OMGI History - AGC Power Holdings Corp.

The Business Evolution

“The best things start small.” This was famously said by the iconic Sari V. Yap, founder of MEGA magazine and a giant in the Philippine publishing scene. Taking inspiration from a Spanish magazine called Telva, Sari desired to create a fashion magazine that caters especially to Filipino women. MEGA was born in 1992 with a great vision and ambition: to be the Philippines’ Best Fashion Magazine. From its humble beginnings (its office was located beside a chicken farm), MEGA quickly established itself as the country’s leading fashion and lifestyle magazine publisher.

1992: Sari V. Yap established MEGA as the leading fashion and lifestyle magazine in the country. The logo, simple and straightforward, is realized in the original font of the magazine.

2007: After the launch of Meg, MyHome, BluPrint, and the acquisition of Lifestyle Asia, the expansion of MEGA continued by introducing more titles under its belt such as Appetite, Condo Living, Celebrity Living, and Inside Showbiz. Manifesting its growth, what was now known as MEGA Publishing Group saw a symbol of a tree encircled in red, with each brand represented in the branches.

2010: One MEGA Group started conquering the world of television beginning with the creation of Generation Mega. Shifting from the striking red, the color of MEGA Publishing Group, which still stood as the sturdy foundation for the tree, would change to blue as this represented stability. To further realize the expansion beyond print, more leaves sprouted from the tree, signifying growth.

2012: To stay relevant in a highly-dynamic global market, One MEGA expanded the reach of its titles. The signature titles were no longer limited to its magazines, but instead evolved to be multi-platform media brands making each title available in print, television, events, and digital. This evolution meant a change in the logo. The word “One” in the new name meant one ecosystem.

2021: The brand new logo of One MEGA Group Inc. is a dandelion, which represents clarity and ease in facing the future. Surrounding the beautiful flower that is continuously growing and representing OMG as a trendsetter and an influencer to all audiences, is a new palette of pastel colors that symbolize happiness and positivity.

In The Beginning

1992

Sari Yap brought the industry of glossy fashion magazines to the Philippines when she founded MEGA back in 1992. She built MEGA during a time when the business was unheard of and unseen in the country. At the onset of MEGA’s rich history, it was already breaking barriers as the maiden issue featured top Filipina model Gerone Olorocisimo. With its signature bold masthead, this new magazine caught the eye of the new market of fashion-forward Filipinos.

Surviving Challenges

1998

When the Asian Regional Crisis struck the country in 1997, extending until 1998, the business of luxury was greatly impacted and with that, MEGA. In order to survive, there was a need to increase the variety of magazines MEGA offered. There needed to be a brand that was not dependent on luxury and will cater to the youth who patronize more affordable, everyday brands. Meg emerged in 1998 to capture this younger generation of stylish readers.

1999

BluPrint was launched as the country’s first architecture and design sourcebook. The title allowed the company to venture out into industries outside of fashion and lifestyle, featuring architecture and the allied arts—interior design, landscape architecture, urban design, environmental planning, including fashion and furniture design. BluPrint was later expanded to other magazines including MyHome and Condo Living.

The Acquisition

A banner year for the company, Lifestyle Asia, the oldest glossy magazine in the Philippines, solidified the group’s veritable magazine empire in the Philippines. Also part of its roster were Celebrity Living and Inside Showbiz, which extended its reach to the entertainment industry. Inside Showbiz was published as a print magazine until 2016 before transitioning as a website thereafter until 2019.

Brand Expansion

2000

The company expansion continued through the acquisition of magazines that cater to various industries to grow the reach of its titles. The addition of world-class Filipino magazines included Appetite and MyHome, which grew the influence of the company in the fields of food along with home and design. Appetite magazine was printed until 2016 while MyHome magazine was printed until 2018.

Going Higher

2007

One MEGA Group continued to grow its empire in 2007 with the launch of Condo Living, a title that featured everything about the sky-high lifestyle. The magazine included interior design tips which taught readers how to be comfortable in their own space.

Calendars And Books

2008

Seeing that there was a need to create executions appropriate and necessary for specific markets, One MEGA started producing cook books and calendars for Appetite in 2008. Soon after, other titles would mark milestones with coffee table books from 2010 such as MyHome (2016), Lifestyle Asia (2013), MEGA (2019), and MEGA Weddings (2018). And in 2014, the company published Paano Ba ‘To?! (How To Survive Growing Up) by Bianca Gonzalez.

