Naturally, with the still-raging pandemic, there’s nowhere to go but virtual.
And that’s what Reader’s Digest did this year for the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands awards.
Going virtual may have taken away some of the usual glitz and glamour that a live event brings, but it did not in any way diminish the spirit of the awards and the enthusiasm of the winners who shared the spotlight with some of the awards’ most distinguished winners, all respected figures in their respective fields and industries.
The latest Philippines Trusted Brands and personality award winners were introduced in a virtual celebration due to the global pandemic to publicly acknowledge them and their outstanding contributions. Reader’s Digest was determined to recognize “success that deserves to be celebrated,” according to Asia Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson.
The inaugural virtual awards for The Philippines (plus Singapore and Malaysia) is live on https://www.trustedbrands.asia/philippines.
Asia Reader’s Digest Advertising and Retail Director Sheron White said that for the first time in the award’s 23-year history, the live celebration had to be cancelled, but all is certainly not lost.
“You can sit in the comfort of your own home and enjoy viewing the award winners – those voted the most trusted by the public,” she says.
The awards recognize which brands, products and services are best and above the rest in the eyes of the community and cover a host of categories, the companies most worthy of the people’s trust when it comes to things as varied as baby stores, shopping centers/malls, pharmacies, TV networks, and eye centers.
Reader’s Digest commissioned international leading research company, Catalyst Consultancy and Research, to conduct the survey to determine the most excellent, remarkable and outstanding companies. A total of 1,500 consumers throughout the country were asked to rank companies according to their trustworthiness and credibility, their quality and value, their understanding of consumer needs, their innovation and social responsibility.
Sheron says the awards provide a great indicator for the general public. Purchasing from a company voted the best by Filipinos gives consumers the confidence that they are making the right choice.
She says category winners included newcomers as well as many who had visited the podium on many occasions in the past, with recipients awarded gold and platinum medals. Baguio Oil, for example, has won the cooking oil category 16 times, while Citi has again enjoyed winning the credit card issuing bank category – for the 12th time. Also enjoying 12 consecutive years’ success is PLDT Home Fibr that took home a platinum medal in the broadband/fibre internet category.
While ACER Philippines won the award for the 11th time for the personal computer category. And it appears the most trusted company to buy meat from in the Philippines is Monterey – and consumers have known this for ten years now. A first-time winner in the investment fund category was BDO, but this company has enjoyed accolades in the bank, and credit card issuing bank categories for many years and continues to do so.
More than 50 categories featured in the trusted brands awards, some of which had multiple winners. New categories are added over the years, with milk tea being an inaugural addition this year.
The awards also included personality categories that judged the most trusted TV host/presenter of news and current affairs. The award was won by award-winning host Jessica Soho. “Thank you to Reader’s Digest for this award and the trust. This couldn’t have come at a better time because things are really hard right now and we all could do with the extra push and inspiration. Thank you for going out of your way to give this out despite the restrictions, and congratulations to the other winners.”
For most trusted radio presenter category winner Mike Enriquez, he also thanked Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand for the award, what he called “this most cherished award. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration to do even better, and thank you for recognizing our profession.”
As for the most trusted entertainment and variety presenter, Vice Ganda thanked Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands. “I am so grateful that you appreciate my work as an entertainer. God bless you.”
Other big winners include most trusted sports personality Sen. Manny Pacquiao, and ABS-CBN that won Platinum TV Network Category. “We wish to thank Reader’s Digest for this recognition. For the past 67 years ABS-CBN’s mission is to be of service to the Filipino, and to be voted as a Trusted Brand is how through our brand of service, we have earned the trust and support of millions of Filipinos. This award also serves both as a reminder and inspiration of how at all times we should give our best to inspire and uplift Filipinos wherever they may be,” says Maria Rosario Bartolome, Integrated Marketing and Customer Experience head at ABS-CBN.
Catch the awards at https://www.trustedbrands.asia/virtualawards.