Reader’s Digest Philippines recently awarded the highly anticipated 2011 Trusted Brand Gold and Platinum trophies to more than thirty local and non-local companies at Passion Restaurant, Resorts World Manila.

The awards are based on the results of an annual consumer survey which represents the consumer seal of approval and recognition of various brands.

The Platinum awardees and their categories are Boysen ( paint), Century Tuna ( canned tuna), Equal ( sugar substitute), Monterey ( fresh meat), Nokia ( mobile phone), Philam Life ( insurance company), PLDT landline ( telecommunications), PLDY MyDSL ( Internet service provider), Pilot ( pen), St. Luke’s Medical Center ( hospital).

The Gold awardees and their categories are BPI ( credit card issuing bank), Citibank ( credit card issuing bank), BPI Asset Management ( investment fund company) Philam Asset Management, Inc. ( investment fund company), ABS-CBN ( TV network), GMA-7 ( TV network), The Medical City ( hospital), SM City North Edsa ( shopping center/mall), Jollibee ( family restaurant), Carrier ( air conditioner),Sharp ( washing machines), Whirpool ( washing machines), GE Appliances ( refrigerator), Salem ( mattress), Acer ( personal computer/desktop/notebook), Sony ( flatscreen TV), Baguio Oil ( cooking oil), Ajino-moto ( seasoning products), Magnolia Fresh Chicken ( fresh meat), Centrum ( vitamins/health supplements), Panda ( pen), Petron ( gas station) and Jessica Soho ( TV host/presenter/news/current affairs).

The Platinum awards were given by Jessica Soho, VP, News and Current Affairs- GMA-7, while the Gold awards were handed out by Assistant Secretary Domingo Ramon Enerio III for tourism planning and promotion of the Department of Tourism, Christopher Axberg, Managing Director- Reader’s Digest Asia, assisted by Philip Yeo, Advertising Director-Reader’s Digest Asia and Maricarl Garcia, Advertising Director-Reader’s Digest Philippines.

The Trusted Brands program has always provided a reliable reference for consumers’ purchasing decisions and recognizes outstanding market performers in 30 countries. In Asia, Reader’s Digest has conducted the Trusted Brands survey for 13 consecutive years in China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Survey questionnaires were inserted in the Oct 2010 issue of Reader’s Digest and included telephone surveys. The scientific, transparent methodology of the consumer research was designed by Synovate, a global consumer research company employing 5,700 staff with offices in 63 countries located in North and Latin America, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific.

One thousand consumers formed the respondents group in the Philippines with ages 20 and above, who finished at least a high school education and belonged to the top 50% of population by household income.