Chronicle

Metrobank Foundation announces 2015 Journalists of the Year

In recognition of excellence in Philippine journalism, the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), together with Probe Media Foundation, Inc. (PMFI), has announced the three winners of the 2015 Search for Journalists of the Year (JOY). They are Marites Vitug, Rappler editor-at-large, GMA news anchor and Vice President for professional development Howie Severino, and Philippine Daily Inquirer senior reporter Nancy Carvajal.

Following the theme “Shaping the Nation through Powerful Stories”, the biennial search “honors Filipino journalists from print, television, radio and online media whose excellent stories have contributed to positive social change and their work influences and develops their audiences towards constructive growth.” The search recognized the winners for their exemplary journalistic work for the last ten years.

The awarding ceremonies will be held on October 22, where the three winners will each be awarded PhP 300,000 and the Pamukaw medallion designed by Metrobank Foundation Prize for Achievement in Sculpture (MPAS) awardee Jun Vicaldo. They will also be conferred the title “Metrobank Foundation Fellows in Journalism”, gaining the opportunity to share their journalistic expertise through a series of lectures nationwide.
Awardees in the first search in 2013 were Jarius Bondoc of The Philippine Star, Malou Mangahas of PCIJ, and Jiggy Manicad of GMA Network.

GMA launches relay station in Butuan City

GMA  Network, Inc. launched on September 4 a new ultra-high frequency (UHF) five-kilowatt television  relay station in Butuan City, CARAGA region, its 52^nd transmitting station in the country.

The UHF station enables re-broadcast of programs from the GMA Cagayan de Oro satellite station, which can be freely received by viewers on Channel 26 using either an indoor or outdoor TV antenna.

“Our superior analog signal reinforces yet again our commitment to offer our programs to a wider audience,” GMA Senior Vice President for Engineering Elvis B. Ancheta said after an initial signal survey was conducted by the GMA transmission team.