Another highlight of the evening affair was the blowing of the anniversary cake candles led by PAJ president Roman Floresca of the Philippine STAR.
Guest of honor and speaker was Angelito M. Sarmiento, Presidential Adviser for Agricultural Modernization.
Among the guests were Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor, former Agriculture Secretaries Domingo F. Panganiban and Salvador Escudero III, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Philip Juico, Quedancor president Nelson Buenaflor, PCA Administrator Danilo Coronacion, Edward F. David and Jesus T. Tanchanco Sr. of the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex), National Presss Club president Louie Logarta, and agribusinessmen Joji Co and Henry Lim Bon Liong of SL Agritech Corp.
Last Sept. 6, President Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 99 declaring the second week of September 2001 and every year thereafter as "Agricultural Journalism Week."
In her proclamation, the President underscored the important role played by agricultural journalists in national economic development.
"Agriculture," she said, "is one of the key components in winning the war against poverty. The greater public awareness of agriculture through agricultural journalism helps boost the country’s national economic development."
The PAJ is composed of agricultural writers from the print and broadcast media, as well as from government and private agencies involved in agriculture. It has to date some 300 members nationwide.
The Binhi Awards is a yearly project of the association which it started in 1977. It honors agricultural writers for excellence in agricultural journalism.