INQUIRER.net’s Kurt dela Peña (second from right) joins four esteemed journalists as a panelist for the 34th Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar. | Image courtesy of CMFR.
MANILA, Philippines—Kurt Dela Peña of INQUIRER.net has been selected as one of the panelists in the distinguished Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar (JVOJS), set for November 19, Tuesday.
Organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the annual event gathers accomplished journalists to explore key challenges and opportunities in the current media landscape.
Dela Peña will share the panel with journalists Jane Bautista of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jairo Bolledo and Pia Ranada of Rappler, and Cristina Chi of Philstar.com.
The panelists, selected by senior journalists from CMFR’s board of trustees for their exceptional work, will tackle pressing issues and concerns about the evolving future of journalism in the Philippines.
A researcher and writer for INQFocus — INQUIRER.net’s investigative and special reports team — Dela Peña has earned recognition for his in-depth coverage of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). His works, frequently cited by CMFR, are noted for their depth and relevance, offering critical insights into national security, geopolitical matters, and other pressing issues affecting the country.
This year, he received his second consecutive Lasallian Scholarum Award for Outstanding Online Feature Article on Youth and Education with the piece, “Numbers fell but teen pregnancies persist, mirror economic, learning gaps.”
READ: INQUIRER.net’s INQFocus team wins 2nd Lasallian Scholarum Award
The previous year, he earned the same award for his article, “Zero budget for special education in 2023 makes SPED law meaningless.”
Last May, Dela Peña was honored with the Award of Special Recognition by the National Defense College of the Philippines Alumni Association Inc. (NDCPAAI) for his exceptional reporting on geopolitical and security developments in the WPS.
READ: INQUIRER.net staffers recognized for West PH Sea coverage
The JVOJS was established by CMFR to honor journalists who uphold the highest standards of journalism, press freedom, and media ethics.
“The seminar serves as a living memorial to the late business leader Jaime V. Ongpin, who also served as President Corazon Aquino’s secretary of finance,” CMFR wrote.
“Although he was not a journalist, Ongpin actively supported the ‘alternative press,’ strengthening its capacity to provide verified news and information during the early eighties and help Filipinos understand urgent political issues of the time,” the media watchdog added.
INQUIRER.net’s INQFocus team was also represented in 2022 by Cristina Eloisa Baclig, who was selected as a JVOJS fellow that year.
As part of the seminar, the Embassy of Canada in Manila will also announce the 2024 Marshall McLuhan Fellow, an award presented to a journalist who demonstrates excellence in the craft.