Some of the country’s top chief executives and business leaders were spotted at the MEGA Ball 2024, an annual celebration honoring Filipino talent and excellence in the arts.

After a brilliant collaboration with the visual arts industry last year with MEGA Ball: Art + Fashion, this year’s event honored the gustatory masters reshaping the Philippines’ culinary landscape with MEGA Ball: Fashion + Food. The theme features the stories of nine Pinoy Pride awardees who have shown their top-tier talent and inventiveness in the food and beverage industry.

Visionary restaurateur Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo, President and CEO of Wildflour, led the event, as she highlighted how the dining scene has been elevated by the high-caliber culinary maestros continuing to shine in the local scene. She was in charge of curating the event’s honorees as she blended the realms of food and fashion.

Culinary Arts and Fashion Intertwine

The MEGA Ball, held annually every Philippine Independence Day and now on its 24th iteration, showcases “the work of designers, chefs, and artisans to elevate and contribute to the growth of creatives in the Philippines,” according to Editor-in-Chief of MEGA, Peewee Reyes-Isidro.

“Food and fashion are both everyday things that we sometimes take for granted, but they are also so steeped in culture and are avenues for artistic and creative expression. These are where Filipinos have proven to excel on the world stage as well,” de Ocampo said. “This year’s MEGA Ball is the perfect venue to celebrate the intersection of these two diverse disciplines. It shows that they are both art forms that allow for much experimentation, aesthetic and experiential pleasure, and a sense of belonging and community.”

Prominent CEOs and business personalities joined some of the country’s renowned fashion designers, celebrities, influencers, society members, politicians, and artists in attending this year’s Mega Ball, held at the Shangri-La The Fort, Manila.

Guests were treated to the sumptuous creations of the culinary honorees, starting from aperitifs, continuing with four courses, and finishing off with dessert. The honorees were Lee Watson, Chef Walter Manzke, Chef Chele Gonzalez, Chef Margarita Fores, Chef Miko Calo, Chef Stephan Duhesme, Chef josh Boutwood, Chef Joris Rycken, and Chef Margie Manzke.

Popular music act SB19 also engaged the crowd with their heartfelt rendition of Ryan Cayabyab’s “O Bayan Ko,” which invoked Filipino nationalism in those hearing the performance.

Business Leaders and Top Executives Spotted

Here are photos of the prominent business people seen in MEGA Ball 2024: