The Philippines continues to make its presence felt at ADFEST 2026, securing 10 finalist entries in the second wave of Lotus Award reveals spanning 11 categories — Effective, Brand Experience, Direct, Sustainable, Print & Outdoor Craft, Digital & Social, Digital Craft, PR, Film Craft, Outdoor, and Press.
Four agencies carry the Philippine flag in this round: GIGIL Manila, BBDO Guerrero, Havas Ortega, and Leo Manila. GIGIL stands out, racking up four entries across three categories.
GIGIL’s Kween Yasmin for Canva Pro proves to be the agency’s most versatile entry, landing in both the Use of Influencer and Organic Reach & Influence subcategories of the Digital & Social Lotus, as well as the Effective Lotus under Launch/Re-launch. The campaign’s multiple nominations underscore its cross-platform impact and effectiveness.
The agency also earns a nod in the Outdoor Lotus for Wednesday Canal of Tears for Netflix, which makes the cut under Ambient: Special Build — one of the more creatively ambitious subcategories in the outdoor space. Rounding out GIGIL’s wave two showing is Chicky for GrabMart, which secures a spot in Digital & Social’s Social Film Series category.
BBDO Guerrero contributes two entries to this wave. Safetynovela for Philippine Airlines earns a Digital & Social Lotus nomination for Brand Storytelling, building on its first-wave recognition in Film Lotus. The campaign also earns the agency a Film Craft Lotus nod, with Arcade Film Factory, Manila credited under Production Design — a recognition of the technical and visual craft behind the work. BBDO Guerrero further extends its wave two presence with Play the Dew for Mountain Dew, which lands a spot in Digital Craft Lotus under Music & Sound Design.
Havas Ortega makes its ADFEST 2026 debut in this batch with The Kita Initiative for Spark! Philippines, earning a finalist spot in the Effective Lotus under Public Services & Cause Appeals — a category that recognizes campaigns driving measurable real-world impact.
Leo Manila rounds out the Philippine contingent with Gamifries for McDonald’s, which earns a nod in the Outdoor Lotus under Ambient: Small Scale, adding to the campaign’s growing tally across both waves.
Combined with its six entries from the first wave, the Philippines now stands at 17 total finalist entries across ADFEST 2026’s two shortlist reveals — tied with Indonesia and trailing only Japan (63), Thailand (41), South Korea (21), India (20), and Australia (18) in the overall country tally.
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of ADFEST 2026.
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Japan leads as ADFEST reveals first wave of 2026 Lotus Awards finalists across eight categories
