Cheyenne Suarez

Meet the Pinay who is making a mark in Oceania's entertainment business

Article (news)

Leah C. Salterio

After marking a decade in the music and live entertainment industry, E-Talent International closed 2025 with a series of milestone productions across Oceania, reflecting both the scale of its operations and its expanding role in artist development and education.Thirteen major concerts were mounted to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary, alongside the fifth anniversary of E-Talent Musikademy.  Yet, it is the heart behind the achievements that truly defines its story.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770335720673IMG-4c97b96ca853a0114bb5206b971010ac-V.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Annabelle Regalado-Borja, CEO and founder of E-Talent International and E-Talent Musikademy</div>At the helm is Annabelle Regalado-Borja, CEO and founder of E-Talent International and E-Talent Musikademy, whose career spans continents, cultures and generations of artists. A former vice president of ABS-CBN in the Philippines, Regalado-Borja has shaped the careers of some of the industry&#x27;s top talents. That experience now fuels E-Talent’s continued success across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Oceania region.“Excellence is never accidental, it is built through trust, preparation and love for what you do,” shared Regalado-Borja. “Every concert, every student, every collaboration carries a responsibility to uplift and inspire.”<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770335786654IMG-a038c0600f6510cf002040f748c65f41-V-887x1024.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Annabelle with Gary Valenciano </div>E-Talent’s 10th anniversary was marked by a remarkable lineup of global productions that included The Eraserheads “Huling El Bimbo” world tour in Melbourne and Sydney in March, Gary Valenciano&#x27;s concert series in Brisbane, Wellington, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney also in March, Valenciano&#x27;s birthday comeback concert in Auckland and Canberra in August, and SB19 “Simula at Wakas” Oceania Tour in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland in December.These were not merely concerts as they were cultural moments that strengthened the connection between global Filipino artistry and Oceania’s diverse communities.The results spoke volumes, 100 precent partner retention, an average 95 percent venue capacity and a reputation for reliability that few in the industry can match.Regalado-Borja’s influence in 2025 was recognized on multiple fronts. She was named 2025 Ambassador for Culture and the Arts by ACI (Australian Arts Culture and Innovation) Central and Narra, and honored as a finalist for the Triple M People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Golden Crow Awards in Wagga Wagga.The accolades reflect not only Regalado-Borja’s professional excellence, but her role as a cultural bridge, uniting artistry, community and opportunity.Her leadership journey was also celebrated personally during her 50th birthday, an intimate capsule reunion held last October 9 at Cochi BGC owned by Marvin Agustin, whom she previously managed and partnered with at MediaNation, Inc.The gathering brought together family, mentors, and lifelong collaborators, including her first bosses and godparents from ABS-CBN, Charo Santos-Concio and Enrico Santos, with impromptu hosting by Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño.Surrounded by dear friends from the creative industry – director Connie Macatuno, Jim Paredes, Jackie Lou Blanco, Sitti, Juris, Jeffrey Hidalgo, Francis and Carla Concio, Bambbi Fuentes and many more, alongside her family from Australia – the evening became a quiet testament to a life devoted to people, purpose and passion.Beyond Oceania, E-Talent International has also left a mark in the Middle East, producing some of the biggest concerts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Under Regalado-Borja&#x27;s leadership, E-Talent has brought world-class artists to international stages, including Parokya ni Edgar, Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Bamboo, Vina Morales, Angelina Quinto, Sheryn Regis, David Pomeranz, Ice Seguerra, Joey Generoso, Sitti, Anne Curtis, Nadine Lustre, James Reid, Toni Gonzaga, Darren Espanto, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Alex Gonzaga, Gloc-9, Morissette Amon, and Nina, among many others.But while large-scale productions command headlines, the soul of E-Talent beats strongest in education.E-Talent Musikademy&#x27;s fifth anniversary special, “Shine: Built to Believe,” held at the CSU (Charles Sturt University) Riverina Playhouse in Wagga Wagga, was a celebration of growth, belief and possibility. Featuring over 50 students and local performers, the showcase marked five years of online and in-person music education for students across the globe.“Talent is universal, but opportunity is not,” emphasized Regalado-Borja. “Our mission has always been to meet talent with belief and to walk with our students until they believe in themselves.”In one of its most heartfelt initiatives to date, E-Talent Musikademy launched Musikademy Angels, a scholarship program dedicated to breaking barriers and making music education accessible to those who need it most.The inaugural five scholarships will support am aboriginal student, a student on Centrelink support, a student facing financial barriers, a student living with a disability, and an adult learner with limited opportunities.<div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770335827234TGFM-TEMPLATE-2025-2026-01-09T125809.538.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="950"/>Annabelle Regalado-Borja with children (from left) Sam and Ysabella Borja, spouse Rolando Borja (right) </div>For these scholars, Musikademy Angels represent more than free lessons. They represent dignity, hope and a future rewritten through music.“Music gave me a voice long before I understood my purpose,” Regalado-Borja admitted. “If we can give even one person the chance to be heard, then everything we’ve built is worth it.”With the milestones of 2025, E-Talent International and E-Talent Musikademy enter 2026 with clarity and confidence.The focus ahead is deliberate, curating only quality productions for Australia and New Zealand, while expanding Musikademy’s educational services globally, opening doors to international learning and showcase opportunities for students worldwide.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Annabelle Regalado-Borja, E-Talent International spent 2025 consolidating a decade of work in live entertainment and music education through a packed calendar of concerts and institutional milestones.

Under the leadership of founder and CEO Annabelle Regalado-Borja, E-Talent International spent 2025 consolidating a decade of work in live entertainment and music education through a packed calendar of concerts and institutional milestones.