MERALCO, DDB GROUP PHILIPPINES AND UST RETURN AS TOP WINNERS IN THE 16TH PHILIPPINE QUILLS

The 16th Philippine Quill and 6th Student Quill Awards celebrate wins for Meralco as Company of the Year for the third straight year in a row, DDB Group Philippines as Agency of the Year, and the University of Santo Tomas as School of the Year as these organizations earned the most number of excellence awards, which also saw record submissions from professional and student levels. Meralco, the Philippines’ biggest electricity distribution utility, made history once again when it won the Company of the Year award for the third year in a row, a first in the awards show’s 16year history- a testament to the company’s strength in business communication excellence. In total, Meralco has won the award four times since 2012.

In the Company of the Year category, Jollibee Foods Corporation was honored as first runnerup, while Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. placed second-runner-up. And in the Agency of the Year, Ogilvy and Mather was hailed as first runner-up and Stratworks finished as second runner-up.

The Aboitiz Group bagged the coveted Top Award in Communication Management for its “Let’s drive change for a better world: The Aboitiz No Impact Challenge” that fused together employee engagement through an organizational sustainability campaign.

Ayala Land’s entry, Corporate Video 2017 “Reshaping with Ayala Land” bagged the Top Award in Communication Skills.

Corporate Video 2017 “Reshaping with Ayala Land” aims to show how Ayala Land continues to reshape and elevate the quality of life of Filipinos across the country through testimonials of people from various walks of life. By sharing real stories of people whose lives have been touched by Ayala Land, it showed the role that the company plays in nation building and how it provides opportunities and venues where one can have an enriched quality of life.

“IABC Philippines has adapted the theme “Purpose in Communication” for the Philippine Quill Awards to remind ourselves of why we communicate, which is to enlighten, inform, and inspire people and to help forge a society that knows how to think for itself”, IABC Chairman, Kane Errol Choa on his welcome remarks.

In the School of the Year race, De La SalleCollege of St. Benilde placed first runner-up, while UST Angelicum College made it as second runner-up.

The Philippine Student Quill Top Award in Communication Management went to Bataan Peninsula State University for “Project Litratu: Mayhang Pamana Bilang nga Mayhang Pilipinu (Isang Pamana Bilang Isang Pilipino)”, while the Top Award in Communication Skills was conferred to De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde for “Turtle Shells”.

"Our role as communicators is to move hearts and minds, ultimately inspiring action. We connect people and ideas, using concepts born out of creativity and innovation. Awardwinning work, like the ones we honor at the Quills, should also inspire others to reach for excellence. Most importantly, let's use the privilege that we have to benefit the many, especially those who are at a disadvantage”, 16th Philippine Student Quill Chair, Dave Devilles said in his speech.

The UP Street Dance Club provided entertainment together with graffiti artist, Enzo Ordonez, who gave life to this year’s theme, “Purpose in Communication: Express Your Truth”.

The 16th Quills program was supported by sponsors (GOLD) Megaworld Corporation and Security Bank Corporation, (SILVER) Bank of the Philippine Islands, San Miguel Brewery and Smart Communications, (BRONZE) Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., ABS-CBN Corporation, Bayad Center, Japan Tobacco International, Land Bank of the Philippines, LBC Express, One Meralco Foundation, Petron Corporation, San Miguel Purefoods Company, and The EON Group, and (Top Student Category) Cemex.

The media intelligence partner is Isentia and media partners include Adobo Magazine, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, and Malaya Business Insight. Official tabulator ensuring accuracy and integrity of tabulations and procedures is Reyes Tacandong and Co.

Joe Zaldarriaga, IABC President, stated that the mission of the International Association of Business Communicators is to support the community of business communication professionals with innovative thinking, shared best practices, in-depth learning and career guidance.

IABC is a San Francisco-based professional network and global membership association and with thousands of members from around the world, representing many Global Fortune 500 companies. IABC serves professionals in the field of business communication by bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines. The Philippines is the very first chapter outside of North America, with a mission to advocate for professional growth, learning and communication excellence.