Makati City, Philippines—On January 30, 2025, The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCIFP) hosted its inaugural Le Prix DE&I Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The awarding took place during the Welcoming Soirée 2025 at Dr. Wine Rooftop, Poblacion.
This year, the Le Prix DE&I Awards recognized outstanding achievements in diversity, equity, and inclusion across three categories: Project, Organisation, and People. In the Project Category, applicants included STMicroelectronics, Colas Rail, CMA CGM, Auro Chocolate, L’Oréal Philippines, Asia Datawords Philippines, and Espoir School of Life Inc. The Organisation Category featured EssilorLuxottica, Lindela Travel & Tours, Havas Ortega, Clinique de Paris, AGS, Sodexo Philippines, CMA CGM, Auro Chocolate, Sanofi-Aventis Philippines, Teleperformance, L’Oréal Philippines, and Asia Datawords Philippines. Meanwhile, the People Category highlighted individual contributions from Pascal Pecheur of Essilor, Irish-Apple Neulid of Colas Rail, Michelle Serrano of Lindela Group, Yanna Verbo Acosta of Tritonica Group, Gie Garcia of NEO, and Nicolas Gontard of Espoir School of Life Inc.
The esteemed panel of judges for Le Prix DE&I featured distinguished professionals from various industries, each bringing their expertise and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This year’s panel included Pinky Diokno, Director of Investors in People; Janet Webster, Chairman of Investors in People; Francesca Fuentes, Political Counselor at the French Embassy in the Philippines; Marilyn Ventenilla, Vice President for Marketing at Everise; and Marie Antoinette Mariano of BDO, who also served as the committee’s Chairperson. Their collective experience and insights were instrumental in evaluating and recognizing organizations that have made significant strides in fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting equitable opportunities.
Here are the winners for each category:
Project Category: Espoir School of Life
Founded by Nicolas Gontard, Espoir School of Life empowers marginalized communities through education and skills development. Its three key programs—Espoir Education, Espoir Community, and Espoir in a Box—support GESI (Geographically Isolated and Environmentally Sensitive Communities) with free education, skills training, and sustainable livelihood initiatives. Touching the lives of over 300 primary and secondary learners, 950 early childhood learners, 183 families across 20 barangays in two regions and 575,000 meals provided, Espoir’s impact is undeniable, making it a well-deserved winner.
Organisation Category: Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Inc.
Sanofi-Aventis Philippines leads the way in workplace inclusion as the first pharmaceutical company on the PBCWE Governing Council. With a DE&I Board, gender-balanced hiring, equitable pay, and inclusive benefits, Sanofi fosters a culture where diversity thrives. Its #LifeCourseImpact initiative supports marginalized communities, while its 21% supplier spend on women and minority-owned businesses further reinforces its commitment to equity.
People Category: Irish-Apple Neulid
A dedicated PWD advocate, Ms. Irish-Apple Neulid has transformed challenges into opportunities. As Colas Rail Philippines’ DEI Ambassador, she founded NBBS Proper PWD Care Inc., growing its membership from 30 to 358. She also launched a PWD Parent Group Community promoting education, spearheaded the Shoebox Project for PWDs, and facilitated access to prosthetic legs for beneficiaries. A motivational speaker and adviser, her tireless work continues to uplift PWD communities.
The first Le Prix DE&I Awards not only celebrated the outstanding efforts of individuals and organizations in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion but also set a powerful precedent for the years to come. As we honor these changemakers, we are reminded that building a more inclusive society is a continuous journey—one that requires collaboration, commitment, and courage. Through initiatives like Le Prix DE&I, we reaffirm our dedication to creating spaces where everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to thrive. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to seeing even more inspiring stories unfold in the years ahead.