A Bacolodnon blogger, an Ilonggo journalist, and Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo (RP1) headline the awardees of the first ever BANTALA UPV Media Excellence Awards of the University of the Philippines Visayas last March 23, 2022.
Maria Sigrid Lo, a blogger of sigridsays.com and lovinglymama.com, received three awards during the ceremony, namely Story of the Year Award for Blog, In-Depth Report of The Year for Blog, and In-Depth Report of The Year for Social Media for her articles titled “Practical reasons to get the Covid vaccine in this pandemic” and “#GetVaxxedBCD.”
Nestor Burgos, Jr., reporter for the Philippine Daily Inquirer Visayas Bureau, won In-Depth Story of the Year for Print and In-Depth Story of The Year for Website for his article “Grieving Never Stops for kin of EJK victims” and his stories “Cesspool problem hounds Boracay”; “Land rows stalling rehab of Boracay forest, wetlands”; and “Pitfalls remain on Boracay road to sustainable tourism.”
Senior Announcer Elena Pabiona and Broadcast Production Supervisor Runelyn Rocio Jamolo of Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo received the Story of the Year Award for Radio (Balita, Isyu kag Iban Pa) and In-Depth Report of The Year Award for Radio (Sanaol VAWC Free), respectively.
Also receiving awards during the ceremony were:
- Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay, freelance journalist and writer - Story of the Year for Print (Artivism puts a face on Iloilo’s vulnerable public markets)
- Jun Ariolo Aguirre, freelance journalist – Story of the Year Award for Website (Indigenous leaders killed in Philippines were ‘red-tagged’ over dam opposition)
- Ted Aldwin Ong, freelance blogger – Story of the Year for Social Media (Iloilo receives back-to-back gold awards as bicycle-friendly city)
Attending via Zoom were guests Maria Ressa, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and co-founder and CEO of Rappler, and British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils.
“As digital opens up so many possibilities, yes, the dangers are there but what each of you does today is actually going to determine, is going to create not just our present, but also our future,” Ressa said in her message.
She also urged journalists and the public to collaborate in calling out disinformation efforts.
Likewise, Beaufils also mentioned the struggles of journalists as they fight disinformation on a daily basis, adding that information is key to decision-making for communities, society, and the government.
UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano and Dr. Zoilo Andrada, Jr., professor from the Division of Humanities and UPV project development assistant for Mass Media and Communication, gave the awards during the event.
Their conversation back in December 2020 led to the creation of BANTALA, according to Andrada.
He said, “we consider the crucial role of mass media in educating and in providing accurate information, particularly in Western Visayas.”
“The University of the Philippines Visayas as an institution, recognizes the pivotal role of media in keeping democracy alive,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor said in his message, “among the things we did not anticipate is the weaponization of the internet and the scourge of digitally enabled disinformation.”
Camposano said the public must fight disinformation because “we are opposed to political exploitation and want to strengthen and deepen participatory democracy.”
The late journalist and UPV alumnus Jose Jaime “Nonoy” Espina was also given a posthumous award received by his family for his contributions to journalism in the country. He was involved with the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines’ advocacy for press freedom and advancement of media protection and safety.
An award dedicated to the late journalist, the Nonoy Espina Journalism Award, was then given to Nestor Burgos, Jr. who has embodied what Espina fought for in the last three decades.
The BANTALA UPV Media Excellence Awards aims to recognize the work of media organizations and practitioners in the Western Visayas region. The program evaluates and recognizes the covering, writing, reporting, and publishing of news stories and events on different media platforms.
It uses the Hiligaynon term ‘bantala’, which refers to announcement, information, news, publication, or notification. As a verb, the word means to publish, inform, and advise.
