Filipino students secured three of the 10 Asia-Pacific (APAC) spots in the 2025 #NextInLine Changemakers’ Recognition Competition organized by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (GA).
GA announced the regional winners during its final Hero Web Conference on Dec. 5.
The global essay competition asked students and young communication practitioners to respond to the theme, “How Can AI-Driven Communication Transform the World? From Information to Impact: Reimagining the Future of Ethical, Purpose-Driven Communication.”
Participants submitted original essays on how innovation, empathy, and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) can support ethical and people-centered communication.
Recognized from the Philippines were Khrysza Paras, Edmund Rhei Morada, and Jillian Barreiro. They were named among the APAC region’s emerging communicators, alongside winners from Indonesia, Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and North America. All regional winners received a Global Alliance Certificate of Distinction.
“We were truly impressed by their ideas and their passion for communication,” said Ana Pista, APR, chair of GA’s Student and Young Practitioners Month (SYPM) 2025. “Their essays show that the next generation of communicators understands the critical role of responsible AI use in shaping ethical, human-centered solutions.”
The #NextInLine Changemakers’ Recognition is part of GA’s annual Student and Young Practitioners Month, which focuses on youth leadership and ethical thinking in communication. The program runs across GA’s six global regions and encourages young professionals to examine how AI affects public trust, information sharing, and communication work.
GA said this year’s winning essays show a growing awareness among young communicators of the need to balance new technology with empathy, inclusion, and accountability. The organization added that as AI continues to shape how information is created and shared, it aims to support future leaders who see technology as a tool to support, not replace, human values.
2025 REGIONAL WINNERS
ASIA-PACIFIC
- Khrysza Paras (Philippines)
- Edmund Rhei Morada (Philippines)
- Desak Ayu Bulan Trisna Aprilia Putri (Indonesia)
- Nabilah Azzahra Putri Bastari (Indonesia)
- Jillian Barreiro (Philippines)
- Stephanie (Indonesia)
- Priscilla Audric Kanabi (Indonesia)
- Syfa Aulia Manezha (Indonesia)
- Mumtaaz Qadhifa (Indonesia)
- Adinda Silvia Maharani (Indonesia)
AFRICA
- Aromaradu Salahudeen Salihu (Nigeria)
- Azeez Sulaiman (Nigeria)
- Benaja Nkemzikann (Cameroon)
- Daryl Tchabat (Cameroon)
- Elvis Miba Pengou (Cameroon)
- Emmanuel Chiwila (Zambia)
- Ikwuorgu Favour Eloho (Nigeria)
- Jessica Gbedemah (South Africa)
- Venant Axel Alima (Cameroon)
- Ogunsemowo Moyinoluwa Elizabeth (Nigeria)
NORTH AMERICA
- Amber Marthinsen (USA)
SOUTH ASIA & MIDDLE EAST
- Tisha Jain (India)
- Abhijit Rawat (India)
- Divyangna Mehrotra (India)
- Lamisha Akter Fiza (Bangladesh)
- Komal Iyer (India)
- Poshita Jain (India)
- Pratibha Pandey (India)
- Senjuti Paul (Bangladesh)
- Shrida Trivedi (India)
- Shrimoyee Sur (India)