Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential rising stars, earning a spot on the prestigious 2025 TIME100 Next list for his unwavering commitment to good governance.
The 36-year-old mayor was featured under the “Leaders” category.
The Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG), a coalition of local chief executives in the Philippines where Sotto serves as a convenor, extended their congratulations and affirmed Time’s recognition—not only for his data-driven and transparent leadership, but also for his historic stand against entrenched political dynasties in Pasig City.
Sotto’s governance style was spotlighted in a tribute penned by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and journalist Maria Ressa, who praised his integrity, innovation, and courage in reshaping local politics.
“In the Philippines, fighting corruption feels like death by a thousand cuts—each small victory eroded by the system’s capacity to regenerate. But Vico Sotto is proving it can be done,” Ressa wrote.
“At 36, Pasig City’s mayor has toppled a 27-year family dynasty not through money or machinery, but through radical transparency,” she added.
“His courageous approach—data-driven, direct, and empathetic—is a master class in modern, ethical leadership and has twice won him re-election, including in May. It’s a testament to the power of the individual to ignite a movement for change,” the journalist continued.
The TIME100 Next was launched in 2019 as an extension of the TIME100 list, which highlights the world’s most influential people.
TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said the annual TIME100 Next list serves as a lens to understand global leadership and influence, featuring honorees from fields such as AI, climate, health, philanthropy, and the creative industry.
He added that it is part of TIME’s broader mission to chronicle leadership and the individuals shaping the future. (Richielyn Canlas)
