Insider Spotlight
The group is bringing veteran automotive journalist and industry executive Ricardo “Dong” Magsajo on board as editor-in-chief, while award-winning journalist and public relations practitioner Abigail Ho-Torres joins as host of the second season of Power Podcast.
Why it matters
The personnel changes add decades of journalism and industry experience to Roar as it seeks to strengthen Power Philippines, Powered to Wellness, Agri Tayo and Ang Minero while broadening the themes covered across the publications.
Magsajo brings 25 years of automotive industry experience. He started as The Philippine STAR’s business motoring section editor before moving to Columbian Autocar Group as Peugeot Philippines marketing director. He later handled business development, sales training and media relations at Astara Philippines.
“I’m very excited to have found my way back to the publishing world via Roar. The Roar team is both uniquely skilled and fiercely driven. Adding Ho-Torres into the equation as host of one of our channel’s most followed sub-projects is a big plus as well. I think as a group we’re poised to take Roar to its next growth phase. There’s a certain synergy that we can aspire to and it’s right in front of us to tackle,” Magsajo said.
The bigger picture
Sustainability will become a more prominent theme across Roar’s publications by the fourth quarter of 2026, according to a company release.
Roar is working with the Society of Sustainability Practitioners Inc., or Sustainability PH, an industry association whose members come from business, government, academe and nonprofit organizations.
Meanwhile, Ho-Torres brings two decades of experience spanning media and utilities. She began her journalism career as a Philippine Daily Inquirer business reporter before moving into public relations.
“It’s nice to go back to my roots as a journalist. While the energy sector that I covered then is vastly different from the energy sector now, what hasn't changed are the leaders that the sector has always attracted and cultivated. Not only are they smart, they are also generous with their knowledge and eager to educate the public about the industry. I look forward to many interesting and insightful conversations,” Ho-Torres said.
What’s next
Sustainability PH sees the partnership as a way to broaden sustainability narratives beyond environmental issues and toward capacity-building and governance.
Sustainability PH president and chief sustainability officer Dave Devilles said the group wants sustainability stories to encompass not only environmental concerns but also the capabilities and governance needed to implement solutions.
“We welcome this partnership with Roar as we enter an inflection point both in our journey as an organization and amid the clamor for sustainable solutions to the many environmental and societal challenges facing our society today. Our community of sustainability practitioners is willing and able to get the real story of sustainability amplified via Roar – our common goal is to frame the narratives of sustainability beyond environmental movement but also in building capacities of people and strengthening governance to be able to effectively carry out solutions that truly work for the greater good,” Devilles said. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
