As a tribute to the role of the family in building the nation, the 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) honored on Wednesday night the media organizations that promoted love for family in their stories, music and films last year.
With the theme “Communicating the Family: A Privileged Place of Encounter with the Gift of Love,” the 37th CMMA invited hundreds of entries for the prestigious award that was established to recognize those who use the mass media as a tool to promote Christian values among Filipinos.
In his keynote speech during the event, Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle noted that the value of the Filipino family is being degraded by the preoccupation of many Filipinos over money.
He lamented that many Filipinos are even using their family as an excuse for doing wrong, such as corruption and violent crimes.
“Pakiusap din po, maging tapat tayo sa pamilya, subalit huwag naman gamitin ang pamilya para sa pandaraya, sa corruption. Minsan ang mga maling gawa, sasabihin ginagawa ko iyan para sa pamilya. Organized crime, organized violence, pagkatapos sasabihin na dahil ito sa loyalty sa pamilya? Ang mabuting balita ay pamilyang pinagmumulan din ng integridad, katarungan, pamumuhay nang makatotohanan at marangal,” Tagle said.
To honor its chairman and president, Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, the CMMA board of trustees conferred a special award on him for his service to the Church through the mass media.
Cabangon Chua’s advocacy to bring back the media’s role in delivering useful, meaningful and unbiased information, as embodied by the CMMA, is his biggest contribution to the media industry yet.
The Serviam Award, which was conceived in honor of the late Manila Archbishop Cardinal Sin, the founder of CMMA, was posthumously given to Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van Tai for his service to the Church through mass media.
Two media organizations were also given the Saint Pope John Paul II Award, namely the Papal Committee on Documentation and Coverage during the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January, and the makers and cast of ABS-CBN series Nathaniel.
A Hall of Fame Award was also given to Fr. Bernard Nolasco, SDB, for winning the Best Entertainment Column award for five straight years from 2010 to 2014.
The other awardees in the 2015 CMMA are: Hasik by La Salle Greenhills (Best Student Organ, Grade School); Legacy by Saint Paul College, Parañaque (Best Student Organ, High School); Crossroads: Excalibur by Holy Cross of Davao Collage (Best Student Organ, College); The Greenery by La Salle Greenhills (Best Student Literary Publication); Mikmik by Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Best Student Public Service Print Ad); Salu-Salo ‘Wag Solo-Solo by Lorenzana Food Corp. (Best Print Ad, Branded); Bahay Aruga by Pasig City Government (Best Print Ad, Public Service);
Mustard: Sowing Seeds of Fun and Faith by Shepherd’s Voice Publications (Best Children’s Magazine); Word & Life (Best Youth Magazine); Family Matters by Don Bosco Press Inc. (Best Family-Oriented Magazine); The Windhover by Philippine Jesuit Aid Association, Society of Jesus (Best Local Community/Parish Newspaper);
Rising from the Pit by Ken Leslie (Best Short Story); Mikhol, The Cedar Tree by Fr. Armand D. Robleza, SDB (Best Children’s Short Story); Wall of Hope by Lyn Rillon (Best News Photograph); The Peacemakers by Fernando del Mundo (Best Special Feature); All in the Family by Queena Lee Chua and Business Matters by Francis J. Kong (Best Business Column); Healing Heart by Ilsa B. Reyes (Best Entertainment Column); Pope Francis Breaks the Ice Between the United States’ Obama and Cuba’s Castro by Gilbert Daroy (Best Editorial Cartoon);
The People’s Pope by Orly Aquino (Best Comic Story); Will Soon Flourish by Wilson Lee Flores (Best Opinion Column); Missionaries in China: Reinventing the Mission by Manuel Augusto (Best Investigative Report); coverage of the papal visit by Philippine Daily Inquirer (Best News Coverage);
Makinig, Sumunod by Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Best Public Service Ad); Walang App Para Dyan by Malaking Munti Foundation (Best Radio Ad Public Service); Salitang Buhay by dzMM 630 (Best Counseling Program); Dr. Love Always and Forever by dzMM 630 (Best Entertainment Program); Bida Specials by dxND (Best Business News or Feature); dzMM Lenten Drama Special by dzMM 630 and May Pangako Ang Bukas by dzRH 666 (Best Drama Program); Radyo Balintataw by dzRH 666 (Best Educational Program); Search for the Monster Scholar by Monster Radio RX 93.1 (Best Public Service Program); Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide by dzBB 594 (Best News Program); Failon Ngayon sa dzMM by dzMM 630 (Best News Commentary);
Perfectly Imperfect by Sarah Geronimo (Best Secular Album); “Ipagpatuloy Mo, Galing ng Pilipino” by Gary Valenciano (Best Secular Song); “We Are All God’s Children” by Jamie Rivera (Best Inspirational Song and Best Music Video); www.worldmissionmagazine.com by World Mission Publications (Best Web site);
Hataw sa Katahimikan by Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Best Student TV Production); Lupang Sinilangan by Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Best Student Public Service TV Ad); Thank You Sa Malasakit, Pope Francis by ABS-CBN and Panguma (Farming) by ABS-CBN Cebu (Best TV Ad, Public Service); Happiest Pinoy by Cebuana Lhuillier (Best TV Ad, Branded);
Nathaniel by ABS-CBN (Best Children and Youth Program); i-Witness by GMA 7 (Best Adult Educational/Cultural Program); Mission Possible by ABS-CBN (Best Public Service Program); Pepito Manaloto by GMA 7 (Best Comedy Program); May Pag-Asa by GMA News TV (Best Station ID); Kerygma TV by IBC 13 (Best Religious Program); Reaksyon by TV5 (Best Talk Show); Ilustrado by GMA 7 (Best Drama Series/Program); Kaya (Gunita) by TV5 (Best TV Special); Ang People’s Pope sa Pilipinas by GMA 7 (Best Special Event Coverage); Brigada by GMA News TV (Best News Magazine); The World Tonight by ABS-CBN News Channel (Best News Program); The Pope Francis Effect by Mater Redemption College (Best Student Short Film); Kid Kulafu by Star Cinema (Student’s Choice Award For Best Film).