CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Feminism advocate Sonia Soto, vice president and general manager of the Laus Group-run CLTV 36, made her mark Saturday after winning her first Golden Dove from the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP).

Soto was cited as Best TV Talk Show host for anchoring the weekly women's program "Wagi," an acronym for Women Are Great Inspirations. The show is aired over the regional TV station every Wednesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

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A total of 426 entries vied for top honors in 49 award categories of this year's Golden Dove Awards held at the Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City. The awards night culminated the KBP's annual Top Level Management Conference (TLMC) there.

The Golden Dove Awards, now on its 17th year, is the major award given by the KBP, the country's major broadcast organization, and is equivalent to the renowned TV Emmy awards abroad.

Soto's "Wagi" was a finalist in the awards roster, along with John Susi's "Hamon Central Luzon" and Doctors William and Salve Olalia's "Ok si Doc," all airing primetime on CLTV 36.

Sun.Star Pampanga's columnist Rox Peña also won a nomination in the prestigious awards event.

Soto has been behind the success of the show which she anchors, saying "one of here priority advocacies is women's rights which has become the spirit of Wagi."

Wagi, since its pilot episode where Senator Juliana Pilar "Pia" Cayetano and wonder kid Shaira Luna were featured, has since become a top women's advocacy program seeking to empower women through their inspirational and successful stories.

Aside from her stint as "Wagi" host and station veep, Soto also chairs the Kababaihan para sa Inang Bayan (Kaisaka).

She has been Soroptimist International's "Making a Difference for Women awardee" as well as a Most Outstanding Kapampangan awardee.

(November 16, 2008 issue)
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