SUJMA shines as sole Visayas rep in esteemed Agora Youth Awards
Photo taken from the official Facebook page of the Silliman University Junior Marketing Association.
The Agora Youth Awards, a prestigious annual program organized by the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA), has announced its top ten finalists for 2024, with the Silliman University Junior Marketing Association (SUJMA) proudly standing out as the sole representative from the Visayas Region.
SUJMA’s team comprises five (5) incoming fourth-year college students from the College of Business Administration (CBA), including Theodore Dominic de Castro, Xelianne Pearl Jaculbe, Jastine Mae Rasonable, Dignity Lagunay, and Aaron Ramas-Uypitching, whose project will be vying to win in the national case competition on July 29-31, 2024, in Parañaque City. They will be accompanied by their adviser, Asst. Prof. Lou Shien Ban P. Granaderos, and program coordinator, Asst. Prof. Leonidas A. Cañete.
This year marks the 32nd iteration of the awards, which recognize outstanding marketing practices that significantly contribute to the profession’s growth in the Philippines.
When the Agora Youth Awards opened nominations through their official Facebook page on April 10, SUJMA submitted a detailed 30-page entry document, which was acknowledged by the organizers on May 10. A month later, the top 10 finalists were announced, and on June 21, SUJMA received a confirmation email, reaffirming their inclusion to the program. SUJMA’s marketing excellence has been recognized alongside other nominees from notable institutions like De La Salle University-Manila, Cavite State University, Central Luzon State University, Bulacan State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Taguig, San Beda University, and Xavier University.
The Agora Youth Awards not only celebrates marketing excellence but also serves as a platform for community impact. Leah Marie Ayeng, CEO and Director of Youth Academe at PMA, emphasized this broader mission, stating, “The Agora Youth Awards is a platform that looks at community impact beyond competence because that is what it takes to be a changemaker.” Her commitment to enriching the young marketers’ experience highlights the importance of innovative approaches in the evolving marketing landscape.
Finalists will engage in various activities designed to enhance their exposure and networking opportunities, including a professional photo shoot, participation in a “Day in the Life” feature, and recognition on the PMA’s business page. Meanwhile, SUJMA will present a marketing plan developed in collaboration with a partner business establishment, a critical component of the competition facilitated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
First launched in 1979, the Agora Awards have evolved into one of the most prestigious marketing awards in the country, recognizing excellence across various categories, including Marketing Company of the Year, Marketing Agency of the Year, and Marketing School of the Year.
