CS 1

Beyond the Escape Room: Cultivating Enduring Team

Energy Beyond Team Building

TEAM BUILDING SESSIONS can offer a temporary boost to morale and connection. However, true team unity and sustained energy require a

more integrated and evolving approach. This discussion explores the limitations of relying solely on isolated team-building events and delves into practical strategies for embedding dynamic team practices into the everyday workflow. We'll examine how to foster a culture of continuous collaboration, shared purpose, and mutual support that energizes teams from within, long after the trust fall or the escape room challenge

is over.

MICHAEL SANTOS

Founder

Brick Management Consulting

Session Chair:

ACIE ARROYO-CRUZ

Senior Strategic Consultant

AON

      CS 2

Pressure Points: Managing Workplace Anxiety Before It Manages You

STRESS AND ANXIETY are increasingly common experiences in today’s fast-paced work environments—yet they are often overlooked, downplayed, or misunderstood. Whether triggered by deadlines,

workload, interpersonal conflicts, or job insecurity, unmanaged anxiety can quietly erode productivity, morale, and mental health.

This discussion focuses on creating psychologically safe workplaces where stress is openly acknowledged and proactively managed. It invites leaders and employees alike to explore strategies for recognizing stress signals, supporting one another, and building a culture that values mental well-being as much as performance. From policy to peer support, it’s time to rethink how we handle pressure.

DR. RAYMOND SARMIENTO

Chief Operating Officer

 mWell

Session Chair:

KEANNA ALFONSO

HR Assistant Manager - Performance & Rewards

Okada Manila

        CS 3

From Rhetoric to Rights: The Future of Disability-Inclusive Employment

Disability-inclusive employment has often been framed as an act of kindness rather than a matter of justice. But employment should NOT be an issue of compassion — it is a human right. This session redefines inclusion from the perspective of the Autism Society Philippines, whose economic empowerment program has, since 2016, opened pathways for Filipinos on the autism spectrum to access meaningful, dignified, and productive work.

Drawing on genuine partnerships with corporations, local governments, and community organizations, the talk will demonstrate how inclusion can transcend token gestures and compliance checklists. It will unpack what it truly means for a workplace to be inclusive, where policies, practices, and people systems are designed for equity, not exception.

A grounded understanding of the rights-based framework for employment inclusion can help you learn actionable strategies to transform corporate social conscience into a measurable impact. This is not about lowering standards, but redesigning systems so that every Filipino, regardless of ability, can contribute, thrive, and belong at work.

Disability inclusion in the workplace is a leadership and accountability issue, as well as the responsibility of HR professionals who shape workplace culture and policy.

 ERLINDA UY KOE

Chair Emeritus

Autism Society of the Philippines

Session Chair:

 LEO GELLOR, AFPM

Group Human Resources Director Profiles Asia Pacific, Inc.  

         CS 4

Balancing Care and Cost: Disruptions That Redefine Workplace Health

HR leaders are rethinking how to care for their people as they face both persistent challenges and emerging workplace realities. Beyond physical health, mental health has become central to employee well-being and productivity. This session explores disruptive solutions that help organizations balance care and cost (covering digital health innovations, integrated mental health support, preventive wellness programs, and data-driven benefit designs). Case studies will illustrate how forward-thinking employers and HMOs are reshaping workplace health strategies to provide sustainable, holistic, and meaningful support to today’s workforce.

ATTY. GIDEON V. PENA

Chief Commercial Officer

iCare

Session Chair:

 ERICSON DEL CASTILLO, FPM

Senior General Manager/Vice President for Human Resources General Affairs IS/IT Philippines & ASEAN projects Nissan Philippines, Inc.

 CS 5

Building, Developing, and Retaining the RIGHT Talent: A Key to Sustaining Success

 From Skills Gaps to Strategic Growth… Empowering Your Talent Journey.

