Sun.Star columnist runner-up in Best Opinion in PopDev tilt

Friday, December 3, 2010

SUN.STAR Cebu columnist Juan L. Mercado has bagged the runner-up prize in the Best Opinion or Editorial Piece-Print and Online Category of the 6th Annual Population and Development (Popdev) Media Awards.

Mercado was recognized for his column “Three Inevitables” published on Sept. 27, 2009.

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During the awarding rites held last Nov. 30 at Gateway Suites in Cubao, Quezon City, Fr. John J. Carroll S.J. of the Philippine Daily Inquirer was named winner of the category for his column “Enough of demographic terrorism: Let’s talk.”

This is not the first time Sun.Star Cebu has been cited in this category.

In 2008, columnist Mayette Tabada was also named runner-up for her column “What a Woman Can Expect.”

Annual awards

The annual Popdev Media Awards was conceived in 2005 to recognize the role that mass media plays in promoting awareness of population and human development issues, and examining their impact on the country’s development and the quality of life of Filipinos.

It is a joint undertaking of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. and the United Nations Population Fund through its 6th Country Programme.

The other winners in the Print and Online Category this year were Merlina Hernando-
Malipot of the Manila Bulletin (Best News Reportage) and runner-up Imelda V. Abano of Business Mirror; and Stephanie Dychiu of GMANews.TV (Best Feature or Magazine Article) for “Quiapo church battles abortion in front yard” and runner-up Donna Demetillo of Women’s Feature Service for “Young, Poor, and Tricked into the Sex Trade.”

In the Best Investigative Report category, Roel Landingin of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism took home the plum for “Alarm bells for May 10 elections?

Sharp spike in Maguindanao, ARMM population a big riddle,” with John Alliage Tinio Morales of Philippine Graphic Magazine taking runner-up honors for “No breaking glass floor of drug prices.”

Broadcast categort

In the Broadcast Category, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network raked in all the prizes.

Karen Davila’s “Napabaya-ang Sinapupunan” was Best TV Documentary, while Abner Mercado’s “Agaw Buhay” was runner-up for the episodes aired over “The Correspondents.”

Marielle Gaceta-Catbagan’s “Salamat Dok” espisodes “Family Planning Options (Mother’s Day Celebration)” and “Father’s Role in Family Planning (Father’s Day Celebration)” were named Best Magazine Program or Talk Show winner and runner-up, respectively.

In the Photojournalism Category, Manila Bulletin’s Kriz John C. Rosales won Best Single Photo for “A Mother”; Michael Varcas of Manila Bulletin, Tempo and Balita was runner-up for “Only Hope.”

Bulatlat.com’s Buck Pago bagged the Best Photo Essay prize for “Overpopulation in the Philippines and the Need for an RH Law,” while Jose V. Galvez Jr. of GMANews.Tv was runner-up for “Displaced by Ondoy, dazed evacuees still dare to dream.”