A decade of leadership: inside Tatler Philippines’ Gen.T 10th anniversary celebration

Joining them as Leaders of Today are Edgar “Injap” Sia II, Kevin Tan, Jordy Navarra, Ann Dumaliang, Roland Ros, Carlos Yulo, Alex Eala, Atom Araullo, Anne Curtis and Nate Clarke. First recognised at defining moments in their careers, they have since become widely recognised leaders whose influence extends across business, culture, sport, conservation, journalism and finance in the Philippines and beyond.

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Carlo Chen Delantar, Partner and Head of Sustainability at Gobi Partners, Gen.T 2019 honouree and Gen.T Tribe member, who spoke on the theme “Leadership in the Long Game.” Reflecting on his journey from humanitarian work to venture investing, Delantar urged the audience to embrace consistency over quick wins. 

“Nobody claps for year four,” he said, recalling a decade of providing clean water to communities across the Philippines. “Year four is the boring middle. No cameras. Just showing up, again and again. And that is exactly where the long game is won.” He also reflected on Gen.T's role in recognising leaders early, adding, “This list did the rare thing. It stayed. It bet on people before they had earned it.”

Read more: Gen.T at 10: What 3,500 leaders taught us about building Asia’s future

The audience also heard an inspiring message from Ann Dumaliang, Gen.T 2020 honouree and co-founder and managing Trustee of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, who reflected on stewardship, resilience and the responsibility of protecting what future generations will inherit. Drawing from Masungi's decade-long conservation journey, she challenged the audience to think beyond personal success, reminding them that “every industry has its Masungi—something essential, slow-growing, and unglamorous that everything else stands on.” She concluded with a call for purposeful leadership, saying, “Ten years from now, may this generation be remembered not only for what it built—but for what it protected, and enabled, for the long game.”

The programme culminated in the presentation of the Leaders of Tomorrow, followed by a presentation of the Leaders of Today, bringing together two generations of Gen.T honourees in celebration of the platform's first decade. 

Read more: Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2026: the numbers behind the list celebrating Asia’s future

The celebration brought together Gen.T honourees from across the years, including Martika Escobar, Cat Triviño, Jason Buensalido, Paolo Bugayong, Eric Thomas Dee, Rafa Rodrigo, Deo Onda and many more from the worlds of entrepreneurship, architecture, hospitality, sustainability, science and the creative industries. Also present were Gen.T Tribe members Franco Varona, Vince Yamat and Carlo Chen Delantar, underscoring the collaborative community that continues to shape the platform.

The Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2026 is presented in partnership with UnionBank as lead partner, with IQOS and Shangri-La The Fort, Manila as supporting partners.

As Gen.T enters its second decade, Tatler Philippines remains committed to identifying leaders whose work creates meaningful and lasting impact. This special anniversary edition not only celebrates a new generation of changemakers, but also reflects on a decade of recognising vision early and watching it grow into leadership that continues to shape the Philippines and beyond.

See the full list of Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2026. 

NOW READ

They spotted this year’s Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow. Here’s what they see

Are you ready to become a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow?

How Kat Borlongan became one of Europe’s most influential voices in technology