MANILA – Eight distinguished alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UPCMC), including InterAksyon and BusinessWorld editor in chief Roby Alampay, were honored at the 1st Glory Awards ceremony on Saturday (November 11, 2017) at the UP Bahay ng Alumni, DIliman Quezon City.
The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Alumni Association (UPCMCAA) said the awardees were chosen for their outstanding work and influence in their chosen disciplines and advocacies. “These personalities brought not only honor and prestige to the college but also inspiration to colleagues in various fields of communication,” said UPCMCAA president Malou Fagar.
The eight awardees included LAN MERCADO, under the category “social advocacy”, who has led global advocacy campaigns that address inequality, climate change, and protecting the rights of people in conflict situations as the Asian regional director of Oxfam, one of the largest and most influential humanitarian organizations worldwide.
The UPCMC earlier described ALAMPAY – chosen for “print and online journalism” – as “a multi-tasking newsroom executive across traditional and new media platforms. Besides being EIC of InterAksyon and BusinessWorld, he is concurrently a vice president/news anchor at TV5 and sister network Bloomberg TV Philippines. His bylined op-ed pieces on topics such as democracy, human rights, and press freedom have appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and United Kingdom-based The Guardian.”
For “television arts”, ABS-CBN’s entertainment production division head LAUREN DYOGI got the award. Dyogi started his career in television 30 years ago as a writer. He has directed magazine programs showcasing Philippine culture, discovered and developed new talents, directed blockbuster films, and led teams that introduced various reality program formats.
Under “marketing communications”, RAUL CASTRO was recognized for elevating the role of agency creative chief to one who also leads a passionate and driven organization, steers the business, and turns around client fortunes. Under his current watch as chairman and CEO of advertising industry leader McCann Worldgroup Philippines, the company became the “winningest” agency in terms of pitches and new business.
UP Film Institute director SARI DALENA was cited for her works in filmmaking. She is known as a versatile indie filmmaker and has won several awards including the Gawad Urian for two short films (“Church Dogs”, “Little Crosses”) and best picture and best director honors from Cinema One Originals in 2011 for her full-length feature “Ka Oryang.”
Another Glory awardee for “film research and criticism” is well-published film scholar, critic and educator JOEL DAVID, who was instrumental in developing and enhancing the curriculum of the UP Film Institute during its formative years. He was the country’s first bachelor’s degree holder in film (to add to his UP journalism degree) and became the youngest member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.
The awardee for the field of “public relations” is independent PR practitioner JOY BUENSALIDO whose firm, Buensalido & Associates, has won several Anvil awards of excellence from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines on behalf of her local and multinational clients. She has authored books which include “Pinoy Manners: A Modern Guide to Delicadeza for All Occasions” (2016) and a coffee table book of achievers, “100 Women of the Philippines” (1999).
For “broadcast journalism” the citation went to top GMA Network news executive MARISSA FLORES who has overseen the comprehensive growth of a news organization currently airing at least eight news and 28 public affairs programs. During her tenure, GMA bagged four George Foster Peabody awards—the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer prize for newspapers—with the latest award coming for its coverage of super-typhoon Yolanda.
The panel of jurors for the Glory Awards was composed of UP College of Mass Communication dean Dr. Elena Pernia representing the communication research department; former news director of CNN Philippines and ABS-CBN News Channel Jing Magsaysay; multi-awarded writer Ricky Lee representing the film sector; former chair and president of the International Association of Business Communicators-Philippine Chapter Ritzi Ronquillo; Prof. Yvonne Chua representing the journalism department; and Prof. Betsy Enriquez for the broadcasting department. Among the criteria applied in their selection were the nominees’ professional track record, leadership and advocacies, impact of their work in the community, and the merits of work samples submitted for jury evaluation.
The Glory Awards, which honors the legacy of UP Masscom’s first dean, Dr. Gloria D. Feliciano, was the highlight of the annual alumni homecoming and grand reunion of the college.
UP CMC’s vision is that of developing socially responsible, critical and vigilant media to help create an egalitarian and progressive society. Over the years, it has produced graduates who have become leaders and movers in the Philippine mass media.
Forty of them were cited by UPCMCAA at the homecoming as past awardees, among them, Senator Loren Legarda, former Senator Orly Mercado, entertainers Ogie Alcasid and Tessie Tomas, media practitioners Luchie Cruz-Valdes, Kara David, Ed Lingao, Millet Mananquil, Malou Mangahas, Sari Yap, Ana Marie Pamintuan, Joanne Rae Ramirez, Ging Reyes, Miriam Grace Go, Abel Ulanday, and Jessica Soho; film directors Maryo de los Reyes and Raya Martin; educators Yvonne Chua, Tessa Jasminez. Dr. Victor Valbuena; film producer Ronald Arguelles; TV producer and writer Lyca Benitez-Brown; and advertising and corporate communications executives Danny Gozo, Yolly Villanueva Ong; and Rep. Ed Zialcita.
Completing the line-up of medalists were Cecile de Joya, Angelina Goloy, Hanz Lopez-Vito, Robert Mananquil, Atty. Daisy Mandap, Susanah Lily Mendoza, Nitnit Mongaya Hoegsholm, Venus Navalta, Victor Ramos, Ervin Temporal, Vic Tirol, Dr. Dante Velasco, and Atty. Rita Lina Ventura-Jimeno.
The UP CMC has three departments recognized as Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education. These are the Departments of Broadcast Communication, Communication Research and Journalism. Meantime, the UP Film Institute is the only internationally accredited film school in the Philippines with film courses at the baccalaureate and masteral levels.
