DITO Telecommunity honored five outstanding Filipino entrepreneurs at the inaugural DITO BizBayani Awards Night on Wednesday, recognizing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that have demonstrated innovation, resilience, and impact in their communities.
The awards ceremony, held at the Manila Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, capped a 10-week nationwide search conducted by DITO BizBayan in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), GCash, Jobstreet by SEEK Philippines, Philippine Council for Small and Medium Businesses, Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association, DCME Holdings, and Philippine AI Business Association.
The five winners were selected from a Top 25 shortlist drawn from more than 500 nominations submitted nationwide.
According to the DTI, MSMEs account for 99.63% of registered businesses in the Philippines and provide 65.1% of total employment. The BizBayani Awards were established to recognize the entrepreneurs behind these businesses and highlight their contributions to the economy.
“These five winners, and the twenty-five finalists they represent, are proof of something we’ve believed since DITO entered this market: that the boldest builders in this country are not always the ones with the most resources, but the ones with the most conviction,” according to DITO Chief Revenue Officer Atty. Adel Tamano.
The 2026 awardees are:
- Bobby Adan of Prutasan ni Adan — BizBayani in Growth Excellence Award, presented in partnership with DTI. Starting as a roadside fruit stand in Cebu in 2017, the business has grown into a specialty grocery store with eight-digit monthly sales and direct international sourcing of premium produce.
- Felix Veroya of Ask Lex PH Academy (ALPHA) — BizBayani in Digital Impact Award, presented with GCash. Founded in 2016 as a training and consulting firm, ALPHA transformed into an EdTech social enterprise during the pandemic and has since served more than 100,000 graduates through a learning platform with over 35,000 registered users.
- Anna Magalona-Go of But First, Coffee — BizBayani in Employer Excellence Award, presented with Jobstreet. What began as a one-woman startup in 2020 grew into a company employing 150 to 200 people and generating more than 1,000 jobs through its nationwide franchise network.
- Ariestelo Asilo of Varacco — BizBayani in Industry Impact Award, presented with PCCI. Through its Coffee Based Farming Entrepreneurship Engagement Program, Varacco supports 100 coffee farmers across seven communities, produces about 100 tons of coffee annually, and is developing Mindanao’s first certified mother tree garden for the coffee industry.
- Rio Pomer of St. Pio — BizBayani in Innovations Award, presented with the Philippine AI Business Association. Pomer developed the Bridges Autism App, an AI-powered platform that brings together therapy tools, progress tracking, and community support for Filipino families raising children with autism.
Each awardee received a handcrafted trophy made by artisans from Tugaya, Lanao del Sur. The trophy was carved from Basudan wood in the shape of a Sarimanok and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, symbolizing Filipino resilience and creativity.
DITO said the awards are intended to become an ongoing program rather than a one-time recognition event.
“The BizBayani Awards were never meant to be a one-time celebration. They are a reflection of what we see every day in our work with MSMEs — entrepreneurs who innovate not because it’s trendy, but because their communities need them to,” said Gabby Cui, head of MSME at DITO BizBayan.
“Our commitment doesn’t end when the trophies are handed out; it’s what pushes us to keep building programs, tools, and connectivity that help the next Bobby, the next Anna, the next Rio get their shot,” Cui added.
DITO said the 25 finalists collectively represent the diversity of the country’s MSME sector, spanning businesses from traditional markets and home-based enterprises to digital ventures and farming communities.
The company said the inaugural BizBayani Awards underscore its broader effort to support MSMEs through connectivity, recognition, and partnerships with government and industry organizations, with the goal of helping small businesses grow into the country’s next generation of employers, innovators, and industry leaders.