ONE Asia 2024 Judging Kicks Off in Manila

For the first time, the ONE Asia Creative Awards kicked off judging outside of China, marking a monumental shift in celebrating creative excellence across the Asia Pacific region. 

Hosted in Manila, the 2024 judging session began with a spectacular dinner hosted by Arcade Film Factory, an award-winning production house known for creating next-level film and television content. 

“We're honoured to host the ONE Asia welcome reception,” said Direk Jeorge, president and film director of Arcade. “This city is bursting with creativity, and we're proud to showcase its talent. It's a privilege to contribute to celebrating and elevating the creative brilliance of the APAC region.”

The dinner was held at the culturally enriched Manila House, a sophisticated space located in Bonifacio Global City, designed to inspire creativity and collaboration.

The evening offered the Manila creative community a unique opportunity to connect and celebrate in the grand setting of Manila House’s Bonifacio Dining Lounge.  With its long, free-flowing space reminiscent of grand homes and picture galleries, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for creative minds to mingle and share ideas.

Top Filipino creative boutique agencies, including Leron Leron Sinta, Sgt Pepper, and Tony &, partnered with the ONE Asia team to design event materials ranging from airport signages to tote bags and judge badges. Local creative talents like Auggie Fontanilla, Nikki Golez, and Raymund Sison also contributed to the overall aesthetic, adding a uniquely Filipino touch to the event.

Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club for Creativity, officially opened the judging with an introduction of key team members, including Alison Bourdon, Director of Systems, and Adam Izen, Director of The One Show.  He also recognized the invaluable contributions of the ONE Asia team, Season Zhou and Sarah Hou, with a special shout-out to Angel Guerrero for her insightful advice and unwavering support. 

One Club board members Judy John, global CCO at Edelman, Reed Collins, CCO, APAC at Ogilvy, and Thomas Hongtack Kim, CCO at Paulus, were recognized and served as moderators, along with Tay Guan Hin, who recently joined The One Club as APAC Regional Director.  In a new addition to the judging process this year, One Club board members will not cast votes, but will work alongside juries to oversee the judging process. 

Swanepoel emphasized The One Club’s mission to celebrate creative excellence globally, noting how the ONE Asia Awards have expanded since their inception in 2020 to include the entire Asia Pacific region, reflecting the growing prominence of creativity in APAC on the world stage.

“This is a historic moment for ONE Asia,” he said.  “Winning here can significantly elevate a creative’s career and boost an agency’s global reputation. It’s a tremendous opportunity for the Asia Pacific region to shine.”

ONE Asia is renowned for its rigorous judging process, modelled after The One Show and carefully designed to ensure integrity and recognition for the very best creative work.  ONE Asia winners will be featured in important global and regional rankings, including The One Club’s Global Creative Rankings and Campaign Brief Rankings, providing invaluable exposure for top agencies, networks, and creatives from the region.

Tay Guan Hin spoke on the broader impact of creativity in APAC, emphasising how a thriving creative community can fuel economic growth, cultural preservation, and social innovation. He underscored the power of local stories in showcasing APAC’s unique perspectives on a global stage, ensuring that the region’s creativity continues to be celebrated worldwide.