GMA Network Vice-President for Corporate Communications Butch S. Raquel was re-elected President of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) for 2010-2111 during the organizational meeting of elected directors held last January 11 at Café Breton in Mandaluyong City.
Other elected PRSP officers were Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo of Manila Electric Company, Vice President for Internal; John V. Rojo of Bayantel Communications, Vice President for External; Anna Gizelle Camua of Coca-Cola Export, Secretary; Rita R. Festin of Asian Development Bank, Treasurer; and Chito S. Maniago as Internal Auditor.
New PRSP directors include Jorge Miguel T. Marco of Ayala Land; Felisa B. Rosales of Land Bank of the Philippines; and Catherine Ileto of Cirdia Foundation while Jones Campos is Ex-Officio. PRSP Advisers include Eduardo S. Alcaraz of ESA Consultants; Elpi O. Cuna, Jr. of San Miguel Corporation, and Maximo J. Edralin, Jr. of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
In his first move as re-elected PRSP President, Raquel appointed the Chair of various committees. Rojo was appointed Chair of the National PR Congress while Campos will be responsible for the Anvil Awards and the Mini Lecture Series. Rosales will chair Finance/ Ways and Means, while Marco will handle Membership and Publicity. Camua remained Chair of Programs and General Membership Meetings, and Maniago was again tasked to be in charge of Student Affairs. Ileto remained Chair of SOS/Charity while Ronquillo was appointed Chair of Professional Development, Publication and International Relations. The new Chair of the Accreditation and Ethics Committee will be announced later.
The new PRSP Board, which was elected last January 8, will have its oath-taking at the Anvil Awards Night on February 26 at the Edsa Plaza Hotel.
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Crazy lightning bolts, sweetly destructive voice, comically wicked attitude--Regine Velasquez as Elektra is more armed than ever as she invades Planet Earth in DARNA.
Born in Planet Venusa where women rule and men are mere slaves,
Queen Elektra traversed the Earth to transfer all of its water to her dying planet. To do so, she plans to befriend the earthlings and eventually defeat Darna.
As a first step, Elektra sucked the brains of a homosexual, enabling her to speak with the people of the earth but in gay linggo! This coupled with her electric abilities and telechenesis which she unleashes through singing, Elektra is ready to trick the people and bring Darna down.
Will she fulfill her mission? Can Darna outmatch Elektra’s comically deadly capabilities? Or will Planet Earth be the new Planet Venusa?
Watch out for the geared-up Regine Velasquez as Elektra this week in DARNA, after 24 Oras.
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In his bicycles docus, Howie Severino and his team have traveled on two wheels to Sagada, Bohol, Catanduanes and through the mean streets of Manila.
In their next biking adventure, they hit the clean streets of Japan, a land full of contradictions.
A nation better known to Filipinos for its cars, Japan is also a bike-loving country where old and young alike commute by bike, cyclists are so respected by motorists that few bikers feel a need to wear helmets, and train stations come with large bicycle parking garages.
Howie and his team do most of their cycling in the quaint city of Sakai, the country's bicycle capital.
Cycling through Sakai's streets enables Howie to see up close the often uneasy co-existence of old and new in Japan - the virtues of traditional crafts like samurai making and the demands of a modern economy; the frenetic pace of Japanese industry and the slower speed prescribed by Buddhism.
But Howie also observes Japan's need to adjust to a changing world. It is an aging, racially homogenous population which accepts fewer migrant workers than most other modern societies.
Sakai itself is only beginning to reach out again to the rest of the world, recalling its history as a global trading city. Howie and his team are part of a small group of Southeast Asians invited to Sakai to share their culture with Japanese youth rarely given the chance for exposure to foreigners.
De La Salle student Anne is one of the Filipinos in the group who stays with a local Sakai family, who reveals to her a side of Japan that few outsiders know.
Howie himself realizes that Filipinos and Japanese have more in common than meets the eye. And cycling is an ideal way to get to know a strange place.
Catch the story in detail this Monday on I-Witness after the late night newscast Saksi on GMA.
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Barely a month after it was launched, the election infomercial produced by GMA News and Public Affairs (N&PA) has already been receiving positive reviews from the public.
