PRSP Committee Heads 2009-2010

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines firmly subscribes to the tenet that professional integrity is based on sound and ethical practice. Upon joining the Society, members agree to adhere to the PRSP Code of Ethical Standards in the Practice of Public  Relations.  

PRSP’s nine-member Board of Directors sets the strategic direction and policy of the Society. The Board elects among themselves the officers and directors-at-large; appoint members to the different committees; and amends by-laws. Members can choose membership in one or more of the Society’s committees such as the Awards (Anvil), PR Congress, Professional Development, Membership, Finance (Ways and Means), PR Education and Student Affairs, Ethics & Accreditation, External Relations (Publicity), Publication and Social Outreach Services.

For 2009-2010, the Board appointed the following directors as committee heads:

1.  Accreditation & Ethics-Edgar U. Timbungco, APR

2.  Anvil Awards-Eduardo S. Alcaraz, APR                     

3.  Membership-John V. Rojo

4.  Finance (Ways & Means) and Social Outreach Services-Catherine S. Ileto

5.  Professional Development  and Publication-Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo, APR

6.  Public Relations Congress and Publicity-Barbie L. Atienza 

7.  PR Education & Student Affairs-Chito S. Maniago            

8.  Programs-Anna Gizelle V. Camua

EDC Northern Negros campaign receives Grand Anvil Award

“Harmonizing Environment and Technology” is a comprehensive, strategic and detailed communication plan to achieve social acceptability for Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC's) steam augmentation project at the buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in Negros Occidental. A campaign that went beyond being a short-lived blitz, it provided consistent and clear information to all stakeholders through various channels, enabling them to understand and accept that energy and environment can be harmonized.

“Harmonizing environment and technology” effectively merged technical and PR savvy in fostering integrity of the company’s operations, its genuine concern for the environment and noble goal of uplifting the lives of its host communities. It succeeded in 'laymanizing' technical information on geothermal energy and environmental management, and highlighted the validation of experts of EDC’s data to get the message across and gain the overwhelming support of the Negrenses.

Proof of its successful implementation is EDC’s operations inside Kanlaon’s buffer zone as well as the hundreds of farmers and students who voluntarily support EDC. The communication plan armed the public with correct data for their informed decision.

EDC also took home four other awards for its outstanding PR tools and programs. Aside from the Grand Anvil, “Harmonizing Environment and Technology” also won an Anvil Award of Excellence, as did EDC’s annual report “A New Beginning” and its privatization program. “Geothermal power: a water solution,” an audio-visual production shown to foreign audiences in the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza, Spain received an Anvil Award of Merit.

The energy business is not the easiest. Being willing to pioneer could mean bringing innovations to communities before the community is ready. But as EDC's experience demonstrated, a win-win solution could be found through open consultation and sincere dialogue with stakeholders.

Winning the Grand Anvil definitely bestows prestige and provides intrinsic rewards for the hard-fought campaign we have waged in the name of sustainable development. But earning the public’s trust each time we operate a new project gives us new strength to carry on our time-honored mandate of providing clean and lasting power. For us in EDC, acting responsibly is the foremost guiding principle that will help us pursue the non-conventional energy projects that we are naturally driven to. By doing so, we live up to our commitment to contribute to sustainable development. We empower people, we empower life and that’s how we make a difference. 

Receiving the Grand Anvil Award for the Northern Negros Geothermal Project (NNGP) Communication Plan is EDC chairman Oscar Lopez (fourth from right). Together with him  are (from left) NNGP CSR chief Joey Higgins, EDC security manager General Raymundo Jarque, Anvil jurors chair Secretary Jesus Dureza EDC president Paul Aquino, EDC SVP Agnes de Jesus, NNGP resident manager Gino dela Cruz and NNGP Environmental superintendent Erwin Magallanes.

