Reader’s Digest launches a virtual celebration to publicly acknowledge its latest Philippines Trusted Brands and personality award winners

Due to the global pandemic, the traditional awards ceremony could not be held but Reader’s Digest pushed through with the virtual presentation.

It has launched a virtual celebration to publicly acknowledge its latest Philippines Trusted Brands and personality award winners. 

Reader’s Digest was determined to recognise “success that deserves to be celebrated” says Asia Reader’s Digest Editor-in-Chief Louise Waterson. The inaugural virtual awards for The Philippines (plus Singapore and Malaysia) is live on the website(https://www.trustedbrands.asia/philippines).

Asia Reader’s Digest Advertising & Retail Director Sheron White says, for the first time in the award’s 23-year history the live celebration had to be cancelled, but all is certainly not lost.

“You can sit in the comfort of your own home and enjoy viewing the award winners – those voted the most trusted by the public,” she says.

The awards recognise which brands, products and services are best and above the rest in the eyes of the community and cover a host of categories. Check out the video on the website to discover, for example, the companies most worthy of your trust when it comes to things as varied as baby stores, shopping centres/malls, pharmacies, TV networks, and eye centres.

Reader’s Digest commissioned international leading research company, Catalyst Consultancy and Research, to conduct the survey to determine the most excellent, remarkable and outstanding companies. A total of 1,500 consumers throughout the country were asked to rank companies according to their trustworthiness and credibility, their quality and value, their understanding of consumer needs, their innovation and social responsibility. 

Sheron says the awards provide a great indicator for the general public. Purchasing from a company voted the best by Filipinos gives consumers the confidence that they are making the right choice.

She says category winners included newcomers as well as many who had visited the podium on many occasions in the past, with recipients awarded gold and platinum medals.  Baguio Oil, for example, has won the cooking oil category 16 times, while Citi has again enjoyed winning the credit card issuing bank category – for the 12^th time. Also enjoying 12 consecutive years’ success is PLDT Home Fibr that took home a platinum medal in the broadband/fibre internet category. While ACER Philippines won the award for the 11^th time for the personal computer category. And it appears the most trusted company to buy meat from in the Philippines is Monterey – and consumers have known this for ten years now. A first-time winner in the investment fund category was BDO, but this company has enjoyed accolades in the bank, and credit card issuing bank categories for many years and continues to do so. 

More than 50 categories featured in the trusted brands awards, some of which had multiple winners. New categories are added over the years, with milk tea being an inaugural addition this year. The virtual awards ceremony features a selection of the winners. 

The awards also included personality categories that judged: most trusted TV host/presenter of news and current affairs was won by Jessica Soho. She told “Once more thank you to Reader’s Digest for this award and the trust this couldn’t have come at a better time because things are really hard right now and we all could do with the extra push and inspiration. Thank you for going out of your way to give this out despite the restritions and congratulations to the other winners."  

Most trusted entertainment and variety presenter Vice Ganda; most trusted radio presenter Mike Enriquez; and most trusted sports personality Sen. Manny Pacquiao. All this is also documented in the virtual awards with some of the winners making guest appearances.

Celebrate your favourite brands and personality winners in the Inaugural Virtual Trusted Brands Awards Video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OttMbnyrvjQ) now!

Reader's Digest Trusted Brands 2016: Recognizing the Consumers Choice

For Filipinos, the issue of choice has always been matter of trust. From the brands we put in our shopping carts to the services we rely on, Filipino consumers have a strong sense of brand familiarity – and that belief weighs heavily on the decision-making process.

Reader’s Digest (RD), one of the longest-running and most read print publications in the world, once again puts the spotlight on the companies we believe in at the RD Trusted Brands 2016 Awards ceremony held June 30, 2016 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig.

The Trusted Brands Survey,identifies the brands and services Filipinos trust, above all others. It also honors the country’s most trusted TV news Presenter, Radio News Presenter, Entertainment/Variety Show Presenter and Sports Personality.