The music video on election automation dubbed, "Bilog na Hugis Itlog" (Oval that’s shaped like an egg), which features the Sexbomb Dancers, was produced to aid in voters’ education.
A statement from the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) published in newspapers said that the video amply instructed the masses about the automated election process using music and dance as the medium of instruction.
Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares agreed. He said in a statement published in papers that the music video starred by the Sexbomb meets the pressing need to educate the common-tao about the computerized poll system. The music video, which currently goes on air over GMA Network, is a great help to the Voters’ Education arm of Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
As part of the advocacy programs of the network, the MTV details instructions on how to vote in an automated election the fun and easy way, while keeping with the basic principles of voting wisely—choosing candidates who have integrity, who are honest and will do the country good. This is strikingly opposite from the traditional instructional modules used in voters’ education.
GMA Network Vice President for Regional TV and Head of Expansion Division Rikki Escudero said that they opted the use of song and dance and instructional music video as teaching tools for automation due to the innate love of Pinoys for music and dance. “It’s a good vehicle to turn what is regarded as complicated into something simple, easy, and do-able,” Escudero said.
Escudero added that “itlog” is the best simplified presentation of ovals found in the ballots for automated elections. Voters must shade the oval positioned beside the name of the candidate they intend to vote.
Through the music video, the Kapuso (one in heart) plays part not only in providing news and information but also in empowering the electorate to make informed and wise choices.
The music of Bilog na Hugis Itlog was composed by Jon Ong, while the lyrics were penned by GMA Network Head for Program Analysis Jobart Bartolome. GMA Network AVP for Alternative Platforms Leogarda Sanchez-Matias helped source the music and oversaw the creation of the music video.
The Network is set to formally launch the music video nationwide. Dance contests in the regional areas will also be launched to not only promote the MTV but bring the message across.
Before the vote is cast on May 2010, the MTV will have been watched and listened to by millions of Filipinos. The MTV will have informed and empowered voters not only to vote in an automated election but to vote wisely.
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Carla Abellana plays Sonia, a human being and Javino’s true love.
Geoff Eigenmann plays Prinsipe Javino, the original successor to the throne of Paladino. Javino, a responsible and intelligent prince, will travel to the land of humans and willfall in love with a human girl. But because of his long absence, the people of the magical kingdom will think that he is dead. 
Carmina Villaroel plays Reyna Lamara, Haring Adorno’s kind-hearted wife.
Benjie Paras plays Rizayo, the kingdom of Paladino’s head diwani. He is loyal to King Adorno.
Bubbles Paraiso plays Prinsesa Saraya, the eldest child of Haring Adorno and Reyna Lamara. She is close to her youngest brother, Prinsipe Almiro.
Chanda Romero plays Rosata, Prinsipe Almiro’s royal ally. Rosata will help the prince find a wife in the land of humans.
Chynna Ortaleza plays Lourdes, the girl who will be hard on Lara. Lourdes blames Lara for the death of her boyfriend.Chynna Ortaleza plays Lourdes, the girl who will be hard on Lara. Lourdes blames Lara for the death of her boyfriend.Chynna Ortaleza plays Lourdes, the girl who will be hard on Lara. Lourdes blames Lara for the death of her boyfriend.
Elvis Gutierrez plays Guwarko, the black diwani who holds a grudge against Paladino’s rulers.
Joey Paras plays Salim Salamin, the magical mirror that reports to Bawana (Bianca King) the happenings in and out of Paladino.
Karen delos Reyes plays Minnie, Lara’s loyal and kind best friend.
Paolo Ballesteros plays Anexi, a magician who will help Prinsipe Almiro find awife in the land of humans.
Rita Iringan plays Gigi, Lara’s cruel cousin.
Stef Prescott plays Naveya, Prinsipe Almiro’s true love in the kingdom of Paladino.
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StarStruck V’s Top 10 survivors narrowly escaped the risk of possible elimination as GMA-7’s original artista search announced one of this season’s big surprise twists – the Factor 3.
The suspenseful announcement of a non-elimination night last Sunday from the hosts, Dennis Trillo and Carla Abellana, gave the Top 10 survivors another week to rustle up enough support from their supporters and the voting public to avoid getting the cut from the