COMCO Mundo concludes its Mission 2024 with the launch of landmark advocacy projects with IABC Philippines, Save the Children and other NGOs

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Global award-winning and powerhouse communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is ending the year strong with its commitment to its Mission 2024 initiative through the launch of milestone advocacy projects with various industry and non-government organizations (NGOs).

This initiative highlights two major projects: the Save the Children #LahatDapatSafe campaign, which promotes child and family safety during natural disasters, especially around the holiday season and The Communications Olympiad, in partnership with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, a training and education program for the skills development of the next generation of communications practitioners across the country.

This was announced during the Movie Night with COMCOmigos 2024, COMCO Mundo's traditional holiday treat for its community comprised of media, bloggers, content creators, influencers, brand representatives, industry colleagues, and members of the Camp COMCO Alumni Society. With Century Tuna as major sponsor; Century Tuna Nuggets, MIDEA, SAMSUNG and URATEX Monoblock as sponsors; ASEANA, Lamoiyan Corporation, LENOVO, Sunlife Global Solutions and Teleperformance as supporters; IABC Philippines and Save the Children as industry partners; and SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine and SEA Wave Pilipinas as media partners, this year's Movie Night with COMCOmigos screened the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the musical, “Wicked”.

#LahatDapatSafe Campaign with Save the Children

The #LahatDapatSafe Campaign by Save the Children aims to mobilize the public to support emergency relief efforts for natural calamities and promote disaster preparedness, particularly during the holiday season when intense tropical storms are more commonly worsened by climate change. Through donations and active participation, supporters of the cause can provide emergency kits and living essentials such as food, water, and shelter, ready to be distributed to vulnerable families. Working with them can help children achieve resilience and support in education to ensure that their development continues even after being affected by natural disasters. COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises partnered with Save the Children to intensify the appeal for support for this much needed initiative.

Interested organizations and individuals may visit http://bit.ly/LahatDapatSafe to know more about the campaign and how to extend their support.

The Communications Olympiad with IABC Philippines

COMCO Mundo, together with its training and education unit COMCO School of Communications and advocacy arm Citizen COMCO Advocacy Movement, has partnered with premier business communications organization IABC Philippines to formally mount the Communications Olympiad. The initiative is a learning program that will provide a platform for collegiate students across the country to learn more about the professional practice of communications, adapt the necessary knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the industry, and how to use their roles as next generation of communicators to address important social issues and support causes that matter.

The Communications Olympiad will formally open in January 2025 with an inaugural theme anchored on environment and sustainability, a cause fully championed by IABC Philippines. The initiative will hold a series of roadshows, webinars and a summit for participating schools and students of Communication Arts, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing Communications, Journalism and other related disciplines. It will culminate in an actual Olympic-like competition for communications where schools and their students will vie for bronze, silver and gold medals for different categories, and the Grand Championship for the overall winner. Interested schools, students, sponsors and organizations may email communicationsolympiad@comcomundo.com or tune in to the Facebook page of COMCO Mundo or IABC Philippines for more information and updates.

Upcoming Projects with Make-A-Wish, Philippine Eagle Foundation and COMCO’s Southeast Asia Affiliate Network

Citizen COMCO has been at the forefront of the group’s various advocacies such as children, youth and education; wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability; indigenous culture and national heritage; social entrepreneurship; and the Southeast Asian integration, since 2016. The team’s advocacy arm has made several partnerships with reputable non-government and development organizations that shared long-lasting impact to its beneficiaries. This coming 2025, COMCO is onboarding two more organizations to its roster of NGO partners to launch and mount landmark advocacy projects. They are the Philippine Eagle Foundation which aims to provide ecological conservation efforts that encompass wildlife protection and environmental reinforcements, and Make-A-Wish Foundation which is focused on supporting the psychosocial well-being of terminally ill children and fostering their healing.

Together with COMCO Mundo’s affiliate network in Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, the coalition of independent communications agencies formed and led by COMCO is also embarking on a regionwide advocacy program that will help address important social issues affecting the region and support causes that will drive its mission of #OneSoutheastAsia integration. The coalition will have a summit in Manila in early 2025 to reinforce this commitment and fully rollout the group’s projects.

Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo’s Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder

“Igniting social change is at the forefront of our work and is part of our DNA. From supporting children on their right to safety this holiday to using communication as a tool for sustainable action, we work as a team to provide the best livable standard that does not only benefit us but impact the world we live in. We will continue the cause and keep our battle cry of Mission 2024 heard and seen, now and beyond, making a difference through Meaningful Storytelling, in which the COMCO brand is known for,” said Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Mundo’s Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.

Stay updated with COMCO Mundo by visiting www.comcomundo.com or following

fb.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo on LinkedIn, and

@comcomundo on Instagram.

PRSP pushes inclusivity and transparency through its "PR for All" thrust in 2024-2025

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The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the country's premier organization for public relations professionals, proudly announces its thrust for 2024-2025 -- "PR for All."

This year’s theme underscores the incumbent Board’s commitment in promoting an inclusive, ethical, honorable, and transparent community where professionals, both seasoned veterans and emerging talents, can thrive and contribute meaningfully.