Trust is an emotion that fuels our decision whether we are conscious of it or not. It is that intangible quality that conveys reliability and integrity. Whether it is a product or service, trust is what reassures us that we are making the right choice.

“For the past 18 years, we have been surveying the people of Philippines and consumers in major markets across Asia, about which brands they depend on, believe in and that they expect to provide premium value and exceptional service,” notes Walter Beyleveldt, Reader’s Digest Managing Director, Asia Pacific.

“Every survey we ask thousands of people – both our readers and a representative sample of consumers in each market – to tell us which brands they consider worthy of their support, custom, and their trust. Not only have we learnt which brands consumers follow, we have discovered a lot about what trust means and how it wins the hearts of people across Asia.”

“Being included in this prestigious list is a huge endorsement and one the winners should be very proud of,” he added.

Beyleveldtand Ms. Sheron White, RD Group Advertising & Retail Sales Director, Asia Pacific flew in from Australia to personally award the trophies to the winners.

Renowned motivational speaker and business influencer, Ms. Anna Esperanza  served as keynote speaker.

FOR CONSUMERS, BY THE CONSUMERS 
Trust is a key component in the relationship between brands and their customers.

It is built on – and it builds – loyalty. And loyal customers, as any successful brand knows, are key to getting – and remaining – in competitive times.

Trust is hard won – it is usually built up over many years. Trust goeshand-in-hand with a good reputation and delivery of customers’ expectations. It emerges out of the very best consumer experiences, and is achieved only by truly understanding your customers.

“Trust is an emotion that fuels our decisions whether we are conscious of it or not--an intangible quality that signals reliability and integrity. Whether it is a product or service, trust is what reassures us that we are making the right choice,” said White.

“A trusted brand has both international appeal but also upholds a strong local connection. It has individual relevance for all its consumers, just about anywhere and in any culture,” she added.

The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand mark has become a recognizable symbol globally. And we are honored to announce the winners of the latest survey, who will now be able to use this badge of recognition for 2016 to help consumers make the right choices.

For the 2016 Trusted Brand Survey, Readers Digest commissioned global market research company CATALYST.  Approximately 8,000 individuals were selected across 5 of Asia’s key markets such as the Philippines, HongKong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

The survey covers 44 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries.

Around 1000 respondents were surveyed in the Philippines.  Half were subscribers to Reader's Digest, while the remainder were selected to reflect the demographics of the general population.

The final ranking in each product category were obtained by multiplying the total number of votes for a brand with its average score for six qualitative characteristics. For statistical accuracy and to ensure results were compiled in an objective manner using proven methodology, the data was weighted to reflect the population distribution of participants.

PLATINUM, GOLD AND ASIA AWARD
Platinum Trusted Brand Awards were given to brands that performed exceptionally, winning their category with a score that vastly outpolled their nearest competitor.

Platinum award winners included Baby Company (Baby Store);SM Supermalls (Shopping Center); ABSCBN (TV Network); Century Tuna (Canned Tuna); Monterey (Frozen Meat) Magnolia (Fresh/Frozen Poultry); Carrier (Air Conditioner); Uratex (Mattress); Boysen (Paint); Pilot (Pen); Executive Optical (Eye Center) and PLDT Home (Landline Phone Service).

Gold Trusted Brand Awards were given to brands that scored significantly higher than their rivals.

The Gold award winners are Healthway (Ambulatory Medical Services); Condura (Air Conditioner); PLDT Home DSL (Broadband Services); San Marino Corned Tuna (Canned Tuna); Baguio Oil (Cooking Oil); Citibank (Credit Card Issuing Bank); Asian Eye Institute (Eye Center); Ideal Vision (Eye Center); Medicard (Health Card); Acer (Personal Computer); Camella Homes (Property Developer); DMCI Homes (Property Developer); Condura (Refrigerator); GMA7 (TV Network); Panda (Pen); Sharp (Washing Machine) and Whirlpool (Washing Machine) to name a few.

