Filinvest Earns Dual Honors for Inclusivity and Workplace Excellence at HR Asia Awards 2025

Filinvest Group recently achieved a notable double triumph at the HR Asia Awards 2025 – Philippines Chapter, receiving the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Award as well as the Best Companies to Work for in Asia Award. These accolades, announced on August 26, recognize the organization’s unwavering commitment to cultivating an inclusive and empowering environment for its workforce.

Isabelle Gotianun Yap, director of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), vice president for chief strategy and transformation, and executive director of EastWest, expressed the Group’s pride in receiving these honors. She stated, "These awards validate our core belief that embracing diverse voices and perspectives drives stronger outcomes for our people, communities, and businesses. We are motivated to continue building a workplace where inclusivity sparks innovation, teamwork, and meaningful impact."

Francis Gotianun, director of FDC and first senior vice president of Filinvest Hospitality Corporation, emphasized the connection between the company’s culture and its success, saying, "These recognitions reflect the collective effort of our employees and the culture we’ve fostered. Diversity, equity, and inclusion at Filinvest are not mere formalities but fundamental to our growth and adaptability. As we commemorate 70 years of Moving Dreams Forward, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to realize their aspirations."

Filinvest’s outstanding performance in the HR Asia surveys was particularly evident in areas promoting equal career opportunities, safe spaces for cultural expression, and strict anti-discrimination measures. The company’s leadership diversity is notable: women constitute 67% of the Board of Directors, 49% of executives, and 57% of the entire workforce. This surpasses the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment’s reported leadership ratios in publicly listed firms, underscoring Filinvest’s longstanding dedication to gender equity and diverse leadership.

The Group supports its inclusive vision with equity-focused initiatives including fair remuneration, transparent career progression, and collaborative frameworks. Employee engagement programs like Filinvest Live and LEAP have contributed to delivering over 832,000 training hours in 2024—averaging 60 hours per employee, surpassing standard professional development benchmarks.

HR Asia highlighted the Group’s robust HR practices and strong employee engagement as key factors in its dual awards. Bing Paraguas, first vice president and head of HR strategy and COE at Filinvest Group, remarked, "These accolades confirm that our policies and programs effectively foster an environment where individuals feel recognized and valued. What makes this truly special is our employees’ genuine embrace of inclusivity in their daily work life."

In addition to the HR Asia achievements, Filinvest has earned multiple honors in 2025 from the Stevie Awards for Great Employers and the HR Excellence Awards, further attesting to its leadership in human resource management.

Marking its 70th year, Filinvest continues to advance its philosophy of Moving Dreams Forward by prioritizing people at the core of its growth strategy. The company remains dedicated to sustainable community development, financial inclusion, and nation-building initiatives aimed at uplifting future generations.

These recent awards reinforce Filinvest’s conviction that an inclusive workplace is crucial for building a resilient, thriving future for all stakeholders.