MYMarkS 2026 was supported by the brands the youth looked up to.
The Mindanao Youth Marketing Summit (MYMarkS) returned for its third year on April 14 and 15, 2026 at the Limketkai Atrium Center in Cagayan de Oro City, bringing together leading names in Philippine marketing for a two-day gathering centered on this year’s theme, Excellence Lives Here.
Organized by Brandev Insights and Consulting and the Xavier University Junior Marketing Association, with advocacy partners Mansmith and Fielders, Inc. and GIGIL, MYMarkS 2026 gathered speakers from across branding, business, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and creative communications to engage the next generation of Mindanaoan business leaders.
Excellence Lives Here
This year’s theme challenged the long-held idea that Mindanaoan students must look outside the region for opportunity, exposure, and success, making the case that excellence can be built right at home.
“MYMarkS is a vital milestone in our Mindanao business students’ journey toward excellence and realizing their full potential. It means a lot that the nation’s most iconic brands and respected marketing leaders are choosing to stand alongside them along the way,” said Raymund Acedera, Co-Convenor of MYMarkS and Co-Founder of Brandev Insights and Consulting.
Speaker lineup
The summit opened with Fredy Ong, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Philippines, who delivered the keynote Purpose Driven Brands. Also featured on Day 1 were Raymund Acedera on Designing Brands for Excellence and Edie Acedera, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Brandev Insights and Consulting, on Insight-Inspired Brand Strategy. GIGIL’s Jake Yrastorza and Badong Abesamis took the stage for Creative Excellence That Moves Brands, while Donald Lim, President and COO of DITO CME, spoke on Leveraging AI for Winning Brands. Elpidio Paras, President and CEO of Parasat Cable TV, Inc. and Owner and CEO of Dahilayan Adventure Park, discussed Entrepreneurial Excellence, while Gem-Gem Tero II of Power House Studios spoke on Passion Into Action.
Day 2 featured Agnes Adviento of Nestlé Philippines on Journey from Mindanao to Global Brands and Jerome Dela Fuente of Limketkai Luxe Hotel on Preparing Opportunities in the Regions. The day also included the panel Excellence Built Here: Stories of Mindanao Brands, with Dorothy Go of Panagatan Seafood Restaurant, Harold Laborte of Capilli Trading Inc., and Golda Lim of Cakeboom Cakes and Party Flavors. Josiah Go, Chairman and Chief Innovation Strategist of Mansmith and Fielders, Inc., closed the summit with the keynote Enduring Marketing Principles that Build Brand Trust, followed by the Marketing Educators Masterclass Marketing Rescue.
MYMarkS is a not-for-profit, capability-building conference and the first, only, and biggest of its kind in Mindanao. Through keynotes, panels, and a hands-on marketing competition, it continues to give delegates the knowledge and confidence to build their dreams right here in Mindanao.
The summit debuted in 2024 at SM CDO Downtown, where 558 business students from 9 universities gathered for a one-day program with 6 industry thought leaders. Its 2025 edition expanded to two days at the Limketkai Center Atrium, drawing 780 marketing students from 14 universities and 12 industry thought leaders. MYMarkS 2026 was supported by brands including Unilever, Jollibee, Chowking, McDonald’s, Gardenia, Coke, Nestlé, URC, Selecta, San Miguel Foods, Del Monte, Ecossential Foods, The Limketkai Atrium, and Luxe Hotel, among others.
