Alex Eala, Zack Tabudlo among Filipinos in new Forbes 30 Under 30 list

MANILA, Philippines, May 29 ------ Young rising tennis star Alex Eala and singer-songwriter Zack Tabudlo lead the contingent of Filipinos included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list.

The annual regional list by Forbes magazine recognized exceptional young individuals across various industries in Asia and Oceania under the age of 30. Eala was front and center of the Entertainment and Sports category with her photo wearing a striped ensemble over a white tank.

A write-up by staff members Rana Wehbe Watson and Ian Sayson noted the athlete's achievements in the last year, as well as the flock of Filipinos who witness them each time. "The support has been incredible," Eala told the magazine. "Tennis can sometimes feel quiet and serious, so having that energy makes it special."

A representative for the tennis player told Forbes Eala became the highest-earning Filipino tennis player of all time last year because of prize money totaling $876,000 (P54 million), while endorsements from the likes of Nike and NutriAsia are expected to rise to $3 million (P185 million) this year. Bookending the Entertainment and Sports write-up was an excerpt for Tabudlo, noting his viral and streaming records as well as his "The Voice Kids" connections. Notable figures in this category were K-pop groups I-dle, Nmixx, and Cortis, golfer Minjee Lee, track star Gout Gout, choreographer Leejung Lee, Indonesian girl group Na Na, and singer Regina Song. Last year's list featured the P-pop girl group BINI and chess wunderkind Daniel Quizon.

Other Filipinos

Three Filipinos were included in the list's Social Impact category: Saje Miguel Molato, Steph Naval and Emmanuel Mirus Ponon. Molato is the founder of the consulting firm which for the past decade has helped young people become more globally competitive, working with different partners on education, skills development and climate programs.

Software engineer and psychologist-in-training Naval is the founder of social enterprise Empath which provides online counseling, psychotherapy and psychiatric consultations to schools, workplaces, and non-profit groups. Ponon founded ASEAN Youth Advocates Network or AYAN, an organization that encourages young people in Southeast Asia to participate in policy making, peacebuilding and sustainable development.

Source: philstar.com