Since December 2019, the coronavirus pandemic has been the world’s biggest disruptor in a bad way. All aspects of life, of work, of business, of travel, of leisure, etc., has been disrupted. And perhaps, life’s normal ways — the everyday routine — as once lived pre-Covid-19 pandemic will never be the same!
Thankfully, the Heart Media Awards of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and Philippine College of Cardiology (PCC) is back after a three-year coronavirus-disrupted absence.
And significantly, the accolade has returned in time with the PHA-PCC celebration of their Platinum Anniversary (70th Year) on October 12, 2022.
By EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — Science, Digital & Current Affairs
and
GYNNA GAGELONIA, PHA Media Facilitator
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-mTR
On their Platinum Year (70th Anniversary), the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and Philippine College of Cardiology (PCC) has resumed their Heart Media Awards, which recognizes news media organizations and journalists.
For their celebration of the Platinum Year, the PHA-PCC dubbed this year’s accolade as “Platinum Heart Media Awards” as a vow to their 70th Anniversary.
The two medical professional bodies celebrated the Platinum Anniversary on October 12, 2022, at the EDSA Shangri-La Manila in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.
Highlights of the celebration are the launch of the PHA-PCC “The Heart Turns Platinum” Coffee Table Book and the Platinum Heart Media Awards.
Recipients of the accolades are 11 journalists and 10 media entities.
After a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the PHA-PCC’s annual media awards rose from the devastation of the pandemic in the form of the Platinum Heart Media Awards.
The accolade recognizes the invaluable support from fearless and unrelenting media allies, that has elevated the Association’s Heart Healthy Lifestyle Advocacy to groundbreaking levels and mileage.
With the pandemic’s grip on the world loosened considerably in the past year, these momentous milestones were held face-to-face at the Garden Ballroom of the prestigious hotel.
The awarding was a meaningful occasion not only for the PHA, but the Media who themselves took on a role as front-liners. Majority caught the Covid-19 bug not just once or twice but also lost loved ones to the disease. However, like wounded soldiers, they remained committed to their craft, performing their roles to the hilt.
Dr. Gilbert Vilela, immediate past president of the PHA, spoke of the difference between perspective and truth, saying that the latter is “based on what is measured, from research” and “cannot stand without the facts” which the PHA’s Advocacy efforts and media allies, are champions of.
For his part, PHA past president Dr. Orlando Bugarin highlighted that through the tireless work of the media, news of the PHA’s campaigns and awareness on cardiovascular health were spread throughout the nation “to all our countrymen.”
In the last two years, PHA-PCC garnered a media value of Php1.4 billion, the highest in the history of PHA.
Dr. Luigi Segundo, Director III of the PHA and emcee of the evening’s festivities, emphasized the “irreplaceable place of media in the PHA’s existence and in the lives of the people.”
Selection of winners was based on the criteria of substance, relevance, audience/readership impact, coverage and rapport established with the Association.
The awardees were presented with a plaque that read “Your relentless involvement in the “Usapang Puso sa Puso) (UPP) forum and strong voice as a credible heart health news conveyor, have put the PHA Advocacy notches higher.”
Ending the celebration with gratitude and candor, Dr. Rodney Jimenez, PHA secretary, stated that it is “no secret the success of the PHA-PCC today is because we stand on the shoulders of the giants” and thanked “media partners and friends for linking us to the Filipino people” and asked that they continue to let it be known that the Association is “here because your heart matters.“
List of PHA Platinum Heart Media Awards 2022 recipients:
Individual Category
1. Jasmin Romero
ABS-CBN News
2. Jing Castaneda
ABS-CBN News
3. Leah Salterio
ABS-CBN News Lifestyle, Philippine Star Showbiz & Manila Times
4. Dr. Luisa Ticzon Puyat
DzMM Teleradyo Daily Dos
5. Connie Sison
Pinoy MD, DzBB
6. Annabelle Surara
Radyo Agila
7. Marou Sarne
DWIZ RADYO KLINIKA/Abante
8. EDD K. Usman
SDN — SciTech & Digital News
9. Mhet Sanding Miñon
SMNI
10. Leony Garcia
Business Mirror
Special Award
11. Niña, Stella, Emily & Luke Corpuz-Rodriguez
Media Entity Category
1. ABS-CBN News/ABS-CBN Corp.
2. DzRH Operation Tulong
3. DzMM Teleradyo
4. MEDTALK CNN PH
5. GMA News Online
6. MANILA STANDARD
7. NET 25
8. ULAT BAYAN, PTV NEWS
9. Tutok 13 IBC 13
10. THE DAILY TRIBUNE
It is expected the PHA-PCC tandem will continue giving the accolade to their media partners in the years to come. (✓)