As PRSP celebrates its 67 years of service to the country’s PR industry this year, the organization is also reaffirming its commitment to elevating the standards of public relations through a dignified, effective, and relevant practice in service of the Filipino people.

"‘PR for All’ encapsulates everything that we’d like to achieve for the society this year," beams Andy Saracho, APR, President of PRSP. “We welcome everyone in the PR practice to join us regardless of age, sex, social status, and religious or political beliefs in working together to promote the welfare of the Filipino people.”

As part of its commitment to "PR for All," PRSP will continue nurturing the next generation of competent PR professionals who uphold the highest standards of integrity and a commitment to the truth in bridging people and communities together.

In line with this, PRSP envisions the concept of “PR for All” being embodied in all of its big-ticket events such as the Anvil Awards, an awards program that recognizes the use of outstanding PR tools and programs; and the National Public Relations Congress, a gathering of PR practitioners and communication experts all over the country to discuss the latest trends in PR.

There’s also the Professional Development Seminar, a bi-monthly hands-on training on effective communication strategies; the Student Congress and Grand Prix Competition for aspiring PR practitioners to provide them with hands-on PR experiences led by industry professionals and the PR Caravan, PRSP’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The PR Caravan is a subset of both CSR and PR Students programs, which aims to reach out to students and guide them in taking the most appropriate course, highlighting PR and its role in nation-building.

PRSP invites all stakeholders, including the media, government, educators, and the public, to join hands in championing "PR for All."

By embracing inclusivity, demonstrating ethical practices, and upholding transparency, PRSP strives to build a community of PR professionals working together to promote the welfare of the current generation of Filipino people and the generations to come.

PRSP currently boasts of a diverse roster of members, representing various sectors such as industry, government, non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools, hotels and professional services.

COMCO SEA, Century Tuna receive the globally acclaimed Platinum Award from MarCom Awards in the USA

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COMCO Southeast Asia, the New PR and Smart Social agency of the powerhouse and award-winning communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, and its partner brand, Century Tuna, the leading canned tuna product in the Philippines, has recently received the Platinum Award for Strategic Communications for the “Saving Our Seas” initiative from the globally acclaimed MarCom Awards 2023.

In photo is the COMCO Team for Century Tuna led by COMCO Mundo Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Ferdinand Bondoy (third from right), Chief of Staff to the Group Chief Executive Director and Senior Executive Initiatives and Communications Manager / Partner Harvey Llamosa (fourth from left), and Senior Executive Initiatives and Communications Officer Paula Sison (third from left) together with the rest of COMCO Mundo Leaders as they present the 2023 MarCom Platinum Award Statuette at the COMCO Mundo Headquarters in Makati City, The Philippines.

Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), the USA-based MarCom Awards underscores excellence in marketing and communication by recognizing creativity, hard work, and generosity of professionals in the industry.

Century Tuna's “Saving Our Seas” Initiative was launched to address the threat of the growing problem of plastic pollution, protect marine biodiversity, and reinforce the idea of a Plastic Circular Economy.

COMCO Mundo ignites epic 7 years celebration with staff awaydays in Greece, movie event with media, APAC agency award win, and office expansion in Manila and Dubai

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Global award-winning communications group COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises marked its epic 7^th anniversary with a milestone staff awaydays in Greece, a special media movie event, a major APAC award win, and the expansion of its Manila and Dubai office.

The COMCO Mundo Awaydays in Greece and Singapore 

Staying true to its commitment to nurture talent through diverse cultural experiences, COMCO Mundo’s staff awaydays, after Japan in 2018 and Australia in 2019, had the team flying to Europe! Mythical ruins and cultural sites greeted the COMCO Mundo employees on the sunny shores of Greece as the COMCO Mundo team explored the country that scholars deemed the land of the gods, the cradle of Western civilization, and the birthplace of democracy.

Ancient legends came to life over their week-long stay with stops at the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora, where one could imagine the hustle and bustle of Athenian citizens as they shopped, traded, and worshipped among the remnants of the temples of their gods. Further exploration took the team to the Temple of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, and to the idyllic Greek islands of Agistri, Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. The team also enjoyed a rendezvous with sea and sky with a swim in the Mediterranean. A quick stop in Singapore brought them face to face with another creature of fantasy – the Singapore Merlion at One Fullerton, before they capped their trip with a food feast and an iconic Singapore experience, tasting the culinary delights of this foodie capital at an iconic hawker centre, Lau Pa Sat.    

The company also commemorated its 7^th year with a movie night with its COMCOmigos, treating its valued media, blogger, influencer, content creator, and digital activator partners and friends to an evening of fun games and a screening of the blockbuster Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in Ayala Mall’s Glorietta 4 Cinema.   

COMCO Mundo’s Movie Night with COMCOmigos featuring Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

COMCO Mundo kickstarted the year with a team dinner in Tagaytay

These were certainly celebrations as the company also welcomes accolades and a bigger home for the COMCO Squadron both in Manila and Dubai.

COMCO SEA was once again recognized for its landmark people programs and campaigns as it took home the Medium Consultancy Award at the prestigious and highly coveted PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards 2023. The company was lauded for effective business results, community leadership, and innovation in its operations.

