By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
MAKATI CITY — The 17th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards Illuminating Change was held on Thursday night (Nov. 14) at the Fairmont Makati here.
Change can come from a single spark.
May the light within us will carry us through.
Lea Patricio and the Whip Flash Dancers rendered the musical performance.
Veteran journalist Tony Velasquez was invited by Fortune Tobacco Company to host the event.
Dave Gomez, Director Global Communications of PMFTC, recognized Elmer Mecina, Deputy Director General of Philippine Information Agency.
Gomez recalled his journalistic in the Philippine Star before he joined the PFMTC.
18 years ago, the Bright Leaf was born. This may be the 17th Bright Leaf, but actually, it’s the 18th.
The Judges were Christine Bersamina, Jeralf Gelant, Jimmy Domingo, Albert Gamboa, Corrie Narisma, Ed Sallan, Yvette Tan, Dr. Marby Vilaceran, Rem Zamora, and Krip Yuson.
Chairman of the Board of Judges Krip Yuson is older than the Bright Leaf Awardees.
Yuson expresssed his heartfelt gratitude to his fellow Judges.
300 qualified entries highlighted the voices of the Awardees’ narratives.
Each entry was not only unique but illuminating Agriculture feature stories.
Yuson thanked the Awardees for their remarkable contributions.
The past Bright Leaf winners are eligible to join again after three years.
The winners for the Best Agriculture Feature Story Regional was Ian Ocampo Flora, of Sunstar Pampanga, Best Agriculture Feature Story National were Richel Umel and Ryan Rosauro, of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Best Agriculture News Regional was Earl Kim Padronia, of Sunstar Cebu, for National was Marilou Guieb, of Business Mirror.
The winners received PHP100,000, an Ipod, a trophy and an Asian trip.
The second set of winners were Joshua Mendoza, of Climate Tracker Asia, first time entry and first time winner.
Ian Ocampo Flora, of SunStar Pampanga, his second win for the night.
The winners received Php50,000, an Ipod, a trophy and an Asian trip,
Bagsik ng Harabas, of Reporters Notebook of GMA Network Inc.
It received Php70,000.
Best Agriculture Radio Program or Segment in Hanep… Unfortunately, Zhander Cayabyab celebrated his birthday in hospital.
Php17,000, 13-inch MacBook and a trophy went to Jonathan Sulit of Abante as the Tobacco Photo of the Year winner.
The Agriculture Photo of the Year winner was Jose Revoli Cortez, of Manila Standard with 12 entries.
The Oriental Leaf Award went to Cai U. Ordinario from the UST and has been writing for 10 years. She was the latest inductee to the 17th Bright Leaf Hall of Famers.
She shared the Award to everyone for good journalism.
The Best Agriculture Story of the Year went to Magtanim ay ‘di biro of I-Witness of GMA Network Inc. led by Kara David.
The winner received a 13-inch MacBook, an Asian trip, a trophy and PHP100,000 in cash.