PRSP-IMMAP Digital PR Certification Program Agreement signed

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and BlueBlade Technologies signed on August 26 at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Convergent Technologies Center, a program development agreement to offer the first PRSP-IMMAP Digital Public Relations (PR) Certification Program.

Signatories were PRSP president Butch Raquel, APR and BlueBlade Technologies chief executive officer Hans Roxas-Chua, with PRSP vice president-Internal and Professional Development Committee chair Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo, APR; and BlueBlade product manager Coni Rose D. Cruz. Present was Fr. Charlie Cenzon, managing director of Ateneo Java Wireless Competencies Center (AJWCC).

Also at the signing were PRSP director and corporate secretary Gizelle Camua, Professional Development vice chair Judd Salas and Professional Development Committee members Warren de los Reyes and Bernie Bagaman, APR. PRSP program officers are Jojo Ajero and Elaine Uy.

Under the PRSP Professional Development Committee, the certification program is part of PRSP’s continuing education for professionals in the era of PR 2.0, the theme of this year’s National PR Congress on Sept. 23 and 24 at the Hotel Intercontinental Makati.

It will be a 2-month certificate program for PR and marketing communications professionals to hone their skills in PR strategies that leverage on digital channels such as social media.

Covered by the program will be the discipline and professional standards of PR and its campaigns and programs, what the new digital tools are, and how these new tools can be integrated into PR campaigns and programs.

Program topics will include: Public Relations, Digital PR, Blog Marketing and Social Networking, and PR Campaigns and Programs integrating traditional and new media using co-developed face-to-face and self-paced online modules suited to professionals with busy schedules.

This program takes off from PRSP’s two seminars on Digital PR in its 2009 professional development seminar series.

Partners are Ateneo, Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP)’s Certified Digital Marketer Program, and BlueBlade Technologies that will co-develop the modules with PRSP.

PRSP is the country’s premier organization for public relations professionals with members from business, government, non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools, professional services and other industries, that aims to advance the professional, ethical and highly competent practice of the discipline and profession of PR.

BLUEBLADE is an organization that develops full-service blended (online/face-to-face) e-learning programs/services and aims to be the leader in producing cutting edge and innovative services and products.

IMMAP (Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines) is the leading marketing association for internet and mobile marketing that spearheads the use of internet and mobile as marketing mediums in the industry.

More information at http://prsociety-philippines.blogspot.com, http://www.prsp.ph, www.immap.com.ph and www.imadigitalmarketer.com.

3rd GMM on August 20, 6pm

Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) president Butch S. Raquel, APR and PRSP Committee on Programs chair Anna Gizelle V. Camua are inviting members to the 3rd General Membership Meeting (GMM) on August 20, Friday, 6:00 pm, at the Ayala Learning Center, Makati Stock Exchange Building in Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

As in previous GMMs, new members of the Society will be inducted. The short program includes the launch of this year’s 46th edition of the Anvil Awards.

The 3^rd GMM promises a night of fun and fellowship, with gaming consoles courtesy of PRSP directors John Rojo and Jorge Marco.

For confirmation, please call the Secretariat at 638-0010 and 638-0012.

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.

GMA NETWORK EXEC RE-ELECTED PRSP PRESIDENT

GMA Network vice-president for Corporate Communications Butch S. Raquel was re-elected president of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) for 2010-2111 during the organizational meeting of elected directors held on January 11 at Café Breton in Mandaluyong City.

Other elected PRSP officers were Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo of Manila Electric Company, Vice President for Internal; John V. Rojo of Bayantel Communications, Vice President for External; Anna Gizelle Camua of Coca-Cola Export, Secretary; Rita R. Festin of Asian Development Bank,Treasurer; and Chito S. Maniago as Internal Auditor.

New PRSP directors include Jorge Miguel T. Marco of Ayala Land; Felisa B. Rosales of Land Bank of the Philippines; and Catherine Ileto of Cirdia Foundation while Jones Campos is Ex-Officio. PRSP advisers include Eduardo S. Alcaraz of ESA Consultants; Elpi O. Cuna, Jr. of San Miguel Corporation; and Maximo J. Edralin, Jr. of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

In his first move as re-elected PRSP President, Raquel appointed the chair of various committees. Rojo was appointed chair of the National PR Congress while Campos will be responsible for the Anvil Awards and the Mini Lecture Series. Rosales will chair Finance/ Ways and Means, while Marco will handle Membership and Publicity. Camua remained chair of Programs and General Membership Meetings, and Maniago was again tasked to be in charge of Student Affairs. Ileto remained chair of Social Services/Charity while Ronquillo was appointed chair of Professional Development, Publication and International Relations. The new chair of the Accreditation and Ethics Committee will be announced later.

The new PRSP board, which was elected on January 8, will have its oath-taking at the Anvil Awards Night on February 26 at the Edsa Plaza Hotel.