The COMCO Squadron celebrating the company’s PRCA APAC 2023 win

Meanwhile, COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises also recently unveiled the second phase of its office expansion on Ayala Avenue right at the heart of Makati City’s Central Business District. It houses the newly launched digital and integrated communications agency TARO AOX Inc., the group’s parent company COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, the New PR and Smart Social unit COMCO Southeast Asia, and Southeast Asia’s regional publication SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio.

New COMCO Mundo headquarters in Makati City, Philippines

Meanwhile, COMCO Middle East & Africa is also enjoying meteoric growth, having successfully concluded the Middle East Film and Comic Con or MEFFC 2023 with record-breaking numbers and continuing to be the agency partner of choice of top leisure, hospitality, and food brands. They have also recently found their home at the prestigious address of Ibn Battuta Gate at Jebel Ali, Dubai.

The COMCO Middle East and Africa team based in Dubai, UAE 

“It has certainly been an epic 7 years for us in COMCO as we’ve continued our meteoric growth in the Middle East & Africa, launched our digital and integrated communications agency in Southeast Asia, and expanded our offices on both shores to serve as the craftsmanship vessel for our new talents. What better way to commemorate these wins and our COMCO Squadron who has been with us in this journey than with overseas team travel,” shared Ferdinand Bondoy, COMCO Mundo Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder.

“We invest in overseas team travel because we invest in our people. As storytellers, travel widens the team's perspective about the world and life in general; the shared discovery, journey, and experience strongly connects the team; and the one-of-a-kind immersion further cultivates our workplace culture.”

As its epic 7th celebration continues, COMCO Mundo looks forward to sharing more surprises, major announcements, and a big event in the last quarter of the year. To know more about COMCO Mundo and its initiatives, visit comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

 

 

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About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives, a collective of agencies and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training, and education, and entrepreneurship, among others; to be a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia with network of affiliates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Middle East & Africa, TARO AOX Inc. Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

COMCO been awarded PRCA APAC Medium Consultancy of the Year in Asia Pacific,  thrice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards; Agency of the Year – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 150 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

 

COMCO’s Epic 7 Years Celebration Opens Cycle 20 of the Award-Winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program

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COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises, a global award-winning powerhouse group of communication companies, is inviting all students and fresh graduates of communications, journalism, marketing and multimedia arts, to be part of the 20th cycle of its award-winning Camp COMCO Mentorship Program.

The Camp COMCO Mentorship Program is a communications apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry. With its intensive and comprehensive talent incubation sessions and industry linkage programs designed by COMCO Mundo’s pool of experts, Camp COMCO has been recognized for producing high-caliber young communications professionals since 2016, including alumni that work in the agency today. It has garnered 110 graduates that are now inducted as creative rebels and industry rockstars.

Cycle 20 is a milestone mark for the mentorship program as this is part of the #COMCOepic7years celebration, and interested participants can expect a more immersive mentorship experience in a hybrid set-up, giving everyone from all over the country an opportunity to join wherever they are.

For this cycle, aside from its comprehensive on-the-job training, Camp COMCO apprentices can expect to participate in more exciting activities that include a series of mentoring sessions with industry experts, multi-platform content development and creative presentation, highly anticipated brand events and multimedia production, the newly reinforced individual and team goal setting and career coaching, and ultimately, the House Wars competition, the program’s culminating initiative that allows everyone to exercise their communications planning and presenting skills with actual brand campaigns!

The 20th Cycle of the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program is set to kick-off soon! You may send your applications at headquarters@comcomundo.com.

To know more about COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises and the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, visit www.COMCOMUNDO.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/COMCOmundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

About Camp COMCO Mentorship Program

Built by the Agency’s pool of experts, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program is an intensive and comprehensive talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course, and apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing, and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry. It won the Excellence Award for Communications Training and Education and was a finalist for Top Award for the same category in the Quill Awards of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators and the Gold Anvil Award for Specialized Public Relations Program from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).

About COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is the parent company and umbrella group of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures and initiatives - a collective of agencies, companies, and programs dedicated to advancing the communications profession and related disciplines such as digital, media, advocacy, training and education, and entrepreneurship; to being a force for social change; to nurturing talent growth and workplace community culture; and to championing borderless collaboration. The COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises is comprised of COMCO Southeast Asia, COMCO Middle East and Africa, TARO AOX Digital + Integrated Communications, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program and Alumni Society, and Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program.

COMCO Mundo continues to make waves in Southeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa

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COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises (COMCO Mundo) is concluding the year 2022 with key milestones as it continues to make waves in the Southeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa markets.

COMCO Mundo, which recently unveiled its newest global headquarters in the Philippines’ Makati Central Business District, is the parent and umbrella organization that houses trailblazing enterprises and ventures such as COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, COMCO Alumni Society, and TARO Digital AOX.

With affiliate network presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, COMCO Southeast Asia continues its thrust of meaningful storytelling as it bagged various industry recognitions garnering a total of 140 awards from prestigious local, regional, and international award-giving bodies since its inception in 2016. The most recent wins and citations were from Marketing Interactive Asia’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, PRCA APAC Awards, Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, CIPR Global Excellence Awards, The Gold Standard Awards, Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards, Stevie Awards, and IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards.

