2 lawyers top STAR Journalism Awards

MANILA, Philippines - “Journalism is literature in a hurry.” So said 19th-century poet Matthew Arnold. But 10 writers certainly were not in a hurry when they composed their pieces on the theme “My Icon, My Hero”: the results were so well-crafted they won the 2010 edition of the Philippine Star Lifestyle Journalism Awards.

Two lawyers – Bianca Locsin and Teodoro Kalaw IV – topped the awards, which were presented last Tuesday at the Ayala Museum by Ayala Corp. chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, editor-in- -chief Isaac Belmonte, Rustan’s president Nedy Tantoco, HSBC SVP Ron Logan and Samsung president K.C. Park.

Locsin wrote about her grandfather, the late Philippines Free Press editor Teodoro Locsin Sr., the feisty political journalism pillar who was jailed after the declaration of martial law. Her piece was based on the eulogy she delivered during the burial of her icon. It made everybody cry, including her equally feisty parents, freedom fighter Teddyboy Locsin and Philippine Stock Exchange dynamo Vivian Yuchengco.

Kalaw’s icon, his grandmother, former Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, was likewise imprisoned by Marcos. Now 90 years old, Senator Kalaw attended the awards, walking steadily with a cane. She was severely wounded during the Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971, and the shrapnel is still imbedded in her leg. Like Locsin, Kalaw’s mother – Trina Yujuico Kalaw – is a Philippine Stock Exchange stalwart. Both lawyers, educated at Yale and Harvard respectively, traveled far and wide only to come back to the country they longed to serve.

Edgardo Maranan is a Palanca Hall of Famer with 33 prizes and countless other national awards. A former information attaché of the Philippines in London, Maranan was recently conferred the Gawad Francisco Balagtas by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino for his contribution to the growth of literature in both Filipino and English, and in various genres. He wrote a moving piece on political exile Celia Mariano Pomeroy.

Allan Lopez, likewise a multi-awarded writer and playwright from the University of the Philippines Diliman, wrote about his mentor, the late Rene Villanueva. Lopez is an active member of the playwrights’ group called The Writersbloc Inc. His plays have been staged in various schools and festivals all over the Philippines.

Rodolfo Silvestre Jr. is a humorist who describes himself as an agricultural economics major who spent the best years of his life walking the talahib fields of Isabela State University. “As a child, I enjoyed reading the society columns of Amelita Reysio Cruz and would have loved to be part of the 1960s high society as a kibitzer, alalay or society climber.” He now writes coffee table books. Silvestre met his icon, cultural patron Danny Dolor, during his local history research on kundimans and zarzuelas.

Ronald Regis is a hip rocker who wrote for radio and television, then decided to impose upon himself an early retirement to focus “on my own things.” Regis, who says he is now a full-time professional poker player who moonlights as a standup comedian, wrote about his street heroes. “They remind me that there is a God, that there are lilies in the field, and that everything will be all right.”

Joseph Mansilla, only 22, wants to lobby for educational reforms for the youth in war-torn areas like his Cotabato hometown. He writes for NGOs that focus on conflict resolution, peacekeeping and advocacy against election violence in Mindanao. This AB English literature graduate of UP recently returned from a journalism stint in Brussels for the World Bank’s Global Youth Forum on Corruption. His winning piece is the story of advertising industry veteran Judith Albano.

Tweet Sering is a Palanca Award winner and Cinemalaya film writing awardee who has worked in various mass media. This UP Broadcasting major has written a novel and done editorial projects for Summit Publishing, produced programs for television, conceptualized ads, done corporate campaigns for GMA-7 Network, and mentored young writers. Sering wrote about an unnamed “Astig Girl,” an archeologist-museologist who is now a public servant.

Ricardo Cueto loves building bridges and building lives. He is assistant vice president and engineering head of TCGI Engineers who has been part of projects like the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union expressway, the NAIA III terminal, a bridge project of the World Bank in Vietnam, and the light rail transport system along EDSA. Ric built an impressive story on his icon, the former Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, who died of kidney failure this year.

Leslie Lofranco-Berbano proudly describes herself as a full-time mom who only last year finished her literature studies at the University of the Philippines, adding: “But all the time, I am also a dreamer.” Berbano is a stage director, teacher, civic volunteer, NGO worker and freelance writer. Her icon is her mother, Lilies Lim Lofranco.

The 10 winners each received P200,000 worth of prizes from the Philippine STAR, HSBC, Samsung, and the Rustan’s group which includes Stores Specialists Inc, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer, plus a glass trophy designed by Impy Pilapil. Their winning entries will be published in the Philippine STAR’s 24th anniversary issue on July 28.