Session Chair:

 ELLEN C. FULLIDO, FPM

Vice President – Human Resources and Administrative Services FJ Elizalde Group of Companies

 ST 1

  Unleashing Financial Freedom: A Roadmap to a Secure Filipino Workforce

        CS 6

Sparkling Conversations:

Co-Creating Circles of Psychological Safety

RUBY PALMA,

PCC, ACTC, SLC

Principal Partner

Leadership in Motion

JUN ROY

Board Chair, PSTD

CEO, Regenerative Transformation Institute

GERRY PLANA, DPM

Chief Executive, Investors in People Philippines

2019 PMAP President

Moderator:

 SERELY ALCARAZ

Executive Director ITD World

      CS 7

Beyond the Numbers: Turning Data into Conversations That Inspire and Change Culture

"Data to Dialogue" refers to the process of transforming raw data into meaningful conversations and actions within an organization. It involves using data not just for reporting or monitoring, but as a catalyst for discussion, understanding, and collaborative problem-solving. This approach emphasizes the importance of human interpretation, context, and communication in extracting value from data. It's about moving beyond simply presenting numbers to fostering a culture where data informs, rather than dictates, decisions and actions. Data, ultimately, becomes inspiring!

CRIS ROSENTHAL

Strategic Advisory Lead AON

Session Chair:

 ERIC RIEGO DE DIOS

Chief Transformation Enabler Riego De Dios Consulting

   CS 8

HR as Experience Architects: Elevating the Employee Journey

Internal Customer Experience (ICX) refers to the overall perception and satisfaction of an organization's employees with their internal "customers" – their colleagues, departments, and the systems and processes that support them. It's about applying customer-centric principles to the employee experience, recognizing that employees are internal users of various services and have needs that must be met to ensure productivity, collaboration, and overall success.

LUZ MERCURIO

Chief People and Culture Officer

Monde Nissin Corporation

Session Chair:

 HIROKI REVEREZA

Organization Development Leader Filinvest Group

  CS 9

Loops of Change: Rethinking Habits, Systems, and Culture

HEALING SYSTEMS IN THE WORKPLACE refer to the structures, practices, and cultural norms that support the well-being, recovery, and growth of employees who have experienced trauma, adversity, or harm. It's about creating an environment that minimizes further harm, promotes psychological safety, fosters resilience, and empowers individuals to thrive. These systems recognize that workplaces can both contribute to and help heal from trauma.

BERNS BERNARDO

Asst. Vice-President, Globe Business People and Culture Excellence

Globe Telecom

Session Chair:

MA. ELIZABETH D. NASOL, DPM

Coach and HR Consultant and 2023 PMAP President

CS 10

HR by Design: A Tool-Based Approach That Rids Guesswork

in HR Programming

RELYING ON INTUITION or outdated practices in Human Resources can lead to inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities. "HR by Design" advocates for a strategic and data-driven approach to HR programming, emphasizing the intentional selection and implementation of tools and technologies. This session will explore how adopting a tool-based methodology can move HR beyond subjective decision-making and gut feelings, enabling the creation of evidence- backed programs in areas such as talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development, and employee engagement.

CARLA LANZA

Chief People Officer

Maya

Session Chair:

MARK JOHN VITUG

HR Business Partner Lead and Talent Engagement Head NLEX Corporation

ST 2

HR & Payroll Efficiency through Integration

Discover our Integrated HR/HCM solution, featuring Core HR, Payroll, Performance Management, Self-Service, HCM Analytics, and AI-driven tools. Designed for organizations looking to enhance HR efficiency, boost profitability, and streamline workflows, our solution simplifies processes, minimizes errors, and optimizes operational performance.

MICHAEL HOWARD

Founder

Frontier Software Asia Philippines Inc.

Session Chair:

LILY G. QUINTANS, FPM, CTRP

2025 PMAP President

       CS 11

   CEO/CHRO Session AI with a Heart: Introducing the Philippine Code of Ethics for AI Professionals in the Philippines

As AI continues to shape our workplaces, decisions, and lives, the question is no longer if we use AI—but how. How do we ensure that algorithms do not replace our judgment? How do we protect human dignity in a data-driven world? And how do we lead organizations where innovation does not come at the cost of ethics?

