Seven Filipinos made Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. They are recognized as leaders and trailblazers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Digital age revolutionizes lives but brings challenges. Some misuse it for fame, spreading harm. Others use it positively, bringing joy, inspiration, education, and showcasing Filipino talent worldwide.
Forbes honored seven young Filipinos under 30 as trailblazers. They contributed in ten categories: (1) Entertainment and Sports; (2) Media, Marketing, and Advertising; (3) The Arts; (4) Finance and Venture; (5) Retail and Commerce; (6) Industry, Manufacturing, and Energy; (7) Enterprise Technology; (8) Healthcare and Science; (9) Social Impact; and (10) Consumer Technology.
Get to Know the 7 Filipinos Who Made It to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List
Forbes 30 Under Asia 30 honored seven young Filipinos. The organization considered thousands of online submissions. The list includes Abi Marquez, Arshie Larga, Ez Mil, and others for their contributions and achievements.
1. Abigail “Abi” Marquez
Known as the “Lumpia Queen,” 23-year-old food content creator Abi Marquez has been named TikTok Foodie Creator of 2023 and recently won a Webby Award for People’s Voice Winner in the General Social: Food & Drink category.
Abi gained viral fame for her unique food ideas, especially her videos where she wraps delightful familiar dishes in lumpia wrappers.
2. Ramon Christian “Arshie” Larga
Like Abi, Arshie Larga also won TikTok Creator of the Year in 2023 for his educational short videos about health and medicine. He addresses stigmas surrounding certain health beliefs and raises funds for Filipinos who can’t afford pharmaceutical bills.
A licensed pharmacist working in his family’s pharmacy in Marinduque, Arshie has attracted more than 4 million followers on TikTok with videos sharing his experiences and explaining how an ethical pharmacist takes care of customers.
3. Ezekiel Miller
Also making his mark in the industry is the Filipino-American rapper who recently dropped the DU4LI7Y: REDUX album, featuring Eminem. After gaining attention with his viral track Panalo, Ez Mil continued to make waves in the music industry, catching the eyes of rap icons Dr. Dre and Eminem.
4. Chi Amisola
Amidst the proliferation of fake news attempting to rewrite history, Filipino internet artist Chi Amisola took a stand. In 2016, she founded Developh, a youth-led non-profit community dedicated to utilizing technology as a tool for liberation, not oppression.
Her work has earned international acclaim. Major publications such as The New Yorker and Frieze have featured her work. Furthermore, her work has been displayed in prominent cities around the world, including Berlin, London, San Francisco, Toronto, and the Philippines.
Recently, she launched the Ang Bantayog project, a website commemorating the victims of human rights abuses during the Martial Law era under former president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s.
5. Amanda Cua
The youngest on the list is the founder of Backscoop, a newsletter highlighting tech and startup news in Southeast Asia. Through this initiative, she has facilitated connections between startup founders and investors. She’s conducted interviews with prominent investors and founders and has even been featured on CNN herself.
6. Joshua Serafin
Currently based in Brussels and serving as a permanent house artist at the Viernulvier Arts Center in Belgium, this Filipino artist has recently received an invitation to the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024.
As a versatile artist at 28, they seamlessly blend dance, music, and theater in captivating live performances. Moreover, their work explores themes of cultural identity, transmigration, and queer representation.
In addition, their work has been featured in publications like L’Officiel and ArtReview. Furthermore, they have performed internationally, including at the ANTI-Contemporary Art Festival in Finland, the TONO Festival in Mexico, and the HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin.
7. Mikaela Helene Reyes
Simplifying and reducing the cost of global money transfers using cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, the 29-year-old entrepreneur founded Parallax, a Manila-based cross-border payment startup.
Having experienced the challenges of receiving payments as a freelancer, Reyes launched the startup in 2023, initially targeting users in the Philippines. However, Parallax now serves customers in over 150 countries. In September, the company secured $4.5 million in seed funding, led by Dragonfly Capital.
Truly, in this era, Filipino youth are proving themselves capable of extraordinary feats. With technology as ally, they overcome challenges and break barriers on the world stage. They inspire others to realize their potential and pursue aspirations with determination.
How about you? Do you have what it takes join the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list next year?