The Real Bank Storybook receives Bronze Anvil Award

For serving as a successful tool for Real Bank’s savings advocacy campaign, directly reaching Grades 1 and 2 students of selected schools in the National Capital Region, and Regions III and IV-A, and allowing the Bank to realize a 52 percent increase in deposit level and  46 percent hike in number of accounts from the previous year, the Bronze Anvil Award was conferred on "Mga Kwento ni Lolo Pepe" Storybook of The Real Bank. The storybook’s creative graphics and its true-to-life stories on saving, thriftiness and honesty have made it a novel and effective tool that enabled teachers to inculcate such values to the targeted young audience.

L-R:  44^th Anvil Awards Committee chairperson Malou L. Espina, APR; The Real Bank vice president for CORPLAN and Media Affairs Anna Lissa S. Ochoa; Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus G. Dureza; The Real Bank president Alfredo S. Barreto; The Real Bank chairman Jose G. Araullo; Public Relations/Communication counsellor Bert P. Pasquin, APR; and 2008-2009 PRSP Jones T. Campos, APR.

Happly Slip Blogs receives Bronze Anvil Award

For the creative use of the blog to showcase online videos of the country’s top tourist destinations among Filipino-Americans and support the Philippines’ initiatives in pushing tourism as a key economic driver, the Bronze Anvil Award was conferred on HappySlip Blogs of the Philippine Department of Tourism/Euro RSCG Agatep. Through the artistry and personal commitment of blogger Christine Gambito, this digital tool presented the country in a fresh, engaging manner, resulting in the Philippines being rediscovered as an ideal vacation destination.

L-R:  44^th Anvil Awards Committee chairperson Malou L. Espina, APR; Norman Agatep, managing director and CEO, EURO RSCG; Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus G. Dureza; Tourism Planning and Promotion Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque; Public Relations/Communication counsellor Bert P. Pasquin, APR; Philippine Department Tourism Team-North America head Corazon Jorda-Apo; Charlie A. Agatep, APR; and 2008-2009 PRSP Jones T. Campos, APR.

Accredited in Public Relations (APR)

Three members of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) were conferred APR (Accredited in Public Relations) at the 15^th National Public Relations Congress. APR is conferred in recognition of  a practitioner’s expertise, exercise and ethical behavior in the field of Public Relations.  In photo, (L-R) Jones T. Campos, APR of Globe Telecom, Inc. and 2008-2009 president, joins the new APRs: Carmencita G. Arce, vice president for Corporate Affairs of GMA Network, Inc.;Maria Lourdes L. Espina, manager for Corporate Affairs of Total (Philippines) Corporation; and Edgar U. Timbungco, director for Editorial Services and Media Relations of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/Manila.

PRSP elects 2009-2010 board

In general elections on January 9, 2009, members of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines chose their new nine-member board of directors to serve for the period 2009-2010.

Standing left to right are: secretary Edgar U. Timbungco, APR, Editorial Services and Media Relations director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide/Manila; external vice president Barbie L. Atienza, head-External Affairs of Manila Bulletin; president Butch S. Raquel, APR, vice president-Corporate Communications of GMA Network, Inc. internal vice president Eduardo S. Alcaraz, APR, president of ESA Consultants; and treasurer John V. Rojo, Division Head-Corporate Brand and Communications of Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. Seated left to right are: director Chito S. Maniago, Sustainable Development manager of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation; director Ritzi Villarico, Ronquillo, APR, senior manager and program officer of Meralco; internal auditor Catherine Salceda Ileto, president of Environments Global Foundation; director Anna Gizelle V. Camua, Internal Communications manager-Office of the CEO of Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.; and immediate past president Jones T. Campos, APR, Public Relations consultant of Globe Telecom, Inc.

Advisers (not in photo) are: Elpi O. Cuna, Jr., APR; Maximinio J. Edralin, Jr., APR, Public Relations consultant of the Office of the Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and Leonides C. Valencia, MBA, APR, consultant-Environmental Sustainability/Corporate Development, Unilever Philippines, Inc.