STAR is Marketing Company of the Year

The event was both a paean to media achievement and a eulogy to a fallen soldier of press freedom.

The Philippine STAR received its "Marketing Company of the Year" award last night amid another moving testimonial to the role played by the late Maximo V. Soliven in shaping The STAR and the media industry in general.

Miguel Belmonte, president and CEO, received the award during the 27th Agora Awards last night at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel InterContinental in Makati City.

Belmonte received the award from Philippine Marketing Association president Tom Banguis, who also condoled with The STAR for the recent demise of Soliven, publisher and chairman of the board.

Banguis called Soliven the "Pillar of Philippine Journalism.’’

Mylene Abiva-Sazon, director of the Agora Awards; and Edith Dychiao, category head, assisted in the awarding.

In his acceptance speech, Belmonte said The Star "believes that great marketing is founded on one thing: Sincerity - keeping our word and making sure that credibility is alive in a world where it is may be wanting.’’

Belmonte added that "great marketing" is also based on "responsible, credible, and sincere journalism" as espoused by The Star.

He also dedicated the award to Soliven. "In a lifetime of awards and honors, he would have been proud to be with us tonight to receive this one," he said. "The Star will always be proud of him, his inspiration, his legacy."