The University of the Philippines Visayas and the Philippine Information Agency Regional Office VI partnered for the media briefing roadshow of the first-ever BANTALA: UPV Media Excellence Awards among journalists and media practitioners in the region.
The roadshow was organized by the BANTALA steering committee headed by the Project Development Assistant for Communication and Mass Media of the Office of the Chancellor, Dr. Zoilo S. Andrada, Jr., in cooperation with the office of the Philippine Information Agency Region VI (PIA6) OIC-Regional Director, Mrs. Jemin B. Guillermo, on 17, 18, 19 and 22 November 2021 in the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, and Negros Occidental. The roadshow aims to increase awareness and awards knowledge (using a more personal approach) among journalists and media practitioners of each province. The roadshow encouraged the participation of journalists and media practitioners among these provinces by allowing them to showcase stories that have been written in their local language during the past three years.
During the roadshow, Dr. Andrada discussed the aims, contests, qualifications and requirements, nominations and categories, mechanics, and submission of entries and deadlines for the awards. The attendees engaged in a more detailed discussion of the specifics for each contest and were able to clarify difficulties and air concerns in the awards guidelines.
The attendees also got the opportunity to share some of their published and reported stories covering the four specific challenges that the awards are focused on: Deepening participatory democracy, protecting human rights, addressing various forms of social and cultural marginalization, and fighting against disinformation. They also talked about their love for their profession and their experiences in handling news stories. A healthy and engaging discussion took place as the attendees also shared the kind of media climate that their province has given the country's changing media, communication, and technology landscape.
Dr. Andrada added that BANTALA is just one of the many initiatives he is preparing as a Project Development Assistant for Communication and Mass Media of the Office of the Chancellor. He said that UPV, with the support of the Chancellor, plans to tie up with PIA6 and the media agencies and professionals for future research collaborations and extension activities.
PIA6 OIC-Regional Director Mrs. Jemin B. Guillermo, during the roadshow in the province of Capiz, said: “This cooperation with UPV [the touring promotion and media briefing] is just the start of an exciting journey for us [together]. I am happy that UP Visayas is having this recognition because this is the very first one in the region. It excites me most especially. This is because our media agencies and journalists in the region will be given the opportunity to be in the spotlight. For sure, our journalists and media practitioners in the region are so longing for this. This will really boost them professionally, and I am excited for it.”
OIC-RD Guillermo also said that she is excited to partner with UP Visayas for research and extension activities in the future. She is also glad to be invited to the roadshow and brush shoulders with colleagues in the profession as the pandemic restrictions loosen.
The BANTALA: UPVMEA Steering Committee reminds interested journalists and media practitioners of the deadline of submission of entries on 15 December 2021. Screening and judging of entries will follow from January to February 2022.
For more information about the First BANTALA: UPV Media Excellence Awards and Call for Nominations, please visit their official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BantalaUPVMEA, or you may reach them through email via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
