Letter from PRSP president John V. Rojo

PR360˚: RESPONDING in the AGE of DISRUPTION

‘PR360˚ : Responding in the Age of Disruption’ promises to bring you up to speed, as well as to keep you ahead.

Public relations professionals today have opportunities that didn’t exist before. Disruptive technologies like Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the way people communicate and do business. The transformation is not over. In the Age of Disruption, CHANGE is the only constant.

Adapt or be left behind. Learn to use these tools to your advantage at the 19th National Public Relations Congress, set on September 27-28 at the Grand Ballroom of the InterContinental Manila in Makati City.

Organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, the 19^th National PR Congress is presented by Philex Mining Corporation in cooperation with Circulo Verde and San Miguel Corporation. SM Investments Corporation sponsors lunch.

Major sponsors are Aboitiz Power, Chevron Philippines, EON (The Stakeholder Relations Firm), GreenBulb Public Relations, Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Petron Corporation, Publicus Asia, Shell, Smart Communications, Inc., Total, and Zuellig. Minor sponsors are Expedo, Ayala Corporation, Bayan Telecommunications, Inc., First Gen Corporation, First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Globe Telecom, Inc., Goldilocks, Island Rose, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Kantar Media, Land Bank of the Philippines, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, and TNS.

Media partners are GMA Network, Inc., Business Mirror, BusinessWorld, Manila Bulletin, MediaBanc, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, and TNM (The New Media).

Be a techie, not a tech victim. Register now. Discounted ‘early bird’ rate applies until August 15. Call 387 5104 or visit www.PRCongress.ph for information.

Prof Dev 1: Public Relations for PR Practitioners

PRSP, in cooperation the TV5, completed the first module of the Professional Development Lecture and Workshop Series for 2012. Held in Makati City on July 20 with more than 70 participants, module 1 covered Crisis for Breakfast (Learning from Crisis Management Cases) and PR Now (Trends and Techniques in Digital PR). TV5 president Ray Espinosa was keynote speaker.

Presenters were Shell Media Relations manager Tony Nebrida, CEMEX director for Public Affairs Chito Maniago, Sagittarius Mines Corporate Communications manager John Arnaldo, TV5 Multimedia head Carlo Ople, Globe Telecom Social Media manager Coy Caballes, and lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes. TV5 news anchors Twink Macaraig and Paolo Bediones moderated the open forum that followed each topic. PRSP members led a Crisis Communication Workshop to cap Prof Dev 1.

At the 2nd General Membership Meeting

Over 40 members attended the Society’s second general membership meeting (GMM) on June 29, 2012 at the Penthouse, MSE Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Ayala Land, Inc. was sponsor.

New member

One new member was inducted during the 2^nd GMM. Photo shows (from left):  PRSP VP-Internal and Membership Committee chairman JORGE T. MARCO, APR of Ayala Land, Inc.; PRSP director and Publication and Publicity Committee chair LOU S. DE GUZMAN, APR of Quota International of Manila; new member JUDY O. KIS-ING of Land Bank of the Philippines; PRSP director and Professional Development Committee chair JIKA M. DALUPAN of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.; PRSP director JOJI B. BANZON of Ciao Events Management; and PRSP past president and adviser JONES T. CAMPOS, APR of J.T.Campos Corp. Campos also serves as executive director of ADBoard.

2^nd GMM topic: “Plastic Ka Ba o Ma-Papel?”

PRSP member Bernie Bagaman (standing), Corporate Communications manager of Resins Inc., moderated a panel discussion with speakers (seated from left) Crispian Lao, president of  Philippine Plastics Industry Association; Bunny Unlayao, consultant of Quick Service Restaurant Management Link Association; and Anna Gonzales, sustainability manager of Ayala Land Inc.

Noting the advantages of plastics in terms of ensuring food safety, reusability and as a source of fuel, Lao said the issue was “not about which is better – plastics or paper,” but “freedom of choice” and being responsible for the choices made. Unlayao said the fastfood industry fully supported the “green initiatives happening in the country today,” but added that “we will never compromise the food safety of our products and our consumers.” She cited the industry’s use of “oxo-biodegradable” plastic packaging which “married the usefulness of plastic and addressed the concerns of the environmental component. Gonzales said that the she looked at the plastics ban in some cities as a “driver for attitudinal change” that would eventually convince people to be more mindful of what they consume and throw away. –with inputs of Bernie G. Bagaman