MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Daily Inquirer reaped on Wednesday a total of seven trophies at the prestigious 31st Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA).

The winning group was led by veteran editorial cartoonist Jess Abrera who was a Hall of Fame Awardee after being recognized three times for his excellent editorial cartoons for the Inquirer as well as for his cartoon strip "A. Lipin."

Abrera's Hall of Fame trophy was handed to him by Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Most Rev. Edward Joseph Adams; Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, CMMA honorary chairman; and Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua, CMMA chairman and president.

The other Inquirer winners were: Niño Jesus Orbeta for Best News Photograph (Slain in the Heart to Fervor, taken during the Black Nazarene Procession); Inquirer Entertainment editor Emmie Velarde for Best Special Feature (Life Is A Wonderful Thing, a story on the late action star Rudy Fernandez and his wife, Lorna Tolentino); Nestor U. Torre for Best Entertainment Column (Viewfinder); and Michael L. Tan for Best Opinion Column (Pinoy Kasi).

Inquirer reporters Nikko Dizon and Marlon Ramos tied for Best News Coverage (Witness leads to torture camp in Bataan; and Blood Friday: Girl, 7, among 16 killed in carnage, respectively).

The late President Corazon C. Aquino was also given a posthumous Serviam Award for being "an outstanding model of true Christian living."

The award citation states that Mrs. Aquino's "service to the people as a genuine democratic leader was firmly grounded on Christian values and ideals."

The awards night was held at the San Carlos Seminary Auditorium on EDSA Guadalupe in Makati City.

The Inquirer had a total of 15 nominations in seven categories, including:

- Best special feature: Series on "Coping," by Totoy Sarmiento, Volt Contreras, Vangie Baga-Reyes, Pam Pastor, Marinel Cruz and Tessa Salazar.

- Best Business Column: "No Free Lunch" by Cielito Habito.

- Best Investigative Report: The Education Series by Fernando del Mundo, Volt Contreras and Jocelyn Uy and "Wanted: New Text Book Crusader" by Erika Sauler.

- Best News Coverage: "Nine Shot Dead in the Head" by Tarra Quismundo and Niña Calleja; ""Witness Leads to Torture Camp in Bataan by Nikko Dizon and "De Venecia Confirms P500,000 Palace Bribe" by Juliet Javellana.

-Best News Photograph: "Broadcaster Ted Failon Clings Tightly to Vice President Noli De Castro" by Raffy Lerma.

-Best Opinion Column: "Passion for Reason" by Raul Pagalangan.