MANILA, PHILIPPINES – More than 400 creators came together for the country’s first Creator Week 2026, a five-day gathering aimed at strengthening the Philippine creator economy and creating more opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth.
Organized by the Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP), with YouTube as co-presenter, the event ran from September 28 to October 2 across Manila, Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro. It brought together established and emerging creators, leading digital platforms, brands, and industry representatives through mentoring sessions, masterclasses, and community activities.
“Creator Week is our way of bringing the different parts of the creator economy into one space,” said Jel Directo, president of CICP. “Creators are building businesses, shaping communities and culture, and becoming an increasingly important part of the marketing and communications industry.”
Throughout the week, YouTube, TikTok, and Meta hosted platform sessions covering content development, audience growth, monetization, and new opportunities for creators.
For Ace Gapuz, CICP Vice President for External, the event’s greatest value was bringing together people who would otherwise interact primarily online.
“For me, the greatest value of Creator Week is bringing people into the same room who usually encounter one another through a screen, a campaign brief, or an email,” Gapuz shared. “Those personal connections help us understand each other’s ambitions and challenges and build the trust that meaningful collaboration requires.”
Expanding Opportunities Beyond Manila
Creator Week also extended to Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, bringing industry conversations and learning opportunities closer to regional creator communities.
The week also engaged aspiring creators through Creator #NEXTGEN at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and concluded on October 2 with the Creator Spotlight Awards, recognizing eight creators and creator-led groups for their contributions to the industry.
With its first edition spanning three cities, Creator Week marked another step in CICP’s efforts to build a more connected, professional, and sustainable creator industry, with greater opportunities for Filipino talent nationwide.
