13th Nat’l. Press Congress Ends; 2 Aklanon Shine

by AMBROSIO R. VILLORENTE

“Media, Culture and the Global Crisis” served as the theme of the 13th National Press Congress held at the Teachers Camp, Baguio City on December 11 – 13, 2008.

Organized by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), it observed December as the “National Press Congress Month and the Month of the Community Press in the Service of the Nation” in pursuant to Proclamation 1187 issued by the President of the Philippines. Proclamation 1187 also mandates PAPI as the lead organization to observe National Press Congress Month.

During the National Press Congress month, various media organizations nationwide which included regional, provincial, and city newspapers, and magazine publications, press clubs and radio/TV casters conducted round table discussions, conferences, symposia, and Kapehan fora. These activities are designed to underscore the importance of information and press freedom for the welfare of the country and her people.

The 13th National Press Congress in Baguio City featured a parallel Student’s National Press Congress where some 200 students attended coming from various universities and colleges from Mindanao, Luzon and Visayas. They blended with PAPI members. With their respective advisers, they were lead officers of their college publications.

The Students National Press Congress ended with the organization of Students National Press Congress Fellows where an Aklanon student at West Visayas State University is elected Director to represent Region VI. He is Master Lorenz Paul M. Maquinto, the loving son of the renown station manager of RGMA-DYRU, Kalibo, Aklan, Kaibahang Butz Maquinto.
Likewise, another Aklanon, a student of Aklan Catholic College, Kalibo, Aklan is selected to conduct observation studies in the Republic of South Korea. Mr. Darren Naelgas is one among the five (5) students selected from a group of 15 candidates. Naelgas is the lone Visayan representative to the trip. The other four (4) are Miss Majal Talento of Mindanao University, Mr. Ralf Jake Wassingga of Davao Colleges, Miss Yannie Pascual and Mr. Gian Carlo Tafalla, both of the University of the East, Manila.

Baguio City Mayor Reynaldo Bautista welcomed the delegates of the congress to Baguio City. He boldly emphasized the best of Baguio City as a convergence center for activities like conferences, congress, conventions, and seminars. “We are near God”, he pointed out because of Baguio’s high altitude.

Hon. Cecile Guidote Alvarez – Executive Director of NCCA, spoke of Filipino culture and arts. She stressed the global competence of Filipino artists in music, sculpture, paintings and literature among others. “Convince others by means of arts, not by force”, Alvarez suggested.

Rev. Fr. Benny C. Tuazon of the Manila Archdiocesan Ecology Ministry explained the origin, causes, effects and prevention of “global warming and climate change”. The Publishers/Editor, Mr. Isagani Yambot of Philippine Daily Inquirer explained the “Collective Media Response to the Global Crisis”. He dealt on the best practices of the media to be relevant with the time. According to him, media must always be accurate.

The three-day congress closed with the awarding of “Press Freedom Award” to Sr. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Leonardo A. Quisumbing and “Man of the Year Award” to Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua. Mr. Juan “Johnny” P. Dayang, president of PAPI with the members of the Board of Directors conferred the awards to Justice Quisumbing and Amb. Cabangon. /MP