Tuesday, December 23, 2008

City media group honors newsies

MICHAEL MEDINA
Editor-in-chief

PAGADIAN CITY--Officers and members of ZPPI held their Christmas party Monday, Dec. 22, at the Capitol Building Function Hall coinciding it with their first award-giving affair dubbed “Search for ZPPI Newsmakers of the Year.”

ZPPI stands for Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian City Press Club Inc., the mother organization of city and provincial journalists.

Established in 2003, ZPPI is presently headed by RMN-DxPR anchor Elmer Maghanoy as president.

Newsmakers, as the name suggest, refers to newsworthy officials, law enforcers and private individuals, including civic and advocacy groups.

To be cited as a newsmaker, a certain nominee must have had repeatedly hogged headlines in all ZPPI-affiliated tri-media and online outfits for the whole year.

One newsmaker is picked out in only four categories such as governance, law enforcement, business and environmental protection.

In a huddle with this paper, Maghanoy said that the media group decided to come up with the awards to acknowledge the impressions and influence of the awardees to the community, whether downbeat or constructive.

In its rationale, a ZPPI paper explains that as a collaborator in the development of Pagadian and Zamboanga del Sur, the media group “finds it inspiring and motivating [to recognize the awardees’] sterling deeds, activities, projects beneficial to many.”

ZPPI Newsmaker Committee search member and Provincial Press Bureau reporter Remai Alejado disclosed that there were 16 nominees submitted by all the media outfits for the selection.

During the party and Newsmakers Awarding night, plaques of recognition were awarded to winners Mayor Samuel Co for the governance category, M/Gen, Nehemias Pajarito for law enforcement, and 2nd District Rep. Antonio Cerilles for environmental protection and M. Lhuiller Philippines for business.

The Cerilleses and Co attended the ZPPI party with OIC PIA regional director Noemi Edaga, board member and lawyer Baleleng Fernandez and KBP chair Al Gesta.

Publishers Pede Lu of Pagadian Times and Pete Tria Sr. were also present along with Mrs. Anita Lumbay, widow of the late newsman Jack Lumbay.

Lumbay formerly edits the Zamboanga Tribune, and another publisher, the late Billy Yu of City Star, were each cited with posthumous awards by ZPPI.

City manager Agustin Wagas received the award in behalf of M. Lhuiller Philippines while 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division’s Lt. Col. Agane Adriatico received Pajarito’s.

The Cerilleses and Co also received a separate appreciation awards for their support to the local media group.

Later in the evening, the governor handed out wrapped gifts to all ZPPI members, followed by different parlor games and merrymaking.