TV Shows

Moving beyond the world of publishing, One MEGA Group ventured into television, beginning with the birth of Generation MEGA, a fashion design competition. Generation MEGA eventually led to more TV shows including I am Meg, MEGA Fashion Crew, MyHome TV, Appetite Wars and much more that aired on cable channels and free TV in the Philippines and abroad.

Multi-Platform

2013

When the time came to extend its reach, One MEGA Group brought its signature glossy magazines to multiple platforms and channels. Going global allowed One MEGA Group to stay relevant and keep up with the demands of the ever-changing market. MEGA realized the importance of being available on a digital platform to stay ahead with this new digital age and to reach not only younger readers but the international market as well.

Her Legacy Lives On

2019

One of the darkest times for the group. On September 9, 2019, its founder, Sari V. Yap, passed away after battling cancer. “I think of when I started, and what I’ve become, and how I’ve evolved with the magazine. Some people might feel sad about it, when they realize that their time or their job is done, but with me I don’t feel that way,” she once said in the Making MEGA in South Africa documentary. “It’s because I feel that I have truly done what I was supposed to do, which was to make sure MEGA, my legacy, outlives me. And I think that’s the hallmark of a good founder.”

Before her passing, Sari Yap appointed Archie Carrasco as the second President and CEO of One MEGA Group. Through his guidance, the multi-platform business was reconsidered and recalibrated to even greater heights.

2019

New Beginning

2020

As the world settled into the new normal brought by the global pandemic, One MEGA Group had to adjust to the drastic changes of the once fast-paced media industry. The company rationalized magazines that did not serve their purpose anymore and thus needed new media brands that would better connect the company to its audience.

This began One MEGA Group’s refresh of all its existing media brands. To better serve the public and adapt to the company’s vision of the future of Philippine media, One MEGA Group once again broke barriers by unifying industry experts and thought leaders in one place through the birth of ONEMEGA.com.

ONEMEGA.com is the ultimate Filipino lifestyle portal showcasing an elite list of columnists. It is composed of over 50 contributors who specialize in 15 different categories. Through its expert-backed content and its foundational value of being “the standard for Filipino media excellence,” the company now serves a dependable and established guiding light to Filipinos.

With a clearer direction set for ONEMEGA.com, primarily focused on business with a hint of lifestyle, the new logo has adapted the brand’s goals of providing readers with inspiring, informative, and relevant stories with authority, credibility, and purpose. The new logo puts focus on the word ONE instead of MEGA to give the brand its own distinctive look. ONE is also synonymous to being on top, the alpha, the prime, and the best. The new logo is bold, commanding, and straightforward. This is the new ONEMEGA.com.

Turning 30

2021

30 years later, as the movements of time and the birth of a new generation continually shape the consumption of communication, the company’s need to adapt to the necessary changes of context, circumstance, and crisis has turned the corner once more. This began with building and strengthening the ecosystem of One MEGA Group beyond just pure publishing. At the helm of transforming the company from a traditional media company to a multi-platform media conglomerate was Archie Carrasco, who now is Chairman and CEO of One MEGA Group, as well of AGC Power Holdings Corp., the marketing ecosystem that includes Mega Global Licensing Inc., DigistarPH Inc., and Seven Six Four Zero, Inc. (7640). In April 2021, Suki Salvador took over the command of One MEGA Group after being appointed as the new President, while Carrasco, who still sits as the CEO, focuses on growth and expansion through AGC Power Holdings Corp.

2021

As One MEGA Group celebrates three decades in the industry, the new and challenging current realities are proving to be a crucial time to evolve, to recalibrate the mindset within and to commit to growing within and beyond the industry.

To herald this new chapter in the company’s history, President of One MEGA Group, Suki Salvador introduced this new chapter with the reveal of a new symbol to signify the striking shift. “Our symbol is now a dandelion. It is a beautiful flower that is light, a flower that rises with very little effort. That’s who we will be. Our dandelion is also a seed that when planted, it grows and grows and grows,” he explains. “This represents our company, a true trendsetter in everything that we do, an influencer to any audience that we speak to. Our new logo can now also be used in different pastel variations, something that is calming and soothing, but also a palette that represents the current audience: young, energetic, and fun.”

