‘Lumpia Queen’ Abi Marquez Wins People's Voice Award at The 28th Annual Webby Awards, Dedicates Win to the Philippines

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"Philippines, this is for you!": Abi Marquez is the First Filipino independent content creator to win a Webby Award. 

Abi Marquez, known as the "Lumpia Queen," won the People's Voice Award for Social - Food and Drink at The 28th Annual Webby Awards, becoming the first Filipino independent content creator to secure this award. 

During the ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street in NYC, she proudly wore a custom terno by Filipino designer Santi Obcena and delivered a heartfelt 5-word acceptance speech: 

"Philippines, this is for you!" 

Represented by NYMA, part of Kroma Entertainment, Marquez is also a nominee for the 2024 James Beard Media Award, further recognizing her excellence in culinary social media. Her journey from a student to an international culinary sensation highlights her dedication to showcasing Filipino cuisine globally, inspiring food lovers everywhere with her creativity and passion.

In a historic victory for Filipino talent, Abi Marquez clinched the People's Voice Award for Social - Food and Drink at The 28th Annual Webby Awards, making her the first Filipino independent content creator to win the prestigious accolade. 

This momentous occasion is not only a personal milestone for Marquez but also a significant cultural achievement, being the first time an individual entry from the Philippines has secured this category.

Dressed in a custom terno by Filipino designer Santi Obcena and styled by Pam Ricarte, Marquez took the stage at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, where she accepted her award. In her poignant 5-word acceptance speech, she dedicated her victory to her homeland: "Philippines, this is for you!"

Known affectionately as the “Lumpia Queen,” Marquez has captured the global food scene with her vibrant and innovative culinary content, predominantly featuring iterations of the beloved Filipino dish, lumpia or spring rolls. 

Abi flanked by her mentors at NYMA: General Manager Kat Bautista and Head of Talent Karen Tumbali. This award underscores her significant impact on the digital food community.

Within the Lumpia Queen’s radius: Harry Potter star James Phelps who accepted the Webby for mobile game Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery, place card of culinary legend and one of Abi’s heroes Ina Garten, and fellow Webby winner and content creator Madison Tevlin whom Abi met at a prior Webbys function.

Marquez is also officially nominated for a 2024 James Beard Media Award, recognizing excellence in food-related social media accounts. The James Beard Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the US culinary and food media industries, highlighting leaders and innovators across the food system.

Represented by NYMA, the talent management arm of Kroma Entertainment, Marquez has found robust support in her professional endeavors. Kat Bautista, General Manager of NYMA, expressed her pride: "We are incredibly proud of Abi and her groundbreaking achievements. Her success at The Webby Awards and her nomination for a James Beard Media Award reflect her exceptional talent and our commitment at NYMA to support outstanding Filipino creators on the global stage."

Marquez’s journey from a Hotel Restaurant and Institution Management student at the University of the Philippines to an international culinary sensation highlights her dedication and passion for bringing Filipino cuisine to the global stage. As the world continues to embrace diverse food cultures, her win at The Webby Awards serves as a beacon of inspiration and pride for the Philippines, showcasing the richness of its culinary heritage and sharing the Filipino culinary narrative worldwide.

Above cover photo is a B/W portrait courtesy of The Webby Awards 

Follow Abi's ongoing journey across various social platforms as she continues to inspire food lovers everywhere with her creativity and passion:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abigailfmarquez

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailfmarquez/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abigailfmarquez

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lumpiaqueen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lumpiakween

MDC subsidizes SSS contributions of its workers’ spouses

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The Social Security System (SSS) commended the Makati Development Corporation (MDC) for its commitment to the welfare of its workers’ families by subsidizing the SSS contributions of the spouses of its construction foremen and workers.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet (2nd from left), joined by Social Security Commissioner Diana Pardo-Aguilar (left), formally sealed the deal with MDC Employee Experience and Benefits Manager John Paulo B. Curay (3rd from left), which makes the real estate developer the newest partner in the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program (CSPP) last May 14.

Other signatories to the agreement were SSS Executive Vice President for Branch Operations Sector Voltaire P. Agas, SSS Senior Vice President for National Capital Region Operations Group Maria Rita S. Aguja, MDC Vice President for Corporate Resources and Services Group Ferdie M. Mangali, and MDC Corporate Resources and Services Group Senior Division Head Jowel C. Alcasid.

Under the agreement, Macasaet said MDC will pay the SSS contributions of their workers’ spouses for six months, which is a crucial step in initiating their membership and getting social security protection from SSS. The program will start with an initial 10 MDC workers.

“While we have signed numerous agreements with contribution subsidy providers, our partnership with MDC is truly exceptional. MDC showed its concern to their employees’ families by extending social security coverage to the wives of foremen and construction workers,” Macasaet said.

Macasaet said other companies should imitate the example set by MDC, which extends social security protection to the spouses of their workers. “SSS contributions are the greatest gift that we can give to our fellow Filipinos because they will gain access to SSS benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral, and death,” he added.

