VBC and Fellow JCI Manila Members Bring HREX 2026 to Life

PASAY CITY, Philippines — Vincent Bryan Co, known in JCI Manila as VBC, closed the first HREX with a candid assessment of what its two days had shown him: the HR community wanted a place to meet, find solutions, and exchange ideas. It also wanted more room than the inaugural event could provide.

“We need a bigger space, more seating, and more room for our programs, especially given the overwhelming response to our talks and panel discussions,” VBC told the audience at the closing ceremony. “But that’s what a first event is for: to learn, listen, and improve.”

Held on September 22 and 23 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, HREX 2026 brought together HR practitioners, exhibitors, speakers, and business leaders under the theme “AI, Workforce Solutions & Beyond.” VBC co-founded the expo through a collaboration between Adele Fado Trading Corporation, where he serves as president and CEO, and Future First Talents Inc. (www.hrex.ph)

JCI Manila’s connection to HREX ran through the people who built it. Alongside VBC, fellow members Pat Soyao, Justin Francisco, and Jay Avenida were among the owners involved in the event. The chapter was also listed as an institutional partner. On the exhibit floor, Workscale, Power Mac Center, Weekend Coffee Co., and OneLife represented businesses connected to JCI Manila members.

Their presence reflected the purpose VBC described in his speech: “to create one place where HR practitioners can discover the people, products, services, and ideas they need to do their jobs better, faster, and more efficiently.”

For VBC, bringing people together at scale has taken years of work. As The Asian Pearl previously chronicled, his first Trendsetter’s Bazaar barely broke even, while a later event nearly failed before his team negotiated a postponement and worked to fill the space. Trendsetters eventually grew to mount as many as 30 events annually. (theasianpearl.com)

His record within JCI Manila is substantial, too. In 2021, VBC led the chapter’s nationwide vaccine project, which raised ₱11 million and earned him Best Member of the Year. He also helped deliver major chapter gatherings, including the 74th Induction and the 75th Anniversary Grand GMM. (theasianpearl.com)

At HREX, the Insight Stage program covered AI in recruitment and HR operations, employee wellbeing, benefits, upskilling, and leadership. Its published lineup included speakers from Jobstreet by SEEK, Canva, Sprout Solutions, TESDA, and the Management Association of the Philippines. (www.hrex.ph)

VBC thanked the exhibitors, partners, speakers, panelists, and HR practitioners who took a chance on the first edition. He acknowledged the event’s shortcomings and promised that the team would take what it learned seriously.

“This is only the beginning of HREX,” he said, “and we hope you’ll continue to be part of this journey with us.”

For the JCI Manila members who helped organize the expo and brought their businesses into it, that first edition was already a shared undertaking. VBC’s closing words made clear that they intend to keep building it.