MANILA, Philippines – This year’s 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), one of the most prestigious award-giving bodies in the country, gave its highest honors for broadcast journalism to News5, TV5’s news and information arm, citing its Aksyon Prime as Best News Program for 2015. Aksyon Prime is hosted by Luchi Cruz-Valdez (photo) and Erwin Tulfo that airs weeknights at 6.
CMMA was established by the Archdiocese of Manila, through His Eminence Archbishop Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, in 1978, in observance of the International Social Communication Day and its first awards given out in 1978 and every year thereafter. In 1980, Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul II) graced the awarding ceremonies. Handing out personally the trophies to the winners, he cited the significant place of mass media in today’s society, and its pervasive influence in the lives of the people.
Aside from the top prize in broadcast journalism, TV5 was also cited for its program Reaksyon as Best Talk Show and Kaya (episode on SAF 44) as Best Special Feature. Aksyon Prime carries the theme Higit sa Balita Aksyon, a commitment that TV5 lives through each day in its mission to provide viewers with the news and information that they need wherever they may be in the country.
Kaya, on the other hand, is a Saturday evening program that offers in-depth look on stories that affect the lives of Filipinos. It features the gutsy and intrepid reportorial work of Luchi together with DJ Sta. Ana, Patrick Paez, Roby Alampay and Twink Macaraig. Reaksyon are news commentaries aired daily hosted by Luchi whose 30-year experience in the country’s broadcast journalism field has been recognized both here and abroad.