The Agency also continued to strengthen its client portfolio for its 6th year, winning major accounts such as APL GO, ASEANA City, AXA, European Union, Frit-Oh, Kone, Lalamove, MR. DIY, PHILUSA Corporation together with its wide range of brands (Rhea Generics, Cleene Alcohol, and Cotton, Cleene Clio, Babyflo Baby Care, and Love My Honey), Phinma Education, Remy Martin, Skechers, and Uratex; and renewing clients Eastern Communications, Lamoiyan Corporation, Jobstreet, LENOVO, Sunlife Asia Service Center, Takeda, Teleperformance, World Vision, and WWF. From 2021 to 2022, COMCO SEA grew its team by 61% and has a retention of 62%. Of its homegrown talents who started as apprentices and associates, 44% have been promoted to supervisory and management positions.

In the MEA region, COMCO Middle East & Africa continues to reap success on its first year handling notable brands from various industries including Belcanto and Eden at Dubai Opera, Central Park Towers, Electric Pawn Shop, Global Educational Supplies & Solutions 2022, Hyde Hotel’s Katsuya and Hudson Tavern, Nolte Küchen, Holiday Inn Science Park, Issei at Radisson Damac Hills, Last Seen Live, Maison D’Vie, The Vault Real Estate, Tres Marias Coffee and Yas Plaza Hotels. The game-changing agency is also responsible for Empire Movies’ hottest premiers for the year including Bullet Train, Brahmastra, The Woman King, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, and Where the Crawdads Sing. It was also declared as the official PR agency of the Middle East Film and Comic Con 2023 and Najah Abu Dhabi and Dubai 2022.

In addition, COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, recently conducted property roadshows for Philippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as among the group’s first of many synergy initiatives. The teams will continue to showcase its strength in cross-regional PR through its new client, EZRA COUTURE, a trailblazing UAE-based fashion house that has dressed royals and celebrities like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Nicole Scherzinger, Paris Hilton, Sonam Kapoor, Pia Wurtzbach and Heart Evangelista.

COMCO Mundo Group Chief Executive Director and Lead Strategic Communications Counsel / Partner and Co-Founder Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy bagged the Gold Award for the PR Champion of the Year (Agency) at the PR Awards 2022 in Asia Pacific of Marketing Interactive Asia. He was also recently elected to the Regional Board of PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) based in Singapore, the only Filipino to be elected in the position. He was also appointed anew to be part of the London-based CIPR’s (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) International Committee and the Lead for Online Events, representing not only the Philippines but also Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia-Pacific. In the Philippines, Mr. Bondoy is also a Board Trustee of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines serving as Corporate Secretary and Chair of Digital and Public Relations Committee and Youth and Student Programs.

Meanwhile, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, the groundbreaking and proprietary talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course, and apprenticeship platform of COMCO, is also opening its 19^th Cycle in the last quarter of the year. For over 6 years, Camp COMCO has already produced 100 graduates from 18 cycles and received multiple recognition for its contribution to the industry.

As part of its thanksgiving to all of its partners and supporters, COMCO Mundo also successfully conducted the “Early Holiday Movie Night with COMCOmigos” attended by more than 250 media, bloggers, clients, industry colleagues, Camp COMCO Mentorship Program alumni, and COMCO Mundo League staff. The activity was supported by APLGO, Eastern Communications, Jobstreet, LENOVO, Mediplast, MR.DIY, Philusa Corporation (Albatross, Cleene, and Mediplast), Starkaffea, and Teleperformance.

“Amid threats and challenges to businesses, we in COMCO Mundo League continue to thrive as we are driven by our goal to share stories that connect, ideas that transform, and campaigns that make a difference through our unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling. The year 2022 is the time where we cultivated the seeds of our 10-year master plan and we are looking forward to a more exciting new year as we continuously unfold the next phase of our ventures. Thank you so much to our COMCOmigos, our friends in our various publics for their unwavering support to COMCO all these years,” said Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy.

To know more about COMCO Mundo, visit comcomundo.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comcomundo on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcomundo, and @comco_mundo on Instagram.

COMCO marks 6th Anniversary with its new global headquarters, Middle East & Africa branch full rollout, and major account and metal wins

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Coming from its groundbreaking Blazing Sapphire milestone, COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA) celebrates its Sweet 6th year this 2022 with the unveiling of its global headquarters, the full rollout of its COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA) branch, major account wins, and awards from prestigious international award-giving bodies.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s growing team during the unveiling of the COMCO Mundo global headquarters

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Unveils New Global Headquarters

This year brings yet another milestone for COMCO SEA as it opens its global headquarters in Makati’s Central Business District as part of its expansion. The new headquarters will house COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises’ current and upcoming ventures - COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), Camp COMCO Alumni Society, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, and Taro Digital AOX. 

