Freeman sweeps Cebu media awards

The Freeman, a sister publication of The STAR, dominated the 12th Cebu Archdiocese Mass Media Awards (CAMMA), winning in three of the four categories for which it was nominated.

The awards, held at the Cebu Catholic Television Network Sunday afternoon, honored the paper with top prizes for editorial writing, editorial cartoons and column writing in the print category.

The Best Editorial awardee was written by The Freeman editor-in-chief Jerry Tundag, the Best Editorial cartoon was sketched by Ramesh Rosillo and Best Column Article written by Fr. Roy Cimagala in his "Hints and Traces" column.

Cimagala, a pro-life advocate, used to send his contributions to The Freeman through the Letter to the Editor section, but was later hired by the company as columnist for his passionate views on life and its sanctity, and the application of Church teachings to the Filipinos’ day-to-day living.

Aside from Cimagala, The Freeman column writer Eladio Diokno, a former regional director of the Department of Education, also was nominated in the same sub-category for his "Straws in the Wind" column, which appears Tuesday and Saturday.

For Best Feature article, Jason Baguia of Cebu Daily News won for his "Cycle of Nature." He was pitted against The Freeman’s feature writer Archie Modequillo for his "Frame It!"; Sun Star Cebu’s Leticia Suarez-Orendain for her "Jovy: Finding her Balance" and Liberty Pinili for "DENR: Solve Poverty to Save Human Life."

In addition, Freeman columnist Valerian "Bobit" Avila’s "Straight from the Sky" show which airs on Channel 15 was named the Best Talk Show in the television category, over ABS-CBN’s "Jud Morning" hosted by Jude Bacalso.

Under the same category, special citations were given to Channel 28 for its documentary program on the Sinulog 25th anniversary celebration, "25 years of Sinulog" under the special events sub-category, GMA-7 for its "Singgit Cebu" program for the variety show sub-category, and CCTN for its "Bulletin Headlines" program hosted by Sam Costanilla, specially for its "Ginagmay’ng Panginabuhi" segment, under the TV News sub-category.

Winners for radio were dyMF’s "Taxi Driver" as the Best Drama program, dySS’ "Imbestigador" as the Best Public Affairs program hosted by Algen Abaquita, dyHP for Best News program, and dyXR’s "Tuburan sa Kamatuoran" for Best Developmental program.

CAMMA was founded 15 years ago by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal to highlight his commitment to media, according to Rev. Fr. Trinidad Silva, sitting as chairman of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Social Communications that handles the CAMMA.

Vidal is consultant of the commission that recognizes exemplary work by individuals, institutions and media outlets, with the help of jurors coming from academe and non-government organizations.

The award ceremonies Sunday also marked Vidal’s 23rd anniversary as archbishop of Cebu. Government Media Group head Cerge Remonde flew from Manila to attend the event.

"CAMMA is simply an incentive for all of us to struggle for excellence," Remonde said. — The Freeman