The AF Hospitality founder and CEO joined leaders across fashion, retail, beauty, entertainment, advertising, and other industries at the annual ceremony.
Lifestyle Asia’s June 2026 cover star Amado Forés was among the business leaders honored at The Business Manual CEO Awards 2026, held at the Sarus Ballroom of Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City. The recognition arrives during a defining chapter for the restaurateur, who is leading AF Hospitality while stewarding the culinary legacy of his mother, Margarita Forés. He has assumed leadership of her concepts, including Lusso and Grace Park, which now sit alongside a mano, Ramen Ron, and Steak & Frice within AF Hospitality’s restaurant portfolio.
READ ALSO: Cover Story: Amado And Carmela Forés On Building A Life And Legacy Through Food
In Lifestyle Asia’s June 2026 cover story, Amado and his wife, Carmela Forés, spoke about leading the company through this period of growth and transition. Amado shapes its creative direction and vision, while Carmela, AF Hospitality’s managing director, oversees its operations, systems, and execution.
Amado Forés Joins The Business Manual CEO Awards 2026 Honorees
Co-presented by Lexus Philippines, the annual awards night carried the theme “Recognizing Vision. Celebrating Leadership. Shaping What’s Next.” It gathered executives and entrepreneurs working across hospitality, retail, fashion, beauty, live entertainment, digital innovation, and creative advertising.
“Ultimately, the legacy of a CEO will not only be measured by the company you will leave behind,” shared Archie G. Carrasco, chairman and CEO of AGC Power Holdings Corp. and editor-in-chief of The Business Manual, during his opening remarks. “It will be measured by the people you develop, the industries you change, the opportunities you created, and the lives you influenced along the way.”
The 2026 roster also included Amina Aranaz-Alunan, co-founder of ARANÁZ and founding partner and chairman of SoFA Design Institute; Michael Concepcion, founder and CEO of Framework Group; Eric Dee, co-founder and CEO of Sunnies Inc.; Roxanne Farillas, co-founder and vice president of RAFFCO Intl Trading Corp.; and Francis Flores, global managing director of PICKUP COFFEE and group executive chairman of Forefront Group.
Also honored were GIGIL co-founders and managing partners Badong Abesamis, Herbert Hernandez, and Jake Yrastorza; Wilbros Live president and CEO Winston Llamas; Luxe Beauty and Wellness Group founder and CEO Anna Magkawas; and SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
Guests also gathered for a curated dining experience intended to encourage conversation and collaboration among leaders from different industries. The evening concluded with a closing toast led by One MEGA Group Inc. Vice President for Lifestyle Media Brands Apples Aberin, who paid tribute to the honorees and the wider business community shaping Philippine enterprise.
Photos courtesy of The Business Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
The honorees were Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Michael Concepcion, Eric Dee, Roxanne Farillas, Francis Flores, GIGIL co-founders Badong Abesamis, Herbert Hernandez and Jake Yrastorza, Amado Forés, Winston Llamas, Anna Magkawas, and Steven Tan.
Amado Forés was recognized for elevating the Philippine dining landscape by combining concept innovation with operational discipline across AF Hospitality’s diverse portfolio.
Amado Forés is the founder and CEO of AF Hospitality. He leads the company’s creative direction and vision, while his wife, Carmela Forés, serves as managing director and oversees operations, systems, performance, and execution.
AF Hospitality’s restaurant portfolio includes a mano, Ramen Ron, Steak & Frice, Lusso, and Grace Park. The latter two concepts carry forward the culinary legacy of Amado’s mother, Margarita Forés.
The Business Manual CEO Awards 2026 was held at the Sarus Ballroom of Marquis Events Place in Bonifacio Global City. The annual ceremony was co-presented by Lexus Philippines.
