society. The speakers of this event are also encouraged to present the different ways of how they can inspire the youth to participate in their legal advocacies. 

The speakers are Atty. Erwin Argues, the Legal Consultant and Representative of Cong. Margarita Nograles, and Atty. Lambert Yancy Garganta, Professor under the Department of Commercial Law at the De La Salle University.

The Chief Magistrate of the DLSU-USG Judiciary Matt Dylan Geli gave his opening remarks.

 “You are not just the future of this nation; you are its present. Your thoughts, your actions, your dedication can shape the laws that govern us and the policies that guide us. You have the power to ensure that our legal and political systems evolve to meet the needs of our changing world.”

The Chief Marketing Officer of Rising Tigers Magazine shared the importance of understanding Law and Politics.

“The legal profession demands courage to defend the voiceless and challenge injustices, It is about understanding complexities of human behavior, morality, and the dynamics of power. And above everything else, it demands empathy and integrity to comprehend the struggles of others, to connect to them, and to uphold the truth.” Andria Terese Nicolas, Chief Marketing Officer of Rising Tigers Magazine. 

“As an advocate or as a legal advocate or lawyer, it’s important to open up everything to the people. When we talk about in private practice to your client, you open up all of the applicable avenues where he or she can pursue his or her rights.”

“You may explore said legal advocacy or said promotion of legal advocacy through the use of social media. Because, in this way, you are one click away from disseminating knowledge. You are one click away from sharing with a wider group of people what the law is about, how they can proceed with the process, or what are the rights of said people.” Atty. Lambert Yancy Gaganta.

“For the long term, we must foster a culture of continuous learning and development. The world is constantly changing, as Cong. MIgs said earlier, and it is changing rapidly. Staying informed and adaptable is crucial. Providing opportunities for ongoing education and professional development in the fields of law can help the youth stay current and effective in their advocacy efforts, encouraging lifelong learning.” Atty. Erwin Argues

For the closing remarks,  Magistrate and the Project Head for the  Law and Politics Youth Summit 2024 Juleana Nuguid shared her message to the Youth about their importance in the Judicial system.

“This year, we chose the theme of Exploring the role of the Filipino Youth in the judicial system because of its critical importance in shaping the future of our societies. The active involvement of young people in the judicial system is vital for ensuring justice, equality, and human rights. It empowers the next generation to understand, engage with, and influence the legal processes that govern our lives. By focusing on this theme, we aimed to equip each of you with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to become active participants and leaders in the judicial system.”

“Allow me to cite a legal maxim, “Lex Prospicit, Non Respicit” – the law looks forward, not backward – embodies the spirit of our discussions today. It reminds us that our efforts in the judicial system are about building a future where justice prevails, a future shaped by the proactive and informed involvement of our youth.”

The University Student Government - Judiciary of De La Salle University is the sole body vested with judicial power to provide legal aid and settlements to the grievances of the student body. It stands to uphold peace, equality, and accountability among constituents of the university.

Rising Tigers Magazine is currently the most distributed business and leadership Magazine in the Philippines. Rising Tigers was launched in 2022 by its Advertising and Publishing Company, TAG Media and Public Relations Group. The Founders are Grace Bondad Nicolas and Andrew Troy Nicolas. 

The Magazine immediately reached great heights when Tycoons, Top Public Officials, established companies, and the Diplomatic Corps recognized its unique vision of nation-building. Bringing Leaders from different industries together, to promote collaboration and innovation to create a stronger economy, and to make the Philippines the leading Business hub in Asia through the stories of the featured leaders. Rising Tigers Magazine is just in its second year in the publishing industry. It has been making great waves in the Philippines and has inspired many Filipinos. It is available in National Bookstores and in Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge.

Fino Gas by Petron Gasul launched to serve the community

July 18, 2024–Another venture under Tag Media Group that operates and manages different companies from different industries such as AAA Cosmetics, Rising Tigers Magazine Inc, Hidden Hills Farm by Josefino, AG Builders and Developers, Maria Gracia Nicolas Consultancy, Tag Media and Public Relations and now Fino Gas, a franchisee of Petron Gasul just  launched in Calauan, Laguna. 

It all started when the entrepreneur, Andrew Troy Nicolas at his home can’t find a supplier so he checked the community for a good & quality service and he can’t find one. He discussed it with his Mother in law who happened to be a retailer 40 years ago and decided to serve more the community, to establish again one. Right now, Fino Gas will manage the 8 retailers in Calauan, Laguna and will serve the commercial establishments in the surrounding municipalities and cities. 

PETRON GASUL is the leading liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) brand in the Philippine market. Since the 1960’s it has led the LPG industry as an innovator, with the first bottled LPG, offering clean burning LPG consisting of a mixture of propane and butane gas and used as fuel for cooking, lighting and industrial applications.

“Loved and trusted by millions of FIlipino households, its laser-printed seal ensures it is leak-free, sale and has the exact weight (saktong timbang). Petron Gasul cylinders are manufactured to meet stringent safety standards including wall thickness, weld integrity and valve fitting. .”

Fino Gas offers unwavering support to the communities and with a promo to give the first 200 clients freebies to entice more the market plus complimentary conversion. For inquiry to be a retailer or for the service , call or text 09778978877.

The flag-carrier and the Magazine of the Nation 🇵🇭

Top Executives of Rising Tigers CMO Andria Nicolas, Alexa Nicolas and Alexis Nicolas visited NAIA Terminal 1 Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge before their flight.

Our latest Issue "Power and Purpose" is now available in all Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge. Rising Tigers Magazine is the most distributed business and leadership Magazine in the Philippines, and they recently celebrated their first year partnership with Philippine Airlines.

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