Composite photo of Alex Eala and Zack Tabudlo Image from facebook/@IamZackTabudlo, AlexEala
The 2026 list recognizes young achievers across sports, music, technology, social impact and consumer startups.
MANILA — Tennis player Alexandra “Alex” Eala and singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo are among the Philippine-linked honorees included in Forbes’ 2026 “30 Under 30 Asia” list, joining a regional roster of young entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, technologists and advocates recognized across the Asia-Pacific.
Forbes’ 11th annual Asia list covers 10 categories, including Entertainment and Sports, Social Impact, Retail and Ecommerce, and Consumer and Enterprise Technology. The honorees were selected from close to 4,000 candidates and evaluated by Forbes Asia editors and judges based on factors including industry impact, revenue or funding, inventiveness, product-market fit and potential.
Eala, 21, was named under Entertainment and Sports after a period of rising visibility in international tennis. The International Tennis Federation lists her WTA singles ranking at No. 37 as of May 25, 2026, with a career-high No. 29 reached on March 16. The Women’s Tennis Association lists her birthplace as Quezon City and her career-high singles ranking at No. 29.
Tabudlo was also listed under Entertainment and Sports. The Filipino singer-songwriter is known for songs including “Pano” and “Give Me Your Forever,” and has been cited for strong streaming performance and a broad following among younger listeners.
The Social Impact category included Saje Miguel Molato, founder of Siklab; Steph Naval, founder of Empath; and Emmanuel Mirus Ponon, founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network. Their work spans youth development, education, skills training, climate programs, mental health services, policymaking, peacebuilding and sustainable development.
In Retail and Ecommerce, Forbes recognized Fan Connection SEA cofounders Pauline Dizon and Adrian Jumangit, as well as GoRocky cofounders Kiyanusch Braun and Martin Joaquin Palaña. Fan Connection SEA operates in entertainment, fandom, merchandise licensing, bookings and live events. GoRocky is a digital men’s health platform connecting users with licensed doctors and pharmacies.
Kharl Christian Yeung, cofounder of Amico Innovations, was also listed among the Philippine entries. In Consumer and Enterprise Technology, Forbes recognized BayaniChain Tech cofounders Raphael Sevilla and Brandon Angelo Wong. BayaniChain develops blockchain systems for government and enterprise clients.
India had the largest number of entries in the 2026 Asia list according to Forbes, followed by China, Australia and Japan. The list underscored the range of young talent emerging from the Philippines, spanning sports, music, civic advocacy, mental health, blockchain technology and consumer startups.
