PSTD Launches the 8th Gawad Maestro Awards: Nominations Officially Open to Honor Excellence in Philippine Talent Development
MANILA, Philippines — July 15, 2026 — The Philippine Society for Talent Development (PSTD) has officially opened nationwide nominations for the 8th PSTD Gawad Maestro Awards. As the country’s premier recognition program for human capital development, the awards celebrate the extraordinary individuals, breakthrough programs, and visionary organizations driving nation-building and strategic business growth through learning.
Now on its eighth edition, the Gawad Maestro Awards stands as the ultimate benchmark of excellence in the Philippine talent development landscape. The program honors those who have elevated talent development into a core driver of organizational transformation, shining a bright spotlight on the leaders and companies shaping a future-ready Filipino workforce.
Nominations are now being accepted across six distinct categories:
L&D Professional of the Year: Recognizing individual practitioners demonstrating exceptional leadership and competence in the field.
L&D Manager of the Year: Honoring leaders who have built a strong learning culture and driven strategic team success.
L&D Extraordinaire: Celebrating out-of-the-box thinkers pushing the boundaries of traditional L&D.
L&D Program of the Year: Spotlighting unique learning initiatives that delivered measurable performance breakthroughs.
Outsourced L&D of the Year: Applauding external providers and consultants who partner seamlessly to bridge capability gaps.
L&D Organization of the Year: Awarding companies that integrate talent development directly into their corporate growth strategy.
"The Gawad Maestro Awards is about cementing a legacy of excellence," says Lawrence Co, 2026 PSTD President. "By honoring our finest talent development practitioners and programs, we are setting the gold standard for what true human capital growth looks like in the Philippines."
Important Dates and Deadlines:
Nomination Deadline: The window for submissions will officially close on August 15, 2026.
Awards Ceremony: The prestigious culminating event will take place on November 19, 2026, at Citadines Bay City Manila, Pasay City.
Submissions are open to private corporations, public and government agencies, non-profit organizations, and individual practitioners nationwide.
To view the guidelines and submit your nominations, visit the official registration portal at https://forms.gle/CJTujg8T1uha6mdz7.
About PSTD
The Philippine Society for Talent Development (PSTD) is the premier organization setting the pace for talent development in the country. Celebrating 60 years of pioneering impact, PSTD provides a globally competitive, tested framework and a vibrant community dedicated to driving strategic learning solutions and sustainable nation-building.
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