Celeste Ilagan has oversight of all government-related initiatives and is responsible for championing the Philippine IT-BPM sector during key discussions with policymakers and regulatory officers. She ensures that IBPAP consistently leads and stays ahead of legislative and regulatory changes that impact the industry, and proposes enabling policies that strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

Kenneth Chua is a partner and the head of Quisumbing Torres' Employment Practice Group. He is also a member of the Financial Institutions and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Groups. He participates in initiatives of Baker & McKenzie International of which Quisumbing Torres is a member firm. He is a member of Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific Employment & Compensation Steering Committee. He has 21 years of experience advising clients on various labor and employment issues, including compensation and benefits, employment contract and employee handbook.

Kenneth serves as the legal counsel representing Quisumbing Torres for the Global In-House Center Council Philippines (GICC). He sits in the Tripartite Executive Committee and the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council of the Department of Labor and Employment as representative of the employer sector. He participates in the Technical Working Group on Labor and Social Policy Issues of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines. He is consistently recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Employment by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Chambers Asia Pacific. He is also among Asia Business Law Journal’s inaugural “A-List” of the Top 100 lawyers in the Philippines. “A-List” of the Top 100 lawyers in the Philippines.

Kristine Anne Mercado-Tamayo is a partner in Quisumbing Torres’ Tax Practice Group. She heads the Industrials, Manufacturing & Transportations Industry Group and is also a member of the Consumer Goods & Retail, and the Healthcare & Life Sciences groups. She has 15 years of experience assisting and advising clients on tax issues relating to corporate restructuring and mergers and acquisitions. Kristine also handles customs and international trade matters, including border and post-clearance disputes. She advocates on clients' behalf in controversies involving disputed assessments, representing clients before the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

Kristine Anne obtained her Doctor of Law degree from the Ateneo de Manila in 2005. She is cited as a Next Generation Partner in Tax by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for 2020 to 2022.

Joemyl Baloro is an associate in Quisumbing Torres' Corporate & Commercial/M&A Practice Group. He is a member of the Firm’s Energy, Mining & Infrastructure as well as Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Groups. Prior to joining the Firm, he was an Attorney in the Merger Review Division of the Philippine Competition Commission and a Legal Counsel for Corporate & Compliance of a multinational beverage company.

Mr. Michael Montero handles the management of the Company’s APAC Legal, Compliance, and Government and Corporate Affairs functions including acting as the company's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; as well as the management of the Legal group of the Company, sitting as a Director in the Company's boards; performs functions as Chief Privacy Officer; and also acts as the Company’s Government and Corporate affairs lead.

His specific responsibilities include ensuring compliance with all local and international laws and rules to cover regulatory, privacy, employment, etc. requirements; negotiating all contracts to be entered into by the Company within the APAC region with clients, vendors, affiliate entities, real estate partners, government agencies, educational institution partners, etc.; counsel for transactions and regulatory issues on privacy, employment, etc. of affiliates within the region such as China, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, New Zealand, etc.; handling of all employee-related issues including establishment of employment-related policies to cover its 100,000 employees (single largest private employer in the Philippines) as well as case management of court-filed cases; primary liaison between the company and government agencies with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; representing the company and the industry on lobbying efforts for related and appropriate legislation; leading all initiatives with the economic zone authorities having jurisdiction over the company; covering immigration and visa requirements of foreign national employees; and coordinating and providing directions to external legal advisors.

Lylah brings with her more than 19 years of experience in real estate markets of Metro Manila and other provinces; she plays a key role in promoting end-to-end real estate solutions for corporate clients.



Her current responsibilities include ensuring a high degree of client satisfaction by providing comprehensive, effective and innovative real estate transaction services to commercial corporate occupiers. These services include assistance in site selection, in-depth reviews, financial analysis and negotiations and overseeing implementation in line with clients' business strategy.

Mikko is a licensed real-estate broker and Director of Leechiu Property Consultants real estate brokerage services company operating in the Philippines. Back in 2018 he was awarded as Young Achiever of the Year by the Philippines Best Brands Awards and was recognized by the Manila Times as part of the distinguished list of Board Room watch subjects.