Binhi Awards Night set Apr 16

MANILA, Philippines - All is set for the presentation of the Binhi Awards to the winners of the 2008-2009 agricultural writing contest sponsored by the Philippine Agricultural Journalists (PAJ).

The evening affair is set at 7 p.m. on April 16, at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Bldg. on Visayas Ave., Quezon City.

Over P400,000 in cash prizes and trophies will be given away by the PAJ which has been sponsoring the writing contest since 1978. Among the Binhi Awards regular sponsors are San Miguel Corp., SL Agritecch Corp. and Bayer (Philippines), Inc.

This year’s contest features eight categories: agricultural journalist, agri-beat reporter, environmental journalist, photojournalist, agricultural magazine, agricultural newsletter, radio program and media/info campaign.

Brief inspirational talks will be given by former food minister and NFA Administrator Jesus Tanchanco Sr. and Henry Lim, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of SL Agritech Corp. Sanny Galvez, PAJ president, will deliver the opening and welcome remarks.

Noel Reyes, who is the chairman of the Binhi Awards committee, will introduce this year’s board of judges composed of Mart R. del Rosario, a former UST journalism professor as chairman; and Diego Cagahastian, news editor of the Manila Bulletin; Ray Eñano, business editor of the Manila Standard; Chito Lozada, business editor of the Daily Tribune; and Roman Floresca, agriculture and environment editor of The STAR who was also former PAJ president, as members.

Now on its 29th year, the Binhi Awards is one of the projects of PAJ which, according to Galvez, “has done a lot in infusing the much-needed spirit into agricultural journalism.”

“It is considered the most sought-after awards by agricultural journalists who, is not only projecting Philippine agriculture, garner the prestige that goes with it,” he said.

Organized in 1976, the PAJ is composed of agriculture editors and reporters from the print and broadcast media as well as information writers from the government and private agencies involved in agriculture. It is affiliated with the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ).