Cebu Daily News, Sun.Star Davao win major community press awards

In a virtual repeat of last year, daily newspapers Sun.Star Davao of Davao City and Cebu Daily News of Cebu City won the most awards during the 2007 Annual Community Press Awards last May 29 at the Diamond Hotel Philippines. The event was under the auspices of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), the national association of newspapers.

Sun.Star Davao won three awards: best in photojournalism, best in science and environmental reporting and best editorial page. Cebu Daily News followed with two: best in business and economics reporting and best edited paper. Last year, Sun.Star Davao won best edited paper, while Cebu Daily News took home the prize for best editorial page.

Among the weekly publications, there were no multiple winners. Four were from Luzon and one from the Visayas.

Pampanga News of Mabacalat, Pampanga won best in photojournalism; Balikas of Lipa City for science and environmental reporting; Baguio Midland Courier of Baguio City for business and economics reporting; Mabuhay of Bulacan for best edited paper; and MetroPost of Dumaguete for best editorial page.

During the 12^th awards ceremony, Mabuhay, Sun.Star Cebu and Sun.Star Davao were presented with citations for their contributions to and consistent practice of civic journalism from 2002 to 2007.

The awards program hosted by ANC host Tony Velasquez was the highlight of the PPI’s National Press Forum on Building Better Communities Through Civic Journalism. The three-day event gathered over 130 regional publishers, editors, reporters, members of the civil society, NGOs, officials from the government and business sectors, teachers and students to discuss media concerns such as the right of reply, human security act, safety of journalists, human development policies and libel cases. A press conference on impunity was also conducted by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility in line with the Marlene Esperat Murder Case.

It was the grandest annual gathering in PPI history that introduced many novelties such as the showcase of the best practices on Civic Journalism by Sun.Star Cebu, Sun.Star Davao, Mabuhay, Balikas and Mindanao Times; the first-ever media bazaar which sold PPI-marked items, booths of sponsors and a raffle of corporate giveaways.

Many Institute members felt the conference was by far the best in recent years and noted how the opening ceremony through an ecumenical prayer in honor of slain journalists added a dignified bearing and significance to the entire proceedings.

The 2008 Membership Meeting was capped with the induction of the newly-elected PPI Board by Atty. Midas Marquez, the spokesperson of the Office of the Honorable Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Sworn into office were: Amado P. Macasaet (Malaya), chairman-president; Isagani M. Yambot (Philippine Daily Inquirer), vice-chairman; Dalmacio Grafil (Leyte Samar Daily Express), corporate secretary and trustee for Visayas; and trustees Quirino Alban (Makiling Journal, for Luzon), Fr. Jonathan Domingo, OMI (MIndanao Cross, for Mindanao), Augusto Villanueva (Journal Group of Publications), Juan Mercadao (Press Foundation of Asia), and Jose L. Pavia (executive director). Unable to make it were Vergel O Santos (BusinessWorld), Rogelio Salazar (Manila Standard Today) and Antonio Katigbak (The Philippine Star).

Thanks to our sponsors

THE COCA-COLA EXPORT CORPORATION
major partner of the PPI

MALAYA
BUSINESSWORLD
JOURNAL GROUP OF PUBLICATIONS
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
MANILA STANDARD TODAY
PILIPINO STAR NGAYON
ABANTE (for the free print ads)
SM – P75,000.00
NAPOCOR – P75,000.00
PAGCOR – amount yet to be confirmed
PLDT – P50,000.00
UNILEVER – P25,000.00 and gift packs
PLCPD – P20,000.00
FFFJ and CMFR – partial hosting of luncheon press conference on impunity
ROBINSONS – P20,000.00 worth of gift checks
PHILAMLIFE – gift items such as bags, collared shirts, jackets worth P65,000.00
PROSOURCE – P5,000.00 and assorted medicines
MICROSOFT – round-neck shirts
GIFT SOLUTIONS – free tokens/mouse pads
GENERAL MILLING – KDO instant coffee and chips
RUBERT JAMES EXHIBITS – discounts on booth rental
ANGEL ARTS – five plaques free
DENTAL FIRST – gift certificates on dental services
ISLAND ROSE.NET – roses and gift certificates
CHOWKING – lunch pack for students
ART ANGEL – discount on printing of the magazine ‘Press Forum’

RADIO PARTNERS
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Sparks and Kindle, Inc., the events management group in-charge of marketing and promotions sought sponsorships to raise funds to help defray expenses. Tokens were distributed to PPI-member delegates and used as raffle prizes.

