Inquirer bags 7 CMMA trophies

CMMA SWEEP Team Inquirer wins top awards in six print categories of the 41st CMMAAwards where its entries also dominated
as finalists: best investigative report, best news photograph, best special feature, best opinion column, best editorial cartoon and
best business column. Celebrating the rich harvest of awards with the CMMA rock trophy are Divina Suson and Richel Umel of
Inquirer Mindanao, Inquirer Southern Luzon photo correspondent Mark Alvic Esplana, Inquirer Visayas desk editor Ador Vincent
Mayol and bureau chief Connie Fernandez-Brojan, associate publisher Juliet Labog-Javellana, Inquirer Northern Luzon desk editor
Allan Macatuno and Central Luzon correspondent Tonette Orejas, graphic artist Albert Rodriguez,Hazel Villa and Joey Gabieta of
Inquirer Visayas and Inquirer reporters Marlon Ramos—JOAN BONDOC/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippine Daily Inquirer bagged seven awards, including the top honors in six print categories, in this year’s Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), where the Catholic Church recognizes and promotes the “responsible use” of the press.

At the 41st CMMA rites on Wednesday, the Inquirer topped the competition for best investigative report, best news photograph, best special feature, best opinion column, best editorial cartoon and best business column.

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, CMMA honorary chair, CMMA Foundation Inc. acting chair D. Edgard Cabangon, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Church leaders, print, radio and television writers and journalists, representatives of school and youth organizations, and Catholic communicators attended the ceremonies at GSIS Theater in Pasay City.

Inquirer reporters Mariejo S. Ramos and Krixia Subingsubing won the award for best investigative report for their article “Church as healer of drug war wounds,”  a three-part series on how “survivors” of President Duterte’s drug war—the mothers, children and wives of those killed in police operations—found healing through counseling and support from the Catholic Church.

The two other finalists in this category were also from the Inquirer: “Greening Pinatubo” by Tonette Orejas and Allan Macatuno of Inquirer Northern Luzon and “Yolanda’s homeless” by Joey Gabieta, Hazel Villa and Connie Fernandez-Brojan of Inquirer Visayas.

Best photo, columns

Orejas and Macatuno got a special citation for their three-part series, which showed how the government had done little to reforest Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales provinces 27 years after Mt. Pinatubo erupted.

Inquirer Southern Luzon photo correspondent Mark Alvic Esplana’s “Packed with Devotion” won the award for best news photo. Inquirer photo editor Rem Zamora and photographers Marianne Bermudez and Richard Reyes were the other finalists in this category, along with one each from Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star.

Inquirer columnist Randy David won the award for best opinion column for “Paradoxes,” which was published in the newspaper’s Jan. 31, 2019, issue.

Inquirer columnists John Nery, Ceres Doyo and Manuel L. Quezon III and Manila Bulletin’s Mel Sta. Maria were the other finalists.

‘New Sons Party’

Inquirer graphic artist Albert Rodriguez won his first CMMA award for best editorial cartoon for “New Sons Party,” depicting political dynasties and politics as “family business.” He bested two finalists from Manila Bulletin.

His other cartoon, “The Good Shepherd,” about Pope Francis’ move against clergymen involved in sexual abuse, was also a finalist.

The best business column award went to the Inquirer’s Queena Lee-Chua for “Spoiled and entitled? A next gen speaks out.” The Inquirer’s April Lynn Tan also was a finalist in this category.

The award for best special feature went to Ador Vincent Mayol,  Inquirer Visayas desk editor, for “A park in the dark: Rising above one’s limits,” which came out in Cebu Daily News (CDN), an Inquirer group publication.

Two other CDN articles by Mayol were chosen finalists for this category—“Shining through the shadows” and “Battle vs cyberporn.”

The other Inquirer finalists in this category were Divina Suson, Julie Alipala, Richel Umel, Allan Nawal, Melvin Gascon and Ben de Vera for their feature on “Healing Marawi”; and Inquirer sports editor Francis T.J. Ochoa and sports reporter Denison Rey Dalupang for “Her biggest fight.”

There were two finalists from ABS-CBN Publishing Inc.

‘Not to glamorize evil’

The CMMA handed out dozens of awards for student publications, radio, television and film.

Two special awards were also given—the Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Award and the St. John Paul II Serviam Award.

In his speech,  Tagle appealed to those in the mass media “not to glamorize evil” and to be more zealous in reporting good news.

“Sometimes unwittingly, unconsciously, our way of presenting evil present in society sometimes glamorizes the very evil that we want to denounce,” Tagle said.

“It is sad to hear when people say if it’s bad news, it will be reported. But if it’s good news, oh it’s too boring to report.”

Politicians come and go

Domagoso, a former show biz celebrity, paid tribute to the media industry which he said helped improve his life.

He urged Filipinos to contribute their share for the good of their cities and their country and not just expect change to come from government.

“People in government like me, especially politicians like me, come and go, but the institution stays. So change should not come only from us,” the Manila mayor said. “Tonight when you go home, look in the mirror and ask: What can I share with my country, my city, as a citizen?”

He expressed hope that future CMMA ceremonies could be held in Manila, specifically in one of its “many jewels,” the Metropolitan Theater.