Rotary Manila Journalism Awards

The oldest and most prestigious Rotary Club in Asia Ð Manila Rotary Ð is holding its annual Journalism Awards this Thursday at the Manila Polo Club in recognition of the outstanding contribution of individuals and media outfits in various categories in tri-media namely print, television and radio.

Since its launch in 1966, the Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards has become one of the most anticipated and most prestigious distinctions to ever be given to media practitioners, with thorough screening and deliberations conducted by the Journalism Awards Committee with the concurrence of members in a general assembly and nominees submitted by the various Rotary chapters located all over the country.

Such is the magnitude of the importance and significance given by the RCM on the awards that awardees are strongly enjoined to personally accept the honor bestowed on them during the awarding ceremonies. Otherwise, the Journalism Awards Committee and the RCM itself will take it to mean that the awardee is declining the recognition.

Among this year’s impressive roster of winners include The Philippine STAR as “Newspaper of the Year” (National Category), elevating this paper to the Hall of Fame, having first received this distinction in 2006. The STAR was cited for its fair, accurate and balanced reporting, and it was also the recipient of the same honor last year. As chairman of the Journalism Awards Committee, we had to inhibit ourselves from the judging process due to our affiliation with this paper being one of its columnists.

Our fellow STAR columnist Federico “Dick” Pascual was adjudged the “Journalist of the Year” while ABS-CBN was chosen as “Television Station of the Year.” Meanwhile, Mike Enriquez of GMA-7 was chosen as “Broadcast Journalist for TV” while the “Radio Station of the Year” award went to dzMM.

Aside from the Journalism Awards, the Manila Rotary has spearheaded numerous projects and initiatives that have become recognized as testament to the Club’s charge to be a leader in service to the community. Among the organizations pioneered by the Club in the Philippines are the Boy Scout movement, the Community Chest Foundation, the TOWER (The Outstanding Workers of the Republic) Awards Foundation, the RCM Eyebank Foundation, Sagip-Kabataan Foundation and many others. It has also helped put up several schools, conducts regular medical and dental missions to some of the most depressed areas in the country and offers financial assistance to poor but deserving students.

Hong Kong Rotary no-show

The Manila Rotary has just turned 94, having been formally organized in June 1919 with an initial 38 members. Among the oldest members are Don Francisco Paco Delgado, Ambassador Francisco “Toting” del Rosario and outgoing Manila Mayor Fred Lim. Every year, RCM celebrates its Charter Anniversary at the Manila Hotel with delegates from the various Rotary chapters all over Asia.

Over 40 foreign guests from twin Clubs abroad joined the RCM celebration, but there was not a single delegate from Hong Kong ( offi cially granted its Rotary Charter in 1931) reportedly because they were dissuaded from attending by China Ð obviously in connection with the current situation involving disputed territories in the South China Sea. The Philippines had already elevated its protest before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The latest irritant in Philippines-China relations involves Ayungin Shoal with China deploying several surveillance and fishing vessels in the area. On the other hand, China has also expressed concern over the possibility of the Philippines building more structures in Ayungin Shoal.

It’s patently ridiculous for the Hong Kong delegates to be prevented from attending Rotary Manila’s anniversary celebration Ð something that surprised even the FilipinoChinese members of the Club.

Small boy to Big Boy The consolidation of the SM Group’s real estate and mall businesses into a single publicly listed entity Ð folded under SM Prime Holdings Ð will pave the way for the country’s biggest property company with a combined market capitalization estimated at $14 billion or P591 billion Ð definitely surpassing Ayala Land’s estimated P461 billion. The mega merger will allow the SM Group to pursue even more largescale projects and give it more leverage for growth, making it also the country’s leading conglomerate and a major player in the real estate scene in Asia.

What started out as a “small boy” shoe store in Carriedo, Manila has now become a “big boy” with SM founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. passing on the baton to Henry “Big Boy” Sy, Jr. as chairman of the consolidated company.

Not-so ÒSecretÓ advice

A retired US Secret Service agent sent us an e-mail to tell us how “surprised” he was that the local Presidential Security Group allowed President Noynoy Aquino to proceed to a potential high crime scene at the Serendra right after the explosion last Friday. Under all circumstances, the SOP is for the head of State to be kept away from such potentially risky situations until it becomes absolutely clear that what occurred was an accident and not a deliberate (terrorist) act coming from an individual or individuals. Lucky for the PSG nothing dicey happened. “If something did, then there will be plenty of blame to go around,” the retired Secret Service agent asserted.

*** Email: spybits08@yahoo.com