ABS-CBN’s various efforts to help Filipinos cope during the COVID-19 pandemic bagged another international recognition at the 2021 Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, which will have a virtual awards ceremony on July 14.
The company is a winner of a Silver Stevie® for Most Valuable Corporate Response in the prestigious awards program, which honors innovation in business in the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2020, while it fought for the renewal of its franchise, ABS-CBN took a multi-pronged approach to address the needs of Filipinos as COVID-19 threatened and disrupted the lives of people.
To help those who lost their livelihoods due to the lockdowns, ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Foundation started the “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” fundraising campaign in March 2020, wherein the network donated P50 million as seed money. ABS-CBN also held a groundbreaking digital concert featuring more than 100 celebrities to help raise funds for this initiative, which through the cooperation of local governments and the private sector, was able to provide food and basic necessities to over 900,000 families.
Even before the community quarantine was announced, the company already began educating the public about COVID-19 through the “Ligtas Pilipinas sa COVID-19” information campaign. Through its news coverage, ABS-CBN kept people informed on the government’s efforts to fight the virus. It also showed the impact of the crisis to Filipinos, especially to health care workers, through documentaries.
As people stayed indoors, ABS-CBN gave them a variety of programs to watch for entertainment and inspiration. It brought back well-loved shows and educational programs, while a daily mass and a fitness show were launched for the spiritual and physical well-being of families. Viewers also had access to free movies and new content offered on ABS-CBN’s digital platforms like the streaming service iWant (now called iWantTFC).
“In this era of pandemic, it is great how ABS-CBN reacted against COVID-19 for the Philippine and its people,” said a judge in the eighth Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards about ABS-CBN’s COVID-19 response.
Another one said, “I believe they have done a good job during COVID-19, which by right all agencies must do to help the community to overcome their difficulties with the pandemic.”
This is the second Silver Stevie® received by ABS-CBN for its COVID-19 response. It also won last year at the 17th International Business Awards, which is open to all organizations worldwide. The Asia-Pacific Stevie® Awards, meanwhile, recognizes innovative achievements in the 29-nation Asia Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are considered to be the “world’s premier business awards.”
ABS-CBN’s COVID-19 response program was also honored recently with a Philippine Quill Award given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.
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