Each area is inspired by different pop culture references rooted in COMCO’s love for movies, series, music, books, and all the emerging platforms out there. The COMCO SEA workstation is called the “Millennium Falcon” while the executive office is dubbed the “Cerebro”. The rest of the areas are “Rivendell” for the Corporate Services Unit, “Black Castle” for the Digital and Multimedia Arts Unit, “Watch Tower Hall” for the conference room, “Bifrost Bridge” for the reception, “Room of Requirements” for the stock room, and “Wooley Hall” for the lounge area.

COMCO Middle East and Africa in Full Swing

Following its launch during COMCO SEA’s Blazing Sapphire anniversary event last year, COMCO Middle East and Africa is now in full blast servicing various brands in the market. In its first year, COMCO MEA has already worked with notable brands in the Middle East such as Buono Buono, Nolte, Open Thrill, Paus, POPC Live!, Red Shrimp, TruCARE, Victor, Yas Plaza Hotels, Belcanto Restaurant, Empire Movies, Central Park Towers, Dubai London Hospital, Electric Pawnshop, GESS Education, R&B Kids, Playbook, Universal Trading Company LLC, MaKiRa Dubai, Hudson Tavern Dubai, Katsuya, Najah Connect and Middle East Film & Comic Con. COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, also recently conducted the property roadshows for Phiippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as among the group’s first of many synergy initiatives.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Major Account Wins

The Agency also continued to strengthen its client portfolio for its 6th year, winning major accounts in recent inter-agency pitches for premiere brands/organizations such as MR. DIY, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Lenovo, Skechers, Takeda, ASEANA City, Lalamove, and Philusa Corporation together with its wide range of brands - Rhea Generics, Cleene Cotton, Cleene Clio, Babyflo Baby Care, and Love My Honey, Phinma Education, Remy Martin, AXA Philippines, and European Union.

Harvest of Metals Across the Globe

In its 6 years, COMCO Southeast Asia has won recognition garnering a total of 135 awards from various prestigious local, regional and international award-giving bodies with the most recent wins and citations from PR Awards Asia-Pacific, PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards, CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Excellence Awards, The Gold Standard Awards, Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards, Stevie Awards, and IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards.

Ferdinand L. Bondoy, COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and
Chief Executive Director

The Agency made the cut in this year’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific organized by Marketing Interactive Asia held in Singapore. COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director, Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, bagged the Gold Award for the PR Champion of the Year (Agency). COMCO SEA’s initiatives “Dear Survivor: The COMCO Southeast Asia Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2" and "Blazing Sapphire: The COMCO Southeast Asia 5th Anniversary Celebration” received finalist citations in the Best Use of Micro / Niche Influencers and Best Anniversary Campaign categories respectively. The Agency is also a finalist for the PR Team of the Year (Agency) award.

COMCO Southeast Asia's flagship initiative "Dear Survivor: The Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2" is the big winner of the much-coveted Purpose Award of the PRCA APAC Awards, besting other campaigns in the Asia-Pacific region. COMCO SEA also received finalist citations for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award, Workplace Champion Award, and Strategic Communications Award for the Blazing Sapphire 5th Anniversary Celebration campaign. Meanwhile, Mr. Bondoy is among the top five finalists for the PR / Communication Leader Award.

COMCO SEA also received finalist citations in The Gold Standard Awards for Professional Excellence for Mr. Bondoy and APAC Tambuli Awards for Eastern Communications. Ultimately, COMCO SEA emerged as among the top five finalists in the highly acclaimed global CIPR Excellence Awards for Small PR Consultancy of the Year, organized by the United Kingdom-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Last but not the least, COMCO SEA bagged a total of 30 awards including 4 top award nominations from the prestigious IABC Quill Awards. COMCO SEA is also a nominee for the Agency of the Year, Top Award in Communication Management for Corporate Social Responsibility as well as for Media Relations for “Dear Survivor: The Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2”, and Top Award in Communication Training and Education for “The Force of Learning in New PR and Smart Social: The Camp COMCO House Wars”.

Mr. Bondoy shared, “When you are with like-minded and like-hearted people, when you create masterpieces and accomplish great things together, when you slay 'monsters' and do the impossible as a team, and when you enjoy exploring the world and celebrating life with the people you belong to, you won’t realize six years have passed so fast. And with the rollout of our 10-year master plan, we can’t help but get excited about what else we can do for our partner brands and organizations, our industry, our growing teams in SEA and MEA, and the communities and advocacies that we support.”

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

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About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia, based in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency. With the unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 90 local, regional, and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards; Agency of the Year - Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, PRCA APAC Awards, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 135 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

COMCO Southeast Asia is part of the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises.

TeamAsia: 30 Years of #BreakingTheBias and Promoting Gender Equality in the Workplace

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The workplace is a groundbreaking space where everyone has an opportunity to grow, hone their skills, and reach their full potential. While it can be an incubator of thriving careers, it can also be a place where creeping biases and stifling culture of inequality breeds.

For companies like TeamAsia, an integrated marketing experience agency, it is imperative that leaders in the workplace ensure that everyone is given equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the organization. It also believes that leaders should similarly veer away from any form of bias, so everything remains fair among employees–treatment, benefits, pay, and career growth.