Asia Trusted Brand Awards were given to a brand that wins Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand award in the same category for at least three countries surveyed.

Recipients of the Trusted Brand awards will receive given a Trophy and will be allowed to use the globally recognized Trusted Brand Logo in their marketing collaterals and merchandising materials.

MOST TRUSTED PERSONALITIES

Another highlight of the night was the special awards given to the countries most trusted personalities.

For the sixth consecutive year, Jessica Soho was named Most Trusted TV News Presenter. Mike Enriquez on the other hand was chosen as Most Trusted Radio Presenter. Toni GonzagawonMost Trusted Entertainment/ Variety Show Presenter, while Filipino boxing champ and now Senator Manny Pacquiao is still the Philippines Most Trusted Sports Personality.

“There are awards and there are awards, and the Reader’s Digest Survey, is in itself a trusted award. This is a result of a survey conducted among its readers and not an award that you can apply for,” says Enriquez.

“They just write you one day to inform you that you have been chosen, and being named most Trusted Radio Presenter is definitely quite an honor.” 

READERS DIGEST TO HONOR THE PHILIPPINE’S MOST TRUSTED BRANDS

Trust. It takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair. Our lives are fueled by trust and our decisions, whether personal or professional are influenced by the confidence we have in these relationships.

In an era where too much information has its benefits and disadvantages, trust is that one factor that remains constant. Once trust is established, it becomes an instinctive response – the consumer buys the brand without so much as a second thought because they can relate to it as "their" brand.

For consumers, the mark of a trusted brand is a seal of excellence, and a relationship that goes far beyond price, trends and marketing campaigns.

For business, trust is the ultimate vote of confidence. A forward-facing measure imbued with expectation, promise and satisfaction and a solid reputation of distinction.

MOST TRUSTED SURVEY

On June 30, 2015, Reader’s Digest once again recognizes these companies at the Trusted Brands Awards ceremony to be held at the ballroom A of the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Victorio Dimagiba will be the keynote speaker while Reader’s Digest Asia Pacific Group Advertising and Retail Sales Director Sheron White will be personally awarding the trophies to the winners.

For the past 17 years, Reader's Digest has approached ordinary Filipino consumers to ask their opinions on what brands of products and services are important to them.

Backed by all these years of research, it has confidently and precisely identified the features a trusted brand must possess in order to maintain relevance and purpose for its consumers.

A trusted brand enjoys international appeal, yet at the same time upholds a strong local connection.  It has individual relevance for all its consumers, just about anywhere and in any culture.

Cost, quality and desirability are all important factors for consumers. Yet it's vital for a brand to stay true to its promises. While brands come in and out of vogue, those that capture our attention, maintain our confidence and win over our trust do so by holding fast to their core principles.

For the Trusted Brand Survey, Readers Digest has commissioned leading global market research company Ipsos to survey a representative sample of people in Asia on their most trusted brands in 42 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries.

Approximately 5,000 individuals were selected across 5 of Asia’s key markets such as the Philippines, HongKong, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

In the Philippines, around 1000 respondents completed the survey. Half were subscribers to Reader's Digest, while the remainder were selected to reflect the demographics of the general population.

Each respondent was required to complete a questionnaire or participate in a mail, face to face, telephone or online survey. Ipsos asked each participant to tell us the name of their most trusted brands and then to rate each of those brands listed on the following six attributes: Trustworthiness, Credibility, Quality, Value, Understanding of Customer Needs, Innovation and Social Responsibility.  This year the awards will be presented in each of the 42 categories.


GOLD Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that scored significantly higher than their rivals.

PLATINUM Trusted Brands Awards – will be given to brands that performed exceptionally, winning their category for at least 3 countries surveyed.

ASIA TRUSTED Brand Awards will be given to a brand that wins the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand award in the same category for at least three countries surveyed.