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.