Inquirer top campus choice for ‘Best Broadsheet’

INSPIRING THE YOUTH The Philippine Daily Inquirer was among the 66 media organizations, programs and personalities honored by the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) in Las Piñas City. At the Oct. 17 awarding rites are UPHSD College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) president Mitzi Agatha Mitra; communication department chair Rowena Morta; university cofounder Daisy Moran-Tamayo; Inquirer reporter Dexter Cabalza, who received the award on behalf of the paper; former Mutya ng Pilipinas president Hemi Tamayo; and CAS dean Joven Sepino. —JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Daily Inquirer was recognized as the country’s Best Broadsheet in this year’s Alta Media Icon Awards given by the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD).

Now in its fifth year, the annual recognition “emphasizes the role of the media and the academe … in shaping the minds of the Filipino youth, inspiring them to aspire for excellence, achieve progress and make a difference,” said Rowena Morta, chair of the UPHSD’s communication department.

The Inquirer was among the 66 organizations, programs and personalities selected for the awards based on votes cast by the college and senior high school students of the Las Piñas City-based university.

The honorees come from the print, broadcast and social media, as well as the entertainment industry.

The award was the latest affirmation of the Inquirer’s commitment to excellence in journalism and its valuable service to readers over the last 33 years, said Inquirer reporter Dexter Cabalza, who accepted the award and thanked UPSHD on behalf of the paper.

Witness to history

“It further inspires us to uphold our standards and remain mindful of our responsibilities as a front-line witness to history — to be fair, accurate, ethical, credible and courageous,” Cabalza said at the Oct. 17 awarding rites led by UPSHD cofounder Daisy Moran-Tamayo and school director Alfonso Loreto.

The university also feted three “Iconic Awardees” this year — singer Gary Valenciano, actor Christopher de Leon and broadcaster Rey Langit (Broadcasting). The special recognition is given to media practitioners who have been in the industry for more than 40 years.

It also inducted the following to the Hall of Fame for winning the award five times:

Jessica Soho (best magazine show host for “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho”); Kim Atienza (best educational program host for “Matanglawin”); “Umagang Kay Ganda” (best morning show); “ASAP” (best musical variety show);  “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (best drama anthology); ChrisTuper (best FM radio male personality); and Pilipino Star Ngayon (best tabloid).