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Top-billed by ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Media Congress” had over 20 industry experts showing and explaining the real essence of media work to young mass communicators, who came from as far as Cagayan in the north and Zamboanga in the south.
The conference, held this year at the ABS-CBN Studio 10 (January 31) and the Trinity University of Asia (February 1 and 2), also featured the launch of “EL3: In the Service of the Filipino Worldwide,” a collection of speeches and stories by Lopez. The book is now available at the Studio Tours & Shop inside the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City.
In his keynote address, Lopez said the media’s role is to “serve the people no matter what the consequences.” He also cited the tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” saying the media should be like the child in the story, and point out what’s wrong even if others would rather keep mum about it.
ABS-CBN Corporate Marketing Head Cookie Bartolome, meanwhile, explained how entertainment programs can also help in nation-building. She said through telling stories that bring joy and hope to people, the media can help uplift, inspire, and reaffirm the public amid the challenges in life, just like what ABS-CBN has been doing in the past 60 years.
Jerry Bennett and Charie Villa of the ABS-CBN Regional Network Group also spoke about patriotism in their talk on the “Choose Philippines” campaign, which encourages Filipinos to upload and share their stories, videos, and photos about the country through www.choosephils.com.
“When you’re in love, you do things to make your loved one happy. Same thing with loving your country…You can show it by giving a real picture of what your place really is,” Bennett said.
Other speakers also brought inspiration the students as they shared their knowledge and experience in media. ABS-CBN Customer Business Development head Vivian Tin, ABS-CBN Programming Operations and On-air Management head Jillmer Dy, and ABS-CBN Creative Communication Management head Robert Labayen all stressed the importance of understanding the audience in crafting television programs and plugs that address both the needs and wants of the public.
ABS-CBN Corporate Communications head Bong Osorio and MRM Community Manager Jason Cruz also spoke about empowering the “brand” through offline and online media.
Atty. Harry Roque, on the other hand, pushed for the abolition of archaic laws that hinder the freedom of expression in his presentation on “Cybercrimes and Freedom of Information.”
Seasoned journalists and news executives Lynda Jumilla, Alvin Elchico, Jorge Carino, Carmina Reyes, Lester Chavez, and Paul Henson, meanwhile, showed how research and practice are both integral in churning out interviews, reports, and shows that can make an impact in people’s lives.
Bringing in a global perspective was Martin Hadlow, Secretary-General of the Asian Media Information and Communication Center, who attested that though technology continues to change and challenge the media landscape, heritage media such as TV, radio, and print will not die but evolve.
Other personalities in the event organized annually by the Philippine Association of Communication Educators and ABS-CBN were the network’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer Charo Santos-Concio, Broadcast head Cory Vidanes, News and Current Affairs head Ging Reyes, Entertainment head for TV Production Laurenti Dyogi, and the stars of Kapamilya shows “Paraiso,” “Be Careful with My Heart,” “Luv U” and “It’s Showtime.”
ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Media Congress, a joint project with the Philippine Association for Communication Educators, has been awarded by prestigious award-giving bodies including the Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines in 2007 and the Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines in 2008 for helping to mold the next generation of mass communicators in the country.
