TF columnist gets excellence award

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Star and The FREEMAN columnist, Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, was recognized by the Rotary Club of Manila for his contribution in the print media.

During the 9th Tourism Awards Presentation of the club at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City yesterday, Avila was the recipient of the award of excellence in the field of print media.

Avila, who has been working for the Star Group of Publications for 27 years, said that this is his first national award being a columnist.

“I am very proud to have 27 years with the Philippine Star and The FREEMAN and I am proud that my efforts have been recognized nationally with this award,” said Avila, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Cebu-Mother.

This is a back-to-back victory for the Star Group of  Publications as the company’s president, Miguel Belmonte, was also a recipient of the same award last year.

Avila thanked the former publisher of the Philippines Star, the late Maximo Soliven, whom he considers his mentor,  and Juanito Jabat, publisher of  The FREEMAN.

“I am also thankful to the Gullas Family, especially to Sir Dodong, for giving me the opportunity to write my columns with zero interference from them, giving me editorial independence,” Avila added.

Avila has no idea how the recipient of the award was chosen but he said that when he attended a meeting among Rotarians all over the country last year, he learned that several members read his column in the Philippine Star.

Alongside Avila in the list of awardees are big names in the different sectors of the country and he is the only Rotarian among the awardees.

ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio was awarded in the field of broadcast media, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez for tourism, Lucio Tan who is the Hall of Famer among the awardees, Henry Sy Jr. for tourism infrastructure, Johnny Chan for hotel, Ramon Ang for airlines, Welmer Beger for food and beverages, senatorial candidate Edward Hagedorn for local government and Cristino Labira for government corporation, among others.

The 9th Tourism Awards Presentation is spearheaded by Rotary Club of Manila president, former DOT Secretary Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan, along with the chairman of the awards committee,  Robert Joseph. —/MBG (FREEMAN)