From left to right: Nicolle Garrido, TeamAsia’s Senior Public Relations Manager; Joyce Alonzo, TeamAsia’s Account Planner; Elton Gagni, TeamAsia’s Associate Editor; Selena Herrera, TeamAsia’s Art Director; Andrei Carada, TeamAsia’s Senior Copywriter; Beverly Aguilar, TeamAsia’s Senior Human Resources Office; Darell Sapin, TeamAsia’s Web Development Supervisor

In celebration of Women’s Month, TeamAsia’s diverse and multigenerational workforce sat down and answered questions on how the agency breaks biases in the workplace and ensures equality for all.

1. Do you see or experience equality in TeamAsia? How?

Joyce Alonzo, Account Planner: Yes! Gender equality has always been a key value that I noticed when I joined TeamAsia, with it being a women-led company. And even while this is the case, the diversity of individuals is notable, and I appreciate the amazing experience of picking brains with these experts, no matter their gender. The culture of equality in TeamAsia extends to how every individual is heard. An associate’s voice is as important as a director’s point of view. Because ideas matter more than positions.

Selena Herrera, Art Director: Our Directors and Managers in the agency are a good mix of different kinds of people - of different genders, ages, and walks of life. Even our different teams are composed of an interesting mix of personalities. Anyone can look at this TeamAsia team and say, "I can be part of that!" because there aren't any limitations for what a brilliant or talented person can look like.

Nicolle Garrido, Senior Public Relations Manager: Yes, I do. When it comes to handling campaigns or even pitches, everyone in the team is given equal opportunity to lead projects that not only pique their interests but also challenge their expertise. Hence, we all have more room to learn and grow.

Being a woman-led agency, our leadership team encourages everyone to think outside of the box and fosters a creative and collaborative environment where everyone can share their ideas freely.

Elton Gagni, Associate Editor: At TeamAsia, you can see, feel, and experience equality everyday because it is the norm. For example, for projects that appeal to a certain market like makeup or skincare, one would immediately assume that it’s going to be an all-female team. What actually happened was our Public Relations lead was female and I along with another male colleague were the Editorial and Media Relations lead. So, it doesn’t really matter what your gender is, as long as you have what it takes to bring that brand to the next level experience.

2. Do you feel that your ideas and opinions are respected and appreciated in the workplace? How?

Nicolle Garrido, Senior Public Relations Manager: Yes! As a manager, our Director also trusts us to make decisions for our teams and this has boosted our morale in providing valuable insights and solutions to our teams. I haven’t felt the need to seek my seniors’ approval to raise my thoughts and ideas.

Joyce Alonzo, Account Planner: Yes, I don’t think I ever had a problem with voicing my opinions. It may be because of my loud personality (haha!) but I also never felt embarrassed in doing so nor felt awkward because it didn’t feel right. We have always been encouraged in TeamAsia to speak up, even in workplace-related challenges that need to be addressed during our operations meetings because the management acknowledges the fact that the people in action on the daily grind are those that need to contribute to the solutions. These meetings and collaborations have always been goal-oriented, never personality-oriented, which allows us a safe space to interact, contribute and solve challenges as a team.

Darell Sapin, Web Development Supervisor: I do. Being one of the elder statesmen of the company, I am also among the people who encourage my fellow TeamAsians to speak up and share their ideas. In an industry where everyone spills one idea after another, it is important for us to hear everyone’s perspective and always put them in consideration.

Andrei Carada, Senior Copywriter: Yes! TeamAsia is a place where there are both loud voices and small voices, but each of these voices have an equal opportunity to be heard. We have a culture that tells us that it’s not about shouting above each other, but leaning in and listening to discover powerful ideas and insights.

I am one of those loud voices in the room, and my ideas are always heard. But here, it’s in listening to the ideas of those who don’t usually speak where the true beauty of collaborative work shines.

3. How do TeamAsia’s leaders ensure everyone experiences equality?

Beverly Aguilar, Senior Human Resources Officer: In TeamAsia, we listen and incorporate suggestions of team members into our programs and policies to ensure fairness in all aspects. Our President, Monette Iturralde-Hamlin and our Managing Director, Bea Lim are great advocates of women empowerment and equality. They inspired the company to join the UN Women Empowerment Principles campaign to guide us in promoting gender equality and women empowerment in the workplace.

Selena Herrera, Creatives Manager: Ma’am Monette and Bea are always welcoming and ecstatic about having new people onboard the team, making sure that everyone feels a part of TeamAsia. Down to the details of our pitches and initiatives, there is always a thought to make sure everything we put out represents well the people that need to be represented.

Darell Sapin, Web Development Supervisor: Just leadership by example. Ma’am Monette and Bea live and breathe the essence of equality. Every time they would check our outputs, they would remind us of ensuring that inclusivity and equality are showcased in our work. At the same time, they regularly organize and even lead workshops that allow every member of the organization to grow and hone their skills.

Elton Gagni, Associate Editor: Everyday is an opportunity to experience equality in TeamAsia. We get paid not based on our gender, but based on our expertise. We are given opportunities not because we are male or female, but because there is room for growth and they believe in one’s capabilities to excel.

As a women-led organization, equality is manifested in every corner of the agency. From workshops and learning sessions to celebrating different occasions every month through Pop Up, even the former and current team members, we’re a diverse and empowered bunch. And this says a lot about how our President, Ma’am Monette and Managing Director, Bea are leading the agency and its people.