Philippine Press Council Resolution

Philippine Press Council Resolution

WHEREAS the Constitution guarantees against any laws that will abridge the freedom of the press;
WHEREAS libertarian democracies interpret press freedom as freedom from prior restraint and from subsequent punishment for good-faith publication, and the right to information;
WHEREAS there is jurisprudence protecting the press from prior compulsion as to what to publish;
WHEREAS journalists accept the possibility that their reporting and commentaries may sometimes be challenged;
WHEREAS most newspapers have a built-in mechanism for publishing corrections, rebuttals, replies, counter-versions;
WHEREAS about one hundred newspapers affiliated with the Philippine Press Institute fall under the ethical jurisdiction of the Press Council;
WHEREAS the Philippine Press Council has a mechanism for right-of-reply appeals;
WHEREAS the PPI has bound itself to support all decisions of the Press Council and to impose sanctions on erring members if necessary;
WHEREAS there were as many as three bills pending in both Houses of Congress criminalizing the failure to publish a reply;
WHEREAS a statutory right of reply has been deemed a form of prior compulsion;
WHEREAS, the Press Council has assured the legislator authors of their commitment to guarantee the right of reply without the need for legislation;
WHEREAS Sen. Pimentel has expressed his openness to a private right of reply;
WHEREAS Rep. Angara has withdrawn his bill from the Committee on Public Information;
WHEREAS the Fair Elections Act (R.A. 9006) has a mandatory right of reply provision; 
WE THEREFORE, reaffirm our commitment to a voluntary right of reply;
URGE Sen. Pimentel and Rep. Puentevella to withdraw their respective bills and 
IMPLORE the Philippine legislature to repeal Section 10 of R.A. 9006.

Adopted by the Philippine Press Institute on May 29, 2008 during the 12th National Press Forum

Filipino Journalists killed in the line of duty since 1986

Photo by Kara Santos/PPI
FILIPINO JOURNALISTS/MEDIA PRACTITIONERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY SINCE 1986

Date of Death	Name
1986-Apr-24	Pete F. Mabazza
1986-Apr-25	Wilfredo Vicoy
1987-Apr-12	Dionisio Perpetuo Joaquin*
1987-Aug-27	Narciso Balani
1987-Aug-27	Rogie Zagado
1987-Aug-27	Leo Palo
1987-Aug-27	Cesar Maglalang
1987-Aug-28	Martin Castor
1987-Oct-04	Ramon Noblejas
1987-Oct-10	Leo Enriquez III
1988-Mar-29	Noel Miranda
1988-Aug-12	Ruben R. Manrique**
1988-Oct-30	Josef Aldeguer Nava
1989-Oct-17	Severino Arcones
1989-Dec-01	Eddie Telan
1990-Feb-4	Enrique Lingan
1990-Feb-6	Joseph "Joe" Kreuger
1990-May-15	Reynaldo Catindig, Sr.
1990-Jul-08	Jean Ladringan
1991-Apr-14	Nesino Paulin Toling*
1992-Jul-01	Danilo Vergara
1992-July-3	Abdulajid "Jade" Ladja
1992-Sep-21	Rev. Greg Hapalla
1992-Dec-02	Gloria Martin
1993-Jan-11	Romeo Andrada Legaspi
1996-Feb-12	Ferdinand Reyes
1996-Dec-15	Alberto Berbon*
1997-Jun-03	Daniel J. Hernandez
1997-Dec-17	Regalado Mabazza
1998-Feb-15	Odilon Mallari*
1998-Mar-29	Rey Bancairin
1998-Oct-30	Dominador "Dom" Bentulan
1999-Jan-21	Bienvenido Dasal
1999-Apr-25	Frank Palma*
2000-May-23	Vincent Rodriguez
2000-Nov-17	Olimpio Jalapit
2001-Jan-03	Rolando Ureta
2001-Feb-24	Mohammad Yusoph
2001-May-30	Candelario “Jhun” Cayona**
2002-May-13	Edgar Damalerio *
2002-Aug-22	Rhode Sonny Esguerra Alcantara
2003-Apr-28	John Belen Villanueva, Jr.
2003-May-17	Apolinario "Polly" Pobeda***
2003-Jul-08	Bonifacio Gregorio
2003-Aug-19	Noel Villarante**
2003-Aug-20	Rico Ramirez**
2003-Sept-06	Juan "Jun" Pala
2003-Dec-02	Nelson Nadura
2004-Feb-11	Rowell Endrinal
2004-Jun-17	Elpidio “Ely” Binoya**
2004-Jul 31	Roger Mariano***
2004-Aug-05	Arnnel Manalo**
2004-Sept-29	Romeo Binungcal
2004-Oct-19	Eldy Gabinales, aka Eldy Sablas
2004-Nov-12	Gene Boyd Lumawag
2004-Nov-15	Herson Hinolan
2005-Mar-24	Marlene Esperat*
2005-May-04	Klein Cantoneros
2005-May-10	Philip Agustin***
2005-Jul-05	Rolando Morales
2005-Nov-18	Ricardo Uy
2005-Nov-20	Robert Ramos
2005-Dec-01	George Benaojan
2006-Jan-20	Rolly Cañete
2006-Apr-02	Orlando Mendoza
2006-May-22	Fernando Batul***
2006-Jun-19	George Vigo
2006-Jun-19	Maricel Alave-Vigo
2006-Jul-18	Armando “Rachman” Pace ***
2007-Apr-18	Carmelo "Mark" Palacios
2007-Dec-24	Fernando "Batman" Lintuan

In the line during Arroyo = 33
Non-work related during Arroyo = 20
3, 9 and12 -Regions with the biggest death toll,9 each

* With conviction = 7
** Dismissed cases = 6
***Under trial = 5

A glass plaque with the names of 71 fallen journalists was unveiled during the Ribbon Cutting to open the 12th National Press Forum. The Philippines is one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism. 71 journalists have been killed in the line of duty since 1986. Photo by Kara Santos/PPI.