The ‘Oscars’ of PR in the Philippines

Since its inception in 1963, the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) has been giving recognition to outstanding public relations campaigns, programs and tools through its Anvil Awards.

Dubbed as the “Oscars” of the Philippine PR industry, the Anvil Awards has become one of the most prestigious and most anticipated awards because it symbolizes excellence in the practice of public relations. Winners in the various categories are chosen following a very meticulous screening process conducted by a select panel of judges who are considered experts in the industry and in various fields and professions.  Heading the jurors for the 53rd Anvil Awards’ “Gabi ng Parangal,” recently held at Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City, is former presidential spokesperson Sonny Coloma.

(From left) Accomplished communications practitioner Bong Osorio and Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) president Jika Dalupan award the Silver Anvil to Alsons Power Group’s Renan Garcia, Shayne San Juan and Junjun Contreras.

According to Owen Cammayo, chairman of the 53rd Anvil Awards, PRSP received a record-breaking number of entries that reached 450 from which winners in 36 specific categories for programs and tools and eight special categories were chosen. Silver and Gold Anvils were given to the best programs and tools that meet the highest standards set in each category, while the Grand Anvil Award  was given to the most outstanding PR program that transcends all “Gold” in a respective category. 

PRSP VP Norman Agatep (extreme left), 53rd Anvil Awards juror Jayvee Fernandez (second from left) and Jika Dalupan (extreme right) award the Silver Anvil to Weber Shandwick president and COO Diana Lesaca, Operation Smile country director for development Roberto Manzano and Smart Communications community partnerships senior manager Jill Lava.

Among the notable winners were the “Until We Heal” campaign of Operation Smile — an international medical charity organization that has been providing free surgery to people afflicted with cleft conditions and other facial deformities for 35 years — that won Silver under the category of Specialized Programs Advocacy Campaign. Operation Smile’s winning entry was submitted by PR and communications firm Weber Shandwick Philippines that has been supporting the medical charity “pro bono” for several years now as part of its advocacy. 

(From left) Weber Shandwick’s Samantha Mercado, Bing Parel, Joy Cabrillos, Tahl Gopez, Jenny Villona, Diana Lesaca, Minnie Delena, Grace Diez, Tricia Kiocho and Carl Cuevas (seated).

Those who also received Silver Anvil awards (for different categories) were Alsons Power Group for the milestone twin event that celebrated the ceremonial switch-on of the first 105-megawatt section of its subsidiary Sarangani Energy Corp.’s 210-megawatt baseload coal plant, and the groundbreaking of SEC’s second 105-megawatt section.  The SEC plant in Maasim, Sarangani happens to be the biggest power investment in the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) region — underscoring Alsons’ commitment to the economic growth of Mindanao.

Congratulations to the organizers and all the awardees of the 53rd Anvil Awards!