Agas said that under CSPP, a Contribution Subsidy Provider (CSP) shall pay the contributions of self-employed workers, land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), or voluntary members.

“A CSP could be a private or government individual or group willing to subsidize the SSS contributions of identified members. By participating in the CSPP, companies can demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and employee welfare while contributing to the social security protection of Filipinos,” Agas explained.

Agas said that the SSS would partner with potential CSPs who are generous enough to shoulder the total amount of contributions of their chosen SSS members for a minimum period of six (6) consecutive months.

He said that individuals, groups, or companies interested in becoming CSPs can register as CSPP partners through the Coverage and Collection Partner (CCP) Portal on the SSS website (www.sss.gov.ph), providing a clear path for those who wish to contribute to this important cause.

“They shall execute an online Certification with Undertaking or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and create an online account, wherein they provide the information of their intended contribution subsidy recipients and generate the Payment Reference Number (PRN) before paying the SSS contributions in any SSS branch office with tellering facility, SSS-accredited collection partner, or through online payment channels," Agas said.

Aguja said that MDC is among the CSPs that SSS has sealed a partnership with since the program was launched in 2022.

“As of March 2024, we have partnered with ten CSPs in the National Capital Region benefiting 685 SSS members with a total contribution collection of P783,530,” Aguja said.

She said that aside from MDC, one of the newest CSPs was Marikina City 1st District Representative Marjorie Ann A. Teodoro who allocated P8.2 million to subsidize the one-year SSS contributions of more than 1,200 tricycle operators and drivers of the Sto. Niño Unified Tricycle Operations and Drivers Association (TODA) in Marikina City.

Meanwhile, Aguja praised MDC for being very supportive in all the programs being launched by SSS. “Last year, we also sealed a partnership with MDC for setting up a localized SSS e-center within the premises of their headquarters in Taguig City,” she noted.

She added with the e-center, MDC’s 721 employees can now conduct their online SSS transactions such as filing of benefit claim and loan applications at the comfort of their corporate office.

UP Biologists Set Up First DNA Segments to Monitor In-demand Seafood

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One of the Sustainable Development Goals created by the United Nations is to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” Aquaculture, the practice of farming aquatic animals and plants such as fish and seaweed, plays a critical role in achieving food security. The Philippines and the entire Indo-Pacific region are home to various fish species with significant aquaculture potential and increased seafood consumption, therefore requiring genetic monitoring to ensure their populations’ long-term stability.

Recognizing the need to develop sustainable management approaches for the country’s emerging aquaculture species, biologists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) continued monitoring and conservation efforts for these fish species by generating their microsatellite markers.

Shenna Kate Torres, Verinna Charisse Mangonon, and Maria Theresa Tengco of the UPD-CS Institute of Biology (IB), and project leader Dr. Brian Santos of both IB and the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), developed microsatellite markers for Caranx ignobilis, locally known as maliputo or talakitok in some parts of the country.

The biologists chose maliputo for their study due to its high value as seafood. According to researchers from the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), the species’ relatively large body size and excellent meat quality have high market value, contributing significantly to the Philippines’ economic growth. Being a high-value species, maliputo has been cultured in captivity through the initiatives of the DA-NFRDI, through the Freshwater Fisheries Research and Development Center. “As it became a target fish, studying its biology is important to prevent overexploitation and to ensure sustainable aquaculture practices,” Torres added.

A microsatellite is a short segment of DNA that repeats multiple times in a row at a specific genomic location, as defined by the National Human Genome Research Institute. “Molecular markers, like microsatellites, act as tools to identify which populations are adapting well to their environment and to determine how different groups are related to each other," explained Torres.

The research results can enhance the aquaculture production of maliputo in the Philippines. “If we want to expand aquaculture practices for this species, genetic diversity studies can pinpoint seed stock populations or breeders with high genetic variation, or what we can call fit breeders,” Torres explained. “By selecting these diverse and fit breeders, we can enhance the resilience and growth rates of the farmed fish populations.” Maintaining a healthy fish population can also reduce environmental impact and lead to cost savings.

Apart from enhancing the aquaculture production of maliputo, the microsatellite markers can be used to analyze the population structure of the fish species, which can help infer whether distinct populations of maliputo exist in the Philippines. Knowing the population structure provides a basis for management strategies to conserve and sustainably manage the fish population.

The team of biologists aims to utilize microsatellites and other genetic markers to analyze wild and hatchery-grown populations of maliputo across the Philippines. Torres is also examining the genetic differences between marine and freshwater populations of maliputo. By understanding the genetics of maliputo populations and their environmental adaptations, Filipinos can develop better strategies for sustainable production and genetic marker-assisted breeding.

Their paper, “Development and Characterization of 12 Microsatellite Markers for an Economically Important Fish, Caranx ignobilis, in the Philippines,” was published in GENAQUA, a journal featuring research in the genetics and molecular biology on aquatic organisms.

Photo above is Caranx ignobilis, locally known as maliputo, became an economically important species in the Philippines due to its high value as a food fish. (Photo credit: Shenna Kate Torres)