Internationally acclaimed PR experts at the PRSP’s 17th National PR Congress

WEBER Shandwick-Asia Pacific chairman Tim Sutton and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Southeast Asia regional director Andrew Thomas headline the A-list of resource persons for the 17th National Public Relations Congress on September 23 and 24, 2010.

Sutton, one of the global PR industry's most respected practitioners, will share his knowledge and expertise about “The Role of the Public Relations and Communications Practitioner in the New Media.” He has an outstanding track record in public issues advocacy and brand strategy on behalf of some of the world’s best known blue-chip clients. He also serves as Asia Pacific chairman of the Constituency Management Group of Interpublic.

Thomas previously managed the business operations of the International Herald Tribune in South Asia. He will discuss how the discipline of PR has evolved into building brands.

Local communication and new media experts will join them for an enriching discussion on communication trends and best practices. These include Philippine Star columnist Boo Chanco (on the Traditional Media Practitioners’ view on New Media), word-of-mouth pioneer Brad Geiser, Jonas de los Reyes of Yahoo! (on trends in Social Media), Leah Besa-Jimenez of BBDO Guerrero Proximity (on Engaging the Consumer), New Media head for ABS-CBN Charie Villa (on Crisis PR in the 24/7 News Media Cyble), Rock Ed Philippines founder Gang Badoy (on CSR using New Media), Cyril Ng of MediaBanc (on Measuring New Media Effectiveness), Kelvin Lim of Fleischmann Hillard, and Margot Torres of McDonald’s.

The 17th National PR Congress, with the theme “PR 2.0: Build Engage Deliver,” is the first of its kind to bring in international and local experts to provide insights on the new media which is changing not only communications management but also the very culture of businesses.

Register now for the 17th National PR Congress to be held at the Grand Ballroom of Intercontinental Manila, Makati. Early bird registrants get a 20 percent discount or pay only P8,000.00 until July 31. For details and registration, call the PRSP secretariat at 638-0010 to 12 or email publicrelations.prsp@yahoo.com.

PRSP lecture features Velasco on poll ‘winners, losers, cheated’

The PRSP, in cooperation with Globe Telecom, recently held its last of a four-part 2010 lecture-series at the Filipinas Heritage Library in Makati City last May 21.

Lecturer Dante M. Velasco, APR, president and CEO of Creative Point Int’l. (seated, in coat) discussed strategies used during the national elections. With him in photo are PRSP president Butch Raquel, APR of GMA Network, PRSP VP-Internal and IABC regional director Ritzi Ronquillo, APR, 2010 Lecture Series Chairman Jones Campos, APR of JonesPR/J.T. Campos Corporation, Sally Aldaba of Smart, Dulce Festin-Baybay of Lopez Group Foundation, Joji Banzon of Total Events Management, Lou Guzman of WestRim, Inc., Jorge Marco and Pinky Ruiz of Ayala Land, Angel Doble of Consla, Stella Capinpuyan of Media Meter, Toby Nebrida of Chevron, and a host of others.

As the lone speaker in this post-election seminar organized by the country’s premier association of PR and communication experts, Velasco drew analogies from Aquino’s victory, relating them to concepts and practices in marketing and public relations.
The presidential winner’s share of the vote of more than 40 percent can be compared to a “winning product brand with a market share of 40 percent,” Velasco pointed out. By all means, the winning brand must keep its promise of benefits and keep alive the vision that goes with that promise, he added. Also, he pointed out, however, that “comparisons are valid up to a point.”

The 2010 Lecture Series is sponsored by Jollibee Food Corporation, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, ABS-CBN and GMA Network and TV5.

Welcome: 13 new members inducted

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines grew its ranks further with the induction of 13 new members at the Society’s first general membership meeting (GMM) on May 20.

PRSP has 147 members to-date, including 12 new recruits who were unable to join GMM 1.

In photo, from left: PRSP director and Membership Committee chairman JORGE T. MARCO of Ayala Land, Inc.; MA. THERESA R. LARIOSA of JT International Philippines, Inc.; MA. MARGARITA A. PANIZALEZ-VILLANUAEVA of Merck Sharpe and Dohme Philippines; ELAINE E. UY of Yehey Corporation; ANNE LESLEY Y. TAN of Edsa Shangri-La Manila; JANETTE C. TORAL, publisher, writer and blogger; MA. TERESA T. RUIZ of Ayala Land, Inc.; LOVE MERLICEL G. QUIPOT of Land Registration System, Inc.; PRSP President BUTCH S. RAQUEL, APR, of GMA Network, Inc.; SUSANA MARTHA P. NAVAL of Ayala Land, Inc.; GILDA PATRICIA C. MAQUILAN of Jollibee Foods Corporation; ANGEL V. GUERRERO of Adobo Magazine; JENNIFER R. CASIPIT of Maynilad Water Services, Inc.; MA. TERESA T. BUENO of Manila Electric Company; and LORIELYNN D. BENDIOLA of HBC Inc.;

Building Trust

Sponsored by EON, GMM 1 featured a panel discussion on the need to create an environment of trust and transparency in society, as well as PR’s critical role in building such trust through public engagement.

Speakers were Jojo Lacanilao of EON, Dodgie Fabian of the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion and Walter Panganiban of Coca Cola Export Public Affairs. Moderating the discussion was Federico Macaranas of the Asian Institute of Management.

Macaranas suggested that trust can be developed as themes by PRSP for future programs. Panganiban said PR should be the moral voice of the company so that transitions may occur but fundamental things can still hold.

Fabian said there remain many things that need to be done in order to earn the trust of the international trade community, and global consumers, including the adoption of world standards for exports.

Lacanilao said it was the duty of communicators to inform public conversations in a multiple stakeholder world.

Joint PRSP-IPRA seminar: PR works for businesses

Participants packed Meeting Rooms 7-9 of SMX Convention Center for the first joint professional development seminar of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) – Philippine Chapter on April 22.

In opening the session, PRSP president Butch Raquel said the seminar, dubbed “Make PR Work for Your Business”, was intended to “take on the challenge of developing new markets and new revenue streams, defining PR in the business minds, (and) identifying the ways PR can be a vital discipline to make…any business grow.”

In attendance were corporate communicators, PR agencies, marketers, business unit managers and businessmen who listened to, as well as picked the brains of eight speakers.

Resource persons shared a gamut of information from the basic principles of PR practice to traditional and online media and their experiences in innovatively applying those principles and integrating tools and strategies in a variety of situations.

“Yes, it’s a tougher new world out there, but with the knowledge and the right tools we can more than just survive – we can flourish,” said Raquel.

Meanwhile, IPRA Philippines chairman Edd Fuentes said it was the mutual goal of the PRSP and IPRA to “develop the next generation of PR professionals” as he closed the day’s program.

For queries on future seminars, call the PRSP Secretariat at 638.0010 or telefax 638.0012.

Lower photo shows (From left) IPRA Philippines’ Richard Burgos, PRSP Vice President Internal & Professional Development Chair Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo, PRSP Director and Corporate Secretary Gizelle Camua, PRSP President Butch Raquel, speaker Corrie Narisma of Philippine Dauly Inquirer, speaker Mike Enriquez of GMA Network, IPRA Philippines’ Chairman Edd Fuentes, IPRA’s Karen Alparce Villanueva,Joy Buensalido, Millie Dizon and Romy Virtusio.