Mediabrands Philippines founder posthumously honored with UP Gawad Oblation

VENUS NAVALTA was posthumously awarded the Gawad Oblation by the University of the Philippines (UP) for her outstanding contributions to the University, the media and marketing industries, for the community-atlarge.

The UP Gawad Oblation is a special award given by the UP President to UP alumni and friends for extraordinary service with or in the name of UP. The awardees personify one of the most enduring symbols of UP – the Oblation.

The award is bestowed to individuals who have increased the institutional visibility, international prestige and recognition of UP and helped it undertake its mandate as a national university.

According to UP President Danilo Concepcion, “the award is considered as UP’s highest recognition to its benefactors and supporters who have rendered extraordinary service to our dear alma mater.”

Ms. Navalta’s award for extraordinary service refers to her advocacy in the fields of education, research, public service, creative production and the arts.

She headed various multinational media agencies and founded what is now one of the largest media and modern marketing consultancy firms in the country – Mediabrands Philippines, where she was chairman and CEO until her demise in 2021.

Ms. Navalta relentlessly pursued landmark partnerships with UP through its Office of Public Affairs, offering her time and expertise as well as her team’s on endeavors such as the development of COVID communications for the public; modern communications management for the university, backed up by stakeholders sentiment analysis; and other progressive marketing approaches, among other projects. She also contributed to the improvement and modernization of the college of broadcast and mass communications.

She gave her spirited support to Renucci Rice in their advocacy to lift farmers lives and livelihoods. She helped professionalize startups toward true and lasting growth by being a guiding hand of Ignite Founders, a group of individuals and organizations helping to solve the countries problems. As a board member of iDance Foundation, she helped fund scholarships for poor but talented and gifted young Filipinos. Her commitment to community development and national growth led her to conceptualize and stage Navigate Mindanao, a pioneering research project and marketing convention to help open the true potential of Mindanao for the benefit of Mindanaoans.

She was a strong proponent of Filipino talent and pride, which she and her team showcased in the staging and success of the 2017 Miss Universe pageant. Building on this, her team’s work for Iloilo City is the start of an ambitious plan to brand, develop and put as many Philippine destinations on every tourist’s list. She was a board member of the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective and contributed to efforts to draw global attention to the city via its inclusion to the UNESCO’s global list of the world’s creative cities.

Today, those she mentored and inspired continue her advocacies, including media responsibility, business ethics, supporting the improvement of communities and her grand wish of making Angono, her hometown, the next UNESCO creative city.

Ms. Navalta is survived by her son Carlo and husband Egay Navalta who received the award on her behalf.

In photo: Venus Navalta’s husband Egay Navalta (right) receives the award and medal presented by Mr. Concepcion of UP (left).