MANILA. Sun.Star Cebu’s Cherry Ann Lim poses with the paper’s Best Investigative Report trophy during the 31st Catholic Mass Media Awards ceremony Wednesday night. (Sun.Star Manila)

“SQUATTERS and the City,” a special report of Sun.Star Cebu was awarded as the Best Investigative Report in the Print Category during the 31st Catholic Mass Media Awards last Wednesday night.

The four-part series published last August 11-14, 2008 competed with another Sun.Star entry “Cebu City’s Garbage: Curse or Cash?” and Philippine Daily Inquirer’s (PDI) “Educational Series” and “Wanted: New Textbook Crusader.”

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Cherry Ann Lim, managing editor for special pages and features, received the award.

“Squatters and the City” was written by Lim, Rene Martel, Mayette Tabada, Garry Cabotaje, Gerome Dalipe, and Allan Varquez.

Last June 2009, Sun.Star Cebu was also recognized at the 20th Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ).

Other winners

Media networks, journalists, students, photographers, writers, advertisers, and TV personalities also graced the event.

Jose Marie Chan and Jamie Rivera serenaded the finalists and winners.

“Bakit sya meron, bakit ako wala” by Tin-tin Babao won as the Best Short Story; Michael Tan’s “Pinoy Kasi” for PDI won the Best Opinion Column; Best News Coverage was awarded to “Blood Friday” and “Human Bone in Bataan” both from PDI.

DZMM 630 got the Best Radio Ad - Pubic Service, Kris Aquino received the trophy for the Best Music Album – Secular while Gary Valenciano’s “When I Hear You Call” was awarded as the Best Music Album.

Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) Hall of Fame awardee “Sugpuin and Korupsyon (Walang Kukurap)” received a special citation from the CMMA board while “Art 2 Art with Lisa Macuja” won as the Best Educational Program.

For student category, St. Scholastica’s Colleges’ “Madaris” received a special citation from CMMA while “Windmills” won the Best Student TV Production award.

The 31st CMMA also pay tribute to the late President Corazon Aquino who was given the Serviam Award.

The event was held at the San Carlos Seminary Auditorium on Edsa Guadalupe, Makati City. (Glaiza Jarloc/Sunnex)