4. As a fellow employee, what are the practices that you do or tips you would like to give to ensure equality in the workplace?

Beverly Aguilar, Human Resources Officer: As the head of HR, I ensure that I deal with every member of the organization and view their concerns objectively. I do my best to always have an open mind, listening to each and everyone of them, reminding myself to never recklessly pass judgment on anyone.

Nicolle Garrido, Senior Public Relations Manager: I always strive to provide an avenue for the team to freely express themselves and be creative with their outputs, but also learn from the experiences they encounter. Respecting each other’s differences would always be a priority also when it comes to having equality in the workplace.

Joyce Alonzo, Account Planner: Always practice objectivity. It’s effortless to practice equality when people within the organization prioritize the goals before any personal bias. After all, if we want to pursue purposeful work, we must do away with thinking of working for ourselves and think more towards producing great work that impacts others. And by that, we need to set aside our differences in order to make it work.

Just be a good human being. Treat each other as equals and do not set yourself as someone higher than everybody else just because of privilege or self-imposed standards. Being human is thinking that we have our shortcomings, too, and therefore it’s possible that the better ideas can come from other people.

Andrei Carrada, Senior Copywriter: I believe that it starts with you. It’s realizing that a culture of equality means that you have to make an effort to make an equal workplace. Having this mindset means that you have personal responsibility for making sure that biases don’t creep in.

5. Why do you think it is important that a company practices/observes equality in the workplace?

Beverly Aguilar, Human Resources Head: It is significant to have a holistic approach. Equality in the workplace ensures people and employees are given opportunities, equal pay, and especially made to feel that they are accepted for being unique. Our goal in TeamAsia is to have an inclusive environment, where everyone can thrive, excel, and meet the best version of themselves.

Selena Herrera, Art Director: It is important because people shouldn't be given less opportunities for something that has nothing to do with their work. Man, woman, young, old—people can always surprise you with their ideas. And to remove that barrier of unequal opportunities opens up the workplace to more growth. If an employee sees themselves reflected in their leaders, they will strive for more and for better, knowing that anyone is capable of doing amazing things.

Darell Sapin, Web Development Supervisor: It is important because the workforce has been diverse for a long period now. Lines have been blurred already with people being able to do things that are no longer the norm. It is only natural that balancing the workforce and showing that there is equal opportunity for all should be the course of the companies of today.

Elton Gagni, Associate Editor: Companies should practice and observe equality in the workplace because it is the norm, because it is what should be. A workplace that has equality at its core means they look at an employee, not because of their gender, but based on their merits. It doesn’t matter where you come from, as long as you are able to deliver, and in true TeamAsia fashion, bring people, brands, industries and communities to the next level experience.

For 30 years, TeamAsia has strived to be a company that embraces diversity, inclusion, and equality. It believes that everyone’s unique offerings is what unites and compliments each member of the organization.

A testament to this commitment is showcased through the agency’s projects. In 2020, as a women-led and women-owned organization, TeamAsia launched MommaCon. It is a virtual conference that opened the discussion on intimate and taboo issues women and mothers usually shy away from for fear of judgment.

In 2021, the company joined the UN Women Empowerment Principles to continuously maintain gender equality in the workplace. It upholds the international labor and human rights standards and recognizes that business has the stake and responsibility for gender equality and women empowerment.

As society continues to evolve and progress, TeamAsia will keep on fostering an environment that accepts differences and welcomes growth to help its employees reach their full potential and to further provide nothing less than next level experiences and services to its team, partners and clients.

To learn more about TeamAsia, its amazing workforce, and its next level services, visit https://www.teamasia.com/.

About TeamAsia

TeamAsia is an award-winning integrated marketing experience agency that has been embodying the definition of passion for 30 years. The agency's biggest interest is bringing brands to the next level experience through its core services: Events, Digital, Public Relations, and Creatives. TeamAsia houses all these services under one roof, proactively catering to the needs of its clients and going beyond their expectations. That is the spirit of TeamAsia -- determined, driven, and passionate.

COMCO Southeast Asia culminates 5th anniversary celebration with the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa and unveiling of its 10-year masterplan

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COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA) culminated its Blazing Sapphire 5th Anniversary celebration with a bang as it launched COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA) and unveiled its 10-year master plan that gave an overview of the continued growth and evolution of the trailblazing and award-winning communications agency.

To mark its 5th year in the business, COMCO SEA held a year-long 5-part celebration. Kicking things off was the virtual town hall and digital unveiling of COMCO SEA’s brand evolution, while the summer marked the inauguration of the Camp COMCO Alumni Society “Unity Games”, a celebration of the company’s strong alumni culture where graduates of the company’s mentorship program were reunited. Meanwhile, bloggers and content creators across the country sharpened their storytelling skills anew as COMCO SEA held season 2 of the groundbreaking “Write to Ignite Blogging Project” with Dear Survivor as this year’s theme.