After a year, Salvador stepped down to take the lead as president of MEGA Global Licesning Inc. To continue serving purposeful content for Filipinos, One MEGA Group needed a new captain of the ship. And former president Archie Carrasco was the perfect man for the role. He came back as the spearheader of the company with a bigger vision and a bigger mission.

The Future is Here

2022

At the onset of its third decade as a dominant force in its various industries, One MEGA Group continues to aim higher and strive for better, with a grateful reverence for its past, but with an eye for the future and the now.

MEGA Magazine celebrated its 30th year with a special 3-cover MEGA issue and a nationwide virtual celebration that saw all its iconic cover stars share their personal MEGA Story, causing a social media storm.

The groundbreaking trio of covers saw MEGA underlining its commitment to uplift and empower the Filipino. It took on three of the biggest issues that were raging in the country: the devastation of our environment caused by natural and man-made disasters, the volatility of the upcoming presidential elections, and the plea for vaccines against the pandemic. While MEGA had always stood for something beyond beautiful fashion and images, this pioneering issue did this in the language of every relevant generation. If it wasn’t clear then, it was now: MEGA speaks to everyone.

Despite a global pandemic and widespread economic uncertainty marked by the challenges of fake news and political strife, it was clear that MEGA has retained its authority and its integrity. And it will continue to strive for this level of excellence into the future.

Along with celebrating three decades of Filipino media excellence, brand new additions to the illustrious MEGA brand were introduced, MEGA Active and MEGA Drag. Guiding people in the world of health, wellness, and fitness, MEGA Active is here to give you all the latest from workout and diet trends to trusted advice on your health and well-being in a fun and fashionable manner. Since its inception, it has featured the country’s very own world-class athletes including Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz and volleyball superstar, Majoy Baron.

Being the first and longest-running fashion publication in the Philippines, MEGA has strived not only to adapt to the changing times, but to break barriers in the industry and put stories that positively impact the lives of others in the forefront of its pages. The magazine will continue to celebrate LGBTQIA+ advocates, icons, and trailblazers, as it introduces MEGA Drag. This platform seeks to empower and celebrate the art of drag and the stories of the community by elevating beauty and fashion to the next level, pushing boundaries, and inspiring people of the modern world to be FIERCE, FABULOUS, and FREE. Gracing the maiden issue of MEGA Drag was Paolo Ballesteros, who has gained worldwide acclaim for his jaw-dropping makeup transformations and showed how one can harness the power of drag in everyday life.

Continuing to elevate media entertainment, MEGA ventures into sports for the first time in 30 years. An aspirational lifestyle sports title, The GAME, is established to celebrate the true spirit of sports through the lens of the Filipino experience.

The GAME has arrived to redefy how sports is viewed through shedding light on each and every individual in the community. It will chronicle the latest industry news, historical wins, and iconic stories that feature various perspectives from athletes on top of the play and coaches, team owners, even fans behind the scenes. Captured on The GAME’s inaugural issue is the historical victory of 17-year-old tennis prodigy Alex Eala and her post-championship at the juniors’ Grand Slam girls singles championship feat in the 2022 US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. Highlighting her groundbreaking win, The GAME wanted to honor and recognize the talent that Filipinos can offer as they continue to rule the world of sports.

Now navigating to the business sphere, MEGA sets the standard by bringing the country’s first online subscription-based business website, The Business Manual. It is positioned as the authority guide in embodying business and personal achievement with the primary message, “Your Success Starts Here”.

The title is designed to cater to aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, as well as young professionals who seek to learn the ropes in their respective fields. But beyond the how to’s, news, and more, The Business Manual aims to share the success stories of well-established business figures in the country. Just like networking—one of the key tools in doing business—The Business Manual aims to connect aspiring professionals with these brilliant minds.

The Business Manual’s maiden issue featured none other than Globe Telecom Inc. President and CEO Ernest Cu signaling the beginning of the brand’s mission.

Ready to line future plans with networking events, business award ceremonies and a Philippine business pitch competition, The Business Manual is ready to continue the legacy of One Mega Group’s media prestige–one future success story at a time.