The State of the Nation in AI

Mark S. Gorriceta is the Managing Partner and Head of the Corporate, Banking and Finance, and Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) Groups of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra. – a multi- awarded and full-service Philippine law firm established in 2015 with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

He represents domestic conglomerates in their digitization efforts as well as the Philippines’ top technology companies – both local and global entities – and further renders his expertise in corporate structuring, tax, banking & finance, capital markets, equity financing, and in navigating complex cross-border commercial transactions. With over 20 years of experience in private practice, Mark has developed an extensive expertise in complex corporate transactions, commercial contracts, and regulatory matters in a range of areas that impact businesses – whether for start-ups or for Top 1000 companies in the Philippines. He is a leading lawyer in the Philippines in the fields of Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Securities Law. Mark has been recognized as one of the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers for four consecutive years (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024) by the Asia Business Law Journal. With pioneering expertise on the law on digital assets, fintech, blockchain, virtual currencies, e-commerce, data privacy, and artificial intelligence, he is legal counsel to the biggest and most impactful technology and online companies in the Philippines and has been recognized as one of the Top Technology Media & Telco Lawyers in Asia and Ranked # 1 in the Philippines in the Tech/Fintech space.

A member of the Philippine Bar, Mark graduated law with honors and holds a Bachelor of Arts – Political Science degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. He completed certificate courses in Finance at the Asian Institute of Management. He attended certificates courses in Corporate Finance at Harvard University. He also completed several Masterclasses on Blockchain, Distributed Ledger & Smart Contracts in Singapore and Hong Kong. Mark is currently a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila University’s Graduate School of Business and teaches Mergers & Acquisitions for the Advanced Module Diploma Course in Corporate Finance. Mark also serves as lecturer at the Fintech and Regulatory Innovation Program of the Mapua University in collaboration with the University of Cambridge of England.

Dr. Donald Patrick Lim stands as one of the Philippines’ most accomplished and forwardlooking leaders in the fields of digital transformation, business innovation, and nationbuilding. He currently serves as President of DITO CME Holdings Corporation, a publicly listed investment holding company with interests in telecommunications, media, and technology, including DITO Telecommunity. He is also the President of the Management Association of the Philippines for 2026.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Lim has held key leadership roles across multiple industries — media, advertising, telecommunications, and digital — making him one of the few executives with deep, cross-sector expertise. He previously served as Country CEO of Dentsu Aegis Philippines, Chief Digital Officer of ABS-CBN Corporation, Managing Director of MRM Manila, and CEO of Yehey Corporation and Media Contacts Manila. Across these positions, he helped shape the evolution of the Philippine digital economy and mentored a new generation of marketing and technology professionals.

Recognizing the need for national collaboration in emerging technologies, Dr. Lim founded the Blockchain Council of the Philippines and the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, and he is the Trustee and Board Chair of the Global AI Council Philippines. These organizations unite government, industry, and academe to build digital trust, advance innovation, and prepare the Philippines for the challenges of an AI-driven and blockchain-enabled future. His leadership has made him a central figure in the country’s efforts to establish governance frameworks and ethical standards in the digital age.

Beyond his corporate and advocacy work, Dr. Lim is a respected educator, researcher, and thought leader. He has taught in leading universities, including the University of Asia and the Pacific, De La Salle University, San Beda University, and Enderun Colleges, where he currently teaches courses on Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. He has also been an adjunct professor at the Asian Institute of Management and Bradford University in the United Kingdom.

Catherine Denise “Catz” GACPh Jalandoni is a leading voice in ethical AI, digital governance, and inclusive innovation— shaping conversations that bridge technology, policy, and social impact across borders.

As President of the Global AI Council Philippines, she advances responsible AI adoption while positioning the Philippines within global dialogues on artificial intelligence, fintech, and emerging technologies.

Catz also serves as the President of the Global AI Council Philippines and the Institute of Corporate Directors Philippines, where she champions leadership excellence, corporate responsibility, and future-ready governance. Through CSJ Events Management, she leads advocacy-driven initiatives that convene government, industry, and civil society around transformative ideas and policy-aligned innovation.

A passionate advocate for women’s leadership in technology, Catz consistently amplifies the role of women in shaping ethical, inclusive, and people-centered digital futures. Her work emphasizes the importance of governance frameworks that ensure AI and fintech innovations expand opportunity, protect trust, and deliver real social value.

Beyond her professional leadership, Catz brings a deeply human lens to innovation. As a mother of five and a recognized thought leader in AI and digital transformation, she inspires others—especially women— to take space, own their expertise, and lead with conviction. Her leadership reflects a powerful blend of policy insight, entrepreneurial drive, and values-based advocacy, ensuring that technology serves not just markets, but people and communities worldwide.