NEW YORK, USA – It’s that time of the year again where young creatives across the country are looking to break into the industry as adobo Magazine is set to host The One Club for Creativity’s global Portfolio Night 2025, taking place on November 18, 2025 at the Ayala Museum in Makati City.
Portfolio Night, founded in 2003, is widely regarded as the world’s largest advertising portfolio review program. This high-energy event takes place in dozens of cities simultaneously, offering aspiring creatives essential advice, networking, and recruitment opportunities.
The event also functions as a crucial gateway for young talent to break into the industry or find a new role, by connecting them with hundreds of renowned international creative directors who act as mentors to the next generation of industry leaders.
“Portfolio Night is the only program of its kind that serves as a high-visibility opportunity for agencies, organizations, and creative professionals to give back to the industry by guiding the earliest steps of future copywriters, art directors, creators, and technologists,” The One Club for Creativity CEO Kevin Swanepoel said.
Moreover, Portfolio Night has also become a crucial tool for agencies in recruiting top young talent, providing a platform for recognition from local industry peers and giving agencies a place on the global stage as the ad world tunes in to this one-of-a-kind event.
The branding for Portfolio Night 2025 was created by 2022 Young Guns Winner, Ana Miminoshvili represented by Glasshouse Artists in North America.
Portfolio Night All-Stars program
The core of the event is the Portfolio Night All-Stars program, a highly selective, week-long virtual competition.
Each host city chooses the young creative with the top portfolio in their local market to become an All-Star. These selected creatives are then grouped into global teams and tasked with developing a campaign for a real-world brief provided by the exclusive global sponsor, Google.
Throughout the week, All-Stars participate in special seminars and recruiting sessions. The program culminates with each team pitching their campaign to a panel that includes Google representatives. The Grand Prize-winning All-Stars team receives an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to attend The One Club for Creativity’s Creative Week 2026.
How to participate?
At Portfolio Night Manila 2025, adobo Magazine brings this global creative movement to the heart of Makati.
Taking place at the Ayala Museum, the event will gather the country’s top creative directors, art directors, and copywriters for an evening of portfolio reviews, networking, and mentorship.
Young creatives will get the rare opportunity to have their work reviewed by some of the Philippines’ most influential creative leaders — gaining direct feedback, fresh insights, and real-world perspectives from the people shaping the industry today.
If you have a portfolio and are serious about a career in advertising and design, this event is for you. Participants must fall into one of the following categories:
- Students (Currently enrolled; a copy of enrollment slip or ID is required)
- Fresh Graduates
- Young Professionals (1–2 years of experience)
Take note that independent students will be listed under their university, while fresh graduates will represent their alma mater. Young professionals, on the other hand, will represent their company.
Interested participants can score a ticket (PHP 1,500) through Helixpay here.
Unique to the Philippines, Portfolio Night Manila partners with universities to provide creative students with the invaluable opportunity to connect with leaders from some of the country’s most prestigious creative agencies.
In 2024, the event attracted over 100 participants, including 60 student delegates, faculty from partner schools, creative reviewers, and program volunteers.
More than just a review
During the event, industry leaders reviewed student portfolios, providing not only expert feedback necessary for refining their work, but also career guidance and motivational insights on successfully transitioning into the professional creative field in the Philippines.
There will be three rounds of portfolio reviews and one-on-one mentorship sessions with creative industry leaders that will uplift networking opportunities with agencies, peers, and mentors, as well as global exposure as part of the worldwide Portfolio Night initiative.
Ultimately, Portfolio Night is considered a critical networking event for the creative industry, where it connects new talent with industry veterans — creating an environment that fuels creative growth. Likewise, it’s best described as the launchpad for new careers and a primary platform for shaping the future of global creativity.
Competition format
There are seven criteria to be followed in this competition in order to win the participant’s golden ticket to New York City for an ultimate week of events and networking with global creative leaders by The One Club.
The criteria includes the following:
- Ideas – Strong insights and concepts
- Execution – Craft and attention to detail
- Originality – Fresh, unique approaches
- Variety – Range of brands, markets, and project types
- Consistency – Overall quality across work
- Presentation – Clear, well-curated portfolio
- Attitude – Professionalism and creative spirit
Meanwhile, participants’ portfolios can be presented in any format. This can be in the form of a book, slides, posters, PowerPoint, or video. However, they must bring their own laptop or tablet for digital presentations.
Portfolio Night Manila 2025 creative reviewers
The young creatives will be granted an opportunity to engage in inspiring discussions with a roster of top-tier creative reviewers from the Philippines. These industry veterans generously dedicate their time to not only scrutinize the portfolios, but also to impart wisdom forged over years in the field. Participants will exchange insights with leaders who represented diverse sectors of the advertising and design world, including the following:
- Jao Bautista, Executive Creative Director, Propel Manila
- Isai Martinez, Creative Director, Propel Manila
- Dustin Carbonera, Creative Director and President, Communication Design Association of the Philippines (CDAP)
- Roman Carlo Olivarez, Executive Creative Director, MullenLowe TREYNA
- Jerry Hizon, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative Philippines & Dentsu Creative Manila
- Nikki Sunga, Creative Director, BBDO Guerrero
- Russell Molina, Chief Digital Officer, Seven A.D.
- Reena Robles, Managing Partner, The Huddle Room
- John Ed De Vera, Executive Creative Director, TBWA\SMP
- Angie Tijam-Tohid, Executive Creative Director, Havas Ortega
- Greg Martin III, Executive Creative Director, Ace Saatchi & Saatchi
- Brandie Tan
- Dan Pambid, Executive Creative Director, Tribal Worldwide Philippines
- Dante Abelarde, Executive Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup Philippines
- Javey Villones, Head of Art & Group Creative Director, VML Manila
- Marcél Lácap, Creative Director, Octopus&Whale
- Apol Sta. Maria, Head of Creatives, Maya
- Jordan Santos, Group Creative Director, Publicis JimenezBasic
- Gab Navarro & Arlou Yuzon, Creative Directors, NJYN
- Jeano Cruz, Creative Director & Partner, GIGIL
