THE countdown to the most anticipated annual event in the public relations industry has started.
The Public Relations Society of the Philippines' (PRSP) National PR Congress -- where the most brilliant minds in public relations gather to share knowledge, experiences, and insights with people in various fields of marketing and public relations -- opens in September.
This year, from September 27 to 28, the Paradise Garden, Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Boracay Island, Aklan is home to the 20th National PR Congress.
The event will gather over 500 PR practitioners from business and industry, government, non-profit organizations, academe and professional services at the Congress.
The PRSP is pulling out all stops to make sure the congress is not only successful but enjoyable as well. The program starts with the inspirational opening of Boracay Mayor John Yap to officially launch the event.
Other plenary speakers include Merlee Jayme (Head of DM9 JaymeSayfu), Jonathan Yabut (Winner of the First Apprentice Asia), Gail Tan (Country Communications Manager of Google), Gary Chin (Asia Pacific Head of CBS), Alvin Chan (Co-founder and Chief Technology officer of iSentia Brandtology), Lourd de Veyra (Journalist/TV5), Stephen Reilly (COO of Resorts World), Micheal French (COO of Solaire Resort and Casino), Clint Navales (External Relations Country Manager of P&G), USEC Mario Deriquito (DepEd), Marilou Erni (Executive Director of Petron Foundation), and Weena Mendoza (Executive Director of Waterhope Foundation).
With the theme “From Ripples to Waves: PR as Agent of Sustainable Change,” it will be a congress different from all others.
“This year’s PR Congress will ‘walk the talk.’ It has an on-ground involvement with the local government unit of Boracay,” said PRSP president Yoly Crisanto.
Participants will get a chance to be actively involved in the local government unit programs such as the Agbaoay watershed tree planting, reef-dome planting, and cleanup. There is also a workshop of the output of which can be adopted by Boracay in its IEC program.
PR Congress chairperson Charmaine Canillas expects nothing but the best in this year’s congress. “The two day conference promises to be a gathering of prominent and respected names in the industry, where insights and updates on how PR triggers and radiates new mindsets, setting in motion a rolling impact of action towards sustainable change, will be shared and discussed.”
Technology has empowered the individual in small ways undreamed of just 20 years ago. And then, we have the digital revolution, the growth of social media and networking sites, and the rise of the conversation.
“The task is even made more difficult now as new media have enabled just about everyone who has an online account to articulate his opinion about what a company is doing or not doing. And since the new media is viral, it is even more challenging to keep track, much less prevail,” added Crisanto.
Crisanto regards change with a positive outlook. “The 20th PR Congress gives the whole industry a chance to sit back and take a look at major opportunities. We are agents of sustainable change.”
Avail of the early registration fee until August 31, 2013 – P8,000 (for PRSP member) and P9,000 (for non-member). Regular rates are P10,000 and P12,500, respectively.
For NGO/government/academe, rate is P6,000 while students’ rate is P2,000 (meals not included). Group rate (for non-PRSP members) gets one free for five registrants.
Mark your calendar this early. Be part of the 20th NPRC and head off to Boracay Island. It will be a learning experience like no other. For more information, visit www.prcongress.ph or contact the PRSP secretariat at telephone (02) 623-9479 or mobile (0917) 599-5072. (PR)