Participating in the effort of rebuilding the nation, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program launched “5 Gifts to the Community” via the Cause Marketing for Good initiative with World Vision. Aside from championing social, micro and small enterprises, Citizen COMCO is at the forefront of other advocacies such as children, culture, environment and regional collaboration. The last leg of the celebration is the Blazing Sapphire Main Event where several major initiatives were unveiled.

Blazing New Grounds: From Southeast Asia to the Middle East & Africa

Among the announcements shared during the event was the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa, which will bring COMCO’s brand of meaningful storytelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Middle East and Africa region. The move is also poised to open doors of opportunities for COMCO’s client partners to take advantage of the multi-cultural team’s knowledge and network of both flourishing and fast-moving markets and to unlock the gateway to launching inter-regional campaigns. This is also especially momentous as UAE plays host to the World Expo, one of the first and largest international events on the planet, taking place every five years and lasting six months. With the COMCO team’s local presence, brands that are aiming to get a foothold at Expo 2020 Dubai are sure to be guided as they present themselves to a truly global audience.

COMCO MEA will be spearheaded by Tricia Cusi - Jimenea, COMCO SEA’s Business Development Director, Partner and Co-Founder and award-winning communications professional with over a decade of experience in the MEA market and exposure in industries including consumer, corporate, luxury, fashion, wellness, hospitality, entertainment and more. She has led landmark events and campaigns that have helped position Dubai as one of the world’s entertainment capitals, handling celebrities like Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, BTS, and events like the Middle East Film and Comic-Con.

“It’s an honor and a huge responsibility to bring this brand that we co-founded in SEA to MEA. As we expand our operations to this region, we are guided by our company’s values of using the power of communication as a tool to not only serve our clients but also our community. From igniting brand love to executing impactful and meaningful campaigns that improve and enrich the lives of our stakeholders, our COMCO MEA team is committed towards continuing the trailblazing path that our COMCO SEA family has paved for us,” said Ms. Jimenea.

The 10-Year Masterplan

COMCO also gave a glimpse of its 10-year master plan during the event, which includes the formation of the COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, the umbrella group for all of COMCO’s existing and upcoming ventures, initiatives and advocacies. Forming the COMCO AOX League are COMCO Southeast Asia, COMCO Middle East & Africa, SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Group, Camp COMCO Alumni Society, and upcoming ventures Taro Digital AOX and COMCOffee Club, with more in the pipeline to be unveiled in the next couple of years.

The COMCO AOX League of Enterprises will be led by Ferdinand Bondoy, the Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director, Partner and Co-Founder of COMCO Southeast Asia, a champion of strategic integrated communications and a thought leader in the field. Currently, Mr. Bondoy is also the Corporate Secretary of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines, Board Trustee of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and International Communications Committee Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) based in the United Kingdom. ComCo Southeast Asia’s operations will be co-led by the rest of the Agency’s seasoned and award-winning Directors, Partners and Co-Founders Carl Cuevas (Deputy Operations Director), Rachel Syfargo (Editorial and Creative Services Director) and Joan Icotanim-Maslang (Corporate Services Director).

The Winning Agency Culture

COMCO SEA was born out of the dream of individuals coming together to build a communications firm with a unique agency culture that makes a difference. 

Ferdinand Bondoy shared, “We have a Culture of ‘Rebellion’ in the practice. We do things differently. We also have a Culture of Mentorship and Cultivation of the Best Team Experiences that inspire the creation of the Best Works of our Lives or simply our Life's Work and that includes life-changing initiatives and advocacies that matter and taken to heart. We champion the Integration of the Southeast Asian region and connecting it to the world through Collaborative Entrepreneurship.”

In its 5 years, COMCO Southeast Asia has won recognition from various prestigious local, regional and international award-giving bodies, garnering a total of 80 awards and has worked with over 70 brands in diverse industries including Eastern Communications, JobStreet, Sunlife ASCP, Teleperformance, Xiaomi, Defensil, Lista.ph, World Vision, WWF, Lenovo and Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz plus its recently won accounts from inter-agency pitches such as global bioresearch and pharmaceutical company Takeda, well-loved milk brand Alaska, international footwear Skechers, global technology company Emerson, development organization United Nations (UN) Office for Project Services and premium artisan chocolate Theo and Philo.

“Back in 2016, the founding of COMCO Southeast Asia was a wild dream fulfilled. We were just a former team who wanted to be back working together again, continue our passions and advocacies, and form the amazing culture we have always aspired for in an agency. Five years after, we did not expect it will even get wilder with the launch of our 10-year master plan including the unveiling of COMCO Middle East & Africa and COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, which is way earlier and bigger than we initially envisioned. Who would have thought that a young team, a SEA start-up, a boutique communications agency can diverse its growth, have this global reach and make a real difference along the way. All of these happened because of God’s grace, our great team called COMCO Squadron, our wonderful client partners, our dearest industry, media and online community friends, and our regional allies. Thank you and we hope that you continue to support us as we make this unique vision fully come to life,” said Mr. Bondoy.

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comco-hq and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

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About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency formed by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines and with an affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, COMCO SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels.

At the core of COMCO SEA is its unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling based on its corporate mantra and the mission to Ignite Brand Love, Social Change, Talent Growth and Regional Collaboration. In just 5 years, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, and 80 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.