In this timely and thought-provoking session, Liza Manalo-Mapagu—CEO of ASEAMETRICS and a Member of RAAIC of the AAP —will introduce the Philippine Code of Ethics for AI Professionals, the first of its kind in the country. Developed under the AAP and aligned with ASEAN AI Governance principles, this Code establishes the national ethical standard for the development, deployment, and governance of AI.

LIZA MANALO-MAPAGU

President, 

ASEAMETRICS

Session Chair:
 ENGELBERT T. CAMASURA, FPM
CEO
PM Consulting

  CS 12   Empower Success Through People: Turning Intangibles into Tangible Results

 In today's business landscape, success is driven by people—the talent you attract, the clients you retain, and the value you create through both. This 1-hour concurrent session, explores how leaders can sharpen business acumen by managing intangible assets—from know-how and competence to customer relationships and innovation. Participants will gain insights on how intangibles drive tangible results. The experience highlights how balancing customer expectations with internal capabilities leads to sustainable business success.

ROSE OCAMPO

Facilitator and Igniter

Content Development Manager

VIVIAN JUNSAY

Facilitator and Igniter

Chief Operating Officer

WOWIE WONG

Facilitator and Igniter

Sales and Marketing Group Head

MONICA FANG

Celemi(™) Facilitator

Session Chair:

 JESSE FRANCIS REBUSTILLO, FPM

2016 PMAP President

        CS 13

Future Proofing HR: Building a Skills-Based Organization with GenAI

In an era where AI is rapidly transforming how we work, the question isn’t whether to embrace it — but how to do so with purpose. How can organizations harness GenAI to enhance, not replace, human capability? How can HR lead the shift from rigid job structures to agile, skills-based ecosystems?

In this forward-thinking session, Udemy explores how HR leaders can use generative AI to identify evolving skills, personalize learning, and future-proof their workforce — ensuring technology becomes a catalyst for human potential, not a replacement for it.

JIA ENG LING

Workplace Learning & Skills Consultant Udemy

Sessoin Chair:

ROBERTO M. POLICARPIO, FPM

2015 PMAP President

        CS 14

Lead Less, Empower More: The Secret to High-Performing Teams

In this engaging session, we'll explore how great leaders create exceptional teams not by controlling every decision, but by strategically empowering their people. Drawing from Gallup's extensive research on workplace engagement and team performance, you'll discover:

• How trust serves as the foundation for high-performing partnerships and agile teamwork

• The critical connection between employee empowerment and the Q12 engagement elements

• Practical strategies for setting a positive, empowering tone that sparks individual and team growth

• How to leverage your team members' unique talents to enhance performance and efficiency

Join us to learn how shifting from traditional command-and-control leadership to a strengths-based empowerment approach can transform your team's capabilities, confidence, and results.

SHRUTI RASTOGI

Managing Consultant

Head of Consulting,

SEA & Japan

The Gallup Organization

Session Chair:

 BOBOT CODOY, FPM

Director of Human Resources Seda Ayala Center Cebu

 CS15

 People at the Core, Business at Scale: Maxicare Group’s Turnaround Story

This session demonstrates how Maxicare Group’s transformation to turn around business performance was driven by living its values, teamwork and collaboration in fulfilling the Group’s 5-year strategic goals and directions. By enabling teams to collaborate with clear mandates attached to KRAs and KPIs, establishing accountability and ownership, and making purposeful decisions, the organization was able to execute its healthcare and strategic initiatives.

Through storytelling and practical insights from use cases, the session highlights how people empowerment became the cornerstone of Maxicare Group’s journey of turning around business performance, transformation, and continuous growth.

JOE BUOT

Group Chief Human Resources Officer 

ST 3

 A Job Architecture that Empowers

Join Tom Farmer as he shares practical ways to redesign job architecture to unlock empowerment, agility, and growth. Learn how to identify organizational blockages and build clear, flexible career paths that support development and promotion at all levels.

      THOMAS        FARMER

Co-founder

ASEAN Total Rewards Institute

Session Chair:

  DENISE DAVIDE-BLANCO, AFPM

AVP - Human Resources Vivant Corporation