Meet Bran Reluao, the 'digital diplomat' and PH's youngest special envoy to Thailand

GMA Network

6 days ago

The world of diplomacy is a highly respected field in which seasoned diplomats represent their countries to foster communication and build relationships with other nations.
Traditionally, members of the diplomatic corps rise through the ranks as career diplomats, but the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is welcoming a new wave of younger individuals into the fold.
Meet Bran Reluao. At just 28, the communications graduate from Far Eastern University — who also has an MBA in Business Administration from Philippine Christian University — holds the distinction of being the Philippines' youngest Special Envoy to the Kingdom of Thailand. He was appointed in May and assumed office a month later.
Unlike career diplomats, his Special Envoy designation is not the result of climbing the traditional ranks, but a Presidential appointment, a role given to individuals tasked with specific roles abroad.
Speaking to GMA News Online, Reluao admitted to initially feeling hesitant about the appointment. Engaging with seasoned individuals in the diplomatic world is its own kind of intimidating, after all.
But he eventually warmed up to the idea, stepped up for the role, and was even dubbed the "digital diplomat guy."
Talking about being the youngest in the nation's diplomatic world, Reluao said he was surprised at how welcoming his colleagues were at the Department of Foreign Affairs to his appointment, washing away his hesitation.
"It was a fun conversation that they told me, 'We are so thrilled that there's now a digital diplomat,'" he recalled.
"I'm very passionate about digital innovation, so they're very excited and welcoming about it," he added.
Tasks as a special envoy
While special envoys are typically sent to handle trade and investment partnerships in other countries, Reluao's assignment is unlike most others.
His mission in Thailand revolves around technology innovation to promote digital transformation in the Philippines.
"My very diplomatic mission is to build a Philippine-Thailand tech corridor. Because there's already a Thailand-Malaysian tech corridor or a Malaysian-Indonesian tech corridor, but there's no existing tech corridor between the Philippines and Thailand," he said.
Tech corridors mean the exchange of ideas between two countries through learning and cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, technology, digital innovation, among others.
Reluao's diplomatic mission is part of the country's preparation to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026, where digital diplomacy will be a key theme.
Through his Special Envoy role, Reluao aims to draw lessons from Thailand's impressive technological progress, particularly from Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), which he described as "an agency dedicated only to the digital economy."
One of his goals is to spark a similar movement like DEPA in the country by advocating for a more dedicated agency focused on digital innovation, beyond what current institutions like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) can offer.
Reluao also seeks to support the President's aim to lower the internet costs in the Philippines by learning from Thailand's impressive internet infrastructure.
"Here in the Philippines, our internet per month, for example, P999 is already equivalent to a whole year in Thailand. So the President wants to slash the internet cost," he said.
Aside from digital connectivity, Reluao is also looking into Thailand's financial literacy in terms of the widespread usage of digital banking, as well as its rising startup culture.
The Special Envoy has already made early strides in his newly minted role. On his latest trip to Thailand, Reluao visited Chulalongkorn University and was impressed by the Integrated Innovation program designed to create startup-ready graduates.
"Their goal is that by the end of their four-year term, they would have a business, a licensed business," he said, adding that the idea is something he can push for in terms of education in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, in June, he attended the Japan-ASEAN Startup Business Matching Fair 2025, where the representatives of participating countries engaged in meaningful dialogue about trade, investment, innovation, and industrial cooperation.
In July, Reluao hosted an appreciation dinner for Thai Embassy officials to culminate their latest cultural visit to Intramuros, the walled City of Manila.
With just less than two months in, his visit to Thailand and attendance at the business matching fair in Japan are among the significant things he has done and participated in as a Special Envoy.
The pulse of the youth
Beyond his diplomatic duties, Reluao is also the chief executive officer of RepublicAsia, a data-driven advertising and media company he founded in 2022, that taps into the youth's sentiments, behavior, and values.
"At RepublicAsia, we have data scientists who understand the behavior of the young generation, and then they start creating publication materials based on that," he said.
Sharing his insights on today's youth and based on RepublicAsia's latest data, Reluao said Gen Zs place importance on three major things as of the moment: mental health and advocacy, respecting one's gender identity and pronouns, and embracing flexible setups in the workplace.
Regarding mental health, Reluao said that in RepublicAsia specifically, he lets his staff take their time with work so as to avoid unnecessary pressure.
"Most of the big corporations don't understand that being creative, being a good writer, needs a certain amount of time to [hone your work]," he said. "But some people are pressured to do things because they have certain numbers to [catch]."
Reluao champions a culture where young writers and creatives are free to express themselves without pressure by allowing them "to write freely."
"We still have an editor-in-chief so it should still be aligned with journalistic ethics and code. But I give them freedom to write in their own way," he said.
Meanwhile, Reluao is all for respecting gender identity and knowing one's pronouns.
"I have noticed that people in the younger generation are very particular with their pronouns, with their identifications," he said, adding "I think we need to be mindful and be respectful of that, on how they identify themselves."
Another trend among the youth, according to Reluao, is the shift toward flexible and remote work environments.
"[My staff] keeps telling me that in the office, they are pressured compared to when they are working, say, in coffee shops or wherever they want," he said.
Reluao said he has no problem with flexible setups, as long as "they can perform and submit their outputs."
The young CEO sees this evolving culture not as resistance, but as a new standard, especially with Gen Zs slowly dominating the workforce.
"Big corporations need to understand that we are now becoming more diversified and more outspoken," he said. "Gen Zs are not afraid to talk."
Reluao makes his own appointment as a Special Envoy as an example of Gen Zs undeniable presence in the workforce, reflecting Marcos' belief that young voices should be included in shaping the future.
"I think the President believes that we need new, young blood in the government," he said.
"We need more [of the] younger generation to think, to be outspoken, and not to be afraid," he said. "That's how the country should move forward."
Personal advocacy on digital inclusion
Staying true to his commitment to digital inclusion and innovation, Reluao launched the Pay IT Forward initiative in April, which aims to provide digital tools and training to underserved students and educators nationwide.
This initiative is in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Budget and Management, the DICT, and iACADEMY.
The Pay It Forward initiative has also partnered with Sparkle GMA Artist Center to give Sparkle artists and Status by Sparkle content creators workshops and scholarships.
Earlier in July, Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School in Marawi City, a learning institution that previously benefited from classrooms built by the GMA Kapuso Foundation, received a donation of 150 tablets and three 50-inch smart TVs through the Pay IT Forward initiative.
According to Reluao, it was his first time visiting Marawi with Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, GMA Network senior vice president, for the turnover of the educational tablets and smart TVs.
"There's nothing more powerful than the smile of a child filled with hope," he wrote on Instagram.
"Seeing the kids light up as they received their tablets was a reminder of the endless possibilities that come with access to education and opportunity," he added.
If there is one thing about Reluao, it's that when it comes to making a difference, it's not about the age; it's about your purpose.
He may be the youngest Special Envoy in the Philippines, but his vision is far-reaching: a digitally empowered generation and a country that embraces innovation without leaving anyone behind.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News