GMM now open to non-members

The General Membership Meeting (GMM) is now officially the “PR Forum & Networking Session”, open to both members and guests.

Newspaper columnist and book author Jullie Yap Daza speaks at this year’s first PR Forum on March 21, Thursday, 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Hardrock Café in Glorietta, Makati City. She will tell members and non-members, “What I like and don’t like about PR peeps.”

Also featured is a presentation on “80 Years of Petron: PR Practices of an Anvil Hall of Famer”, courtesy of PR Forum sponsor Petron Corporation.

Outgoing PRSP president John Rojo, APR, will be giving his report for the term 2012-2013 while PRSP president Yoly Crisanto, APR will give members and guests an overview of the year ahead.

Make the most of your membership privileges. Join colleagues at the PR Forum, and bring a guest. Members attend for free while guests pay P500.

Members elect new board

Members of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) elected the Society’s new board on January 11. Nineteen members agreed to stand for election and the nine who received the highest number of votes became members of the PRSP board for 2013-2014. Jones T. Campos, APR, chaired the election committee.

At the organizational meeting on January 15, the following were elected as officers: Yoly Crisanto, APR, president; Jika Dalupan, APR, vice president-internal; Barbie L. Atienza, vice president-external; Maricar Bautista, secretary; Claire Papa, treasurer; Lou de Guzman, APR, internal auditor; Joji Banzon, Charmaine Canillas and Bong Osorio, directors. John Rojo, APR, PRSP president for 2012-2013, is now ex-officio member.

The following were invited by the board to serve as advisers: Eduardo S. Alcaraz, APR, Atty. Melvin S. Martin, APR, and Butch S. Raquel, APR.

Meanwhile, Crisanto appointed the chairpersons of various committees, as follows: Banzon for the Finance/Ways and Means; Osorio for the 49th Anvil Awards; Canillas for the 20th PR Congress; Atienza for Programs/General Membership Meetings; De Guzman for Membership; Papa for Professional Development; Bautista for PR Education and Student Affairs; Dalupan for Publications and Publicity; and Crisanto for Accreditation and Ethics.

On its 48th, The Anvil of many “firsts”

By Lourdes S. de Guzman

The 48th Anvil Awards on March 6, 2013 went down in history as the Anvil of many “firsts”.

A record breaker in number of entries, it surpassed last year’s count of 283 by113 more, raising the benchmark to 396.

For the first time, this year, digital campaigns were recognized as a distinct category under PR Programs – on a sustained basis. Likewise, multimedia tools were grouped in a single Multimedia category under PR tools. The criteria for the Anvil’s highest honor, the Hall of Fame Award, were also defined and established.

It was also the first Anvil with Vishnu Mohan, chief executive officer of Havas Media, Asia Pacific, as chairman of the board of jurors. Mohan brought in and contributed his expertise and experience in traditional and digital media, as well as shared the benefits of a regional and global perspective in the judging process.

The board of jurors included information technology specialists, members of academe, bloggers and social media experts, specifically for the new categories of digital campaigns and multimedia tools.

The Anvil recognizes the role of communicators in organizations, in their projects which achieved PR objectives, showed evidence of significant and sustainable impact, and have been proven effective.

The 48th Anvil was the first with full television coverage, as well as live streaming at live.anvil.ph.

Bronze Anvil Awards went to Studio 5 Designs, Inc. (PR Tools – Publications), EON The Stakeholder Relations Firm (PR Tools – Special Events) and Sun Life Financial-Philippines (PR Tools – Multimedia). Petron Corporation was elevated to the Hall of Fame for its Vision Petron Collaterals, which won the Anvil Award of Excellence for the 7th time.

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