From Alex Eala and Zack Tabudlo to founders working in blockchain, mental health, and youth advocacy, eleven young Filipino changemakers made this year’s regional list.
This year, the Philippines has nine entries on the list, spanning sports, music, technology, retail, ecommerce, and social impact. Since some of the honorees were recognized as cofounders of the same company, the entries represent 11 Filipinos in total.
Now in its 11th edition, the annual list recognizes 300 young entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, scientists, advocates, investors, and founders across the Asia-Pacific region. According to Forbes, this year’s class was chosen from close to 4,000 candidates and evaluated by Forbes Asia’s reporters, editors, and a panel of experts.
From our side, young Filipinos are not showing up in just one lane. They are on tennis courts, in recording studios, startups, across advocacy spaces, and in areas that affect everyday life.
Related story: Forbes’ list of most powerful women of 2025 shows who’s shaping the next decade
Related story: Three PH startups make it to Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch list
Alex Eala and Zack Tabudlo lead the culture and sports category
Alex Eala is easily one of the most recognizable Filipino names in this year’s list. The tennis player has spent the past few years turning Philippine tennis into something more visible, more followed, and much harder to ignore.
Forbes cited her recent string of firsts, including becoming the first Filipina to beat two Top 10 players, reach a WTA tour final, and win a Grand Slam singles main-draw match. For a country that usually reserves its loudest sports noise for basketball, volleyball, and boxing, Eala’s rise has made tennis feel unexpectedly close to home.
Also under the Entertainment and Sports category is Zack Tabudlo, whose music has become part of the Filipino heartbreak and feelings canon. Best known for songs like Pano and Give Me Your Forever, Tabudlo was also recognized for his streaming success and growing music career beyond the Philippines.
Filipino founders are building in very different corners of tech
The Philippine entries also include founders working in blockchain, fan engagement, men’s health, and product innovation.
BayaniChain Tech cofounders Raphael Sevilla and Brandon Angelo Wong were recognized under Consumer and Enterprise Technology. Their company develops blockchain systems for governments and businesses, with Forbes noting its work in improving transparency and reducing corruption.
Kharl Christian Yeung, cofounder of Amico Innovations, also made the list, adding another Filipino name to the startup and innovation space.
Fan Connection SEA cofounders Pauline Dizon and Adrian Jumangit were recognized under Retail and Ecommerce. Founded during the pandemic, FanConSEA works in merchandise licensing, bookings, and live events.
GoRocky cofounders Kiyanusch Braun and Martin Joaquin Palaña also earned a spot for their work in men’s health. The company connects customers to licensed doctors and pharmacies for concerns such as erectile dysfunction and hair loss, and has since expanded its ambitions to other chronic health concerns.
Social impact gets a strong Philippine showing
Three Filipino entries landed under Social Impact. Steph Naval, founder of Empath, was recognized for building a social enterprise focused on mental health services, including online counseling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric consultations for schools, workplaces, and nonprofit organizations.
Saje Miguel Molato, founder of Siklab, also made the list. Siklab works with government, nonprofit, and private sector partners on youth-focused programs, including initiatives that help young founders build more sustainable organizations.
Emmanuel Mirus Ponon, founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network, was recognized for his work encouraging youth participation in policy-making, peace building, and sustainable development across Southeast Asia.
It is a strong reminder that impact does not always look flashy. Sometimes, it’s giving young people a seat at the table, or helping someone find support before they hit a breaking point.
The full list of Philippine entries
- Alexandra Eala, tennis player
- Zack Tabudlo, singer-songwriter
- Raphael Sevilla and Brandon Angelo Wong, cofounders of BayaniChain Tech
- Kharl Christian Yeung, cofounder of Amico Innovations
- Pauline Dizon and Adrian Jumangit, cofounders of Fan Connection SE
- Martin Joaquin Palaña, cofounder of GoRocky
- Emmanuel Mirus Ponon, founder of ASEAN Youth Advocates Network
- Steph Naval, founder of Empath
- Saje Miguel Molato, founder of Siklab
Related story: From ate to authority: How Filipina women lead within families and work
Related story: The rise of the multi-hyphenate woman and why doing more than one thing is the future of work
Across Asia-Pacific, India had the most entries in this year’s list, followed by China, Australia, and Japan. The wider 2026 class covers 10 categories, including AI, Consumer and Enterprise Technology, Entertainment and Sports, Healthcare and Science, Social Impact, Retail and Ecommerce, and The Arts.
For the Philippines, the takeaway is not just that young Filipinos made it. It is where they made it.
They are not only representing the country in entertainment or sports, they are also building companies, shaping advocacy networks, improving access to care, and finding business opportunities in spaces people used to dismiss as niche.
Not bad for a generation that keeps getting told it is too online. Apparently, being online can also lead to building something worth noticing.
