GMA Network's Gigi Santiago-Lara honored to be first PH Ambassador for Asian Academy of Creative Arts

GMA Network

18-06-2025

GMA Network Vice President for Musical, Variety, Specials, and Alternative Productions for Entertainment Group Gigi Santiago-Lara expressed her delight after being named as the first Asian Academy of Creative Arts (AACA) Ambassador from the Philippines.
Following Lara's appointment, AACA President Michael McKay and Chief Executive Officer Fiona McKay paid a visit to the GMA Network headquarters in Quezon City on Wednesday.
'Natutuwa kami, natutuwa tayong lahat dahil it's their first time to come to GMA, and we're happy to welcome them kasi it's the first time din that we have an ambassador from the Philippines, from GMA,' Lara said.
'Excited din kami kasi tomorrow we will have a conference about production,' she added. 'Napakagandang topic ito and very timely, so natutuwa tayo na nandito sila ngayon.'
Other GMA Network executives were also present during the gathering to welcome the special guests, including Senior Vice President and Head of GMA Integrated News and GMA Regional TV and Synergy Oliver B. Amoroso and Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz.
Also in attendance were Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development and Concurrent Chief Risk Officer, and Head of Program Support, GMA Network, Inc. President and COO, GMA Ventures Regie C. Bautista; Officer-in-Charge for Entertainment Group and Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; and Officer-in-Charge for Program Management Mildred G. Garcia.
President McKay emphasized the support given by GMA Network to AACA, highlighting the network's role as an ambassador and successful company, especially at the national level.
'We think that there's more to come from the Philippines, and we think there's more success. We see the Philippines as a really important market, really important nation, and with a lot to contribute. So again, thank you for having us today,' he said.
He also congratulated the network on its 75th anniversary, calling it a 'fantastic achievement' and expressing admiration for the creativity and thought processes in content coming from GMA Network and the Philippines.
'We love to see the thought processes that come from the content. We like to see the way you approach things, whether it's news, you know, you're in amongst it all,' he said. 'It's really tremendous and it's been great to watch GMA's work over the years.'
As Philippine Ambassador, Lara will serve as a Member of Jury for the AACA Awards and support the Academy in its skills development programs. Lara joins esteemed media executive Ambassadors from Australia, Thailand, Chinese Mainland, Malaysia, India, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar as part of Asia-Pacific's prestigious award-giving body for creative excellence.
—CDC, GMA Integrated News