At the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt, we gather to celebrate not just our founder’s story, but the stories that continue to shape our community: stories of belief, resilience, kapwa, sacrifice, innovation, bayanihan, leadership, and opportunity.

The 2026 THRIVE Gala & Awards honors the transformative impact of Dado Banatao’s vision, and unites the community to carry the story forward. 

He wrote the first chapter. We will script the future. 

Through the voices of scholars, alumni, awardees, donors, founders, and community leaders, the evening will unfold as a collective story of impact: where we’ve come from, how we dared to dream bigger, what we’ve overcome, and what future we are building together. Not only for ourselves, but for those who would come after us.

Because our story is still being written.

And every person in the room becomes part of what comes next.