Friday, January 04, 2008

12th National Press Congress: The Clark Experience

by Cecille dela Rosa de Lemos
This writer represented Hala Birada and Madyaas Pen to the 12th National press Congress, the biggest multi–media gathering last December 14–16, 2007. It was held at Oxford Hotel, Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City. The three–day event focused on the theme “The Philippine Press: Unlocking Windows of Global Opportunities.”
Organized by the Publisher Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) under the leadership of veteran journalist/publisher and incumbent PAPI president, Juan P. Dayang, the 12th National press Congress was attended by media practitioners composed of publishers, radio/TV broadcasters, editors, columnists, photojournalists, reporters, information officers, corporate communicators, campus writers, and mass communication instructors from various schools throughout the country.
Invited speakers were: Hon. Bayani F. Fernando, Chairman of Metro Manila Development Authority; Hon. Edgardo Pamintuan, Chair of Clark – Subic Alliance Development Council; Sec. Cerge D. Remonde, Head of Presidential Management Staff; Hon. Cecile Guidote – Alvarez, Executive Director of National Commission for Culture and the Arts; Mrs. Belinda Olivarez – Cunanan, Columnist of Philippine Daily Inquirer; and Hon. Jerry L. Pelayo, Mayor of Candaba, Pampanga.
This year’s venue, the Clark Freeport Zone is a land of 4,410 hectares, Main Zone approximately 100 km north of Manila on the island of Luzon. Formerly, the USA’s largest military air base in the pacific, it is an ideal place for trade and recreation with its world–class infrastructure, state-of-the-art facilities and superb amenities.
The event culminated with an eco-tour and bird watching trip to the vast swampland and mangroves of Candaba, where the participants were treated a sumptuous lunch by Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga.
The national media gathering highlighted the celebration of December as the “National press Congress Month” and the “Month of the Community Press in the Service of the Nation” pursuant to Proclamation No. 1187 issued by the President of the Philippines.

Get Together Party

Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo sponsored a get – together party for the Aklan mediamen on December 23, 2007 at Nenette’s Garden, Roxas Avenue Extension, Kalibo, Aklan. The affair was also attended by three SP members: Hon. Plaridel Morania, Hon. Selwyn Ibarreta, and Hon. Daisy Sucro Briones.
Vice Governor Calizo gave updates on the performance of the Office of the Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan before the crowd of media practitioners in Aklan. Moreover, in her quest to professionalize journalism profession and to empower the members of the tri-media, she offered ways and means. She proposed to establish a media welfare fund to uplift the quality of the mediamen’s way of life.
Gifts and prizes were given away after a sumptuous dinner. The raffle draw brought a lot of surprises including free trip to Hong Kong. Megs Lunn and Gary Vargas were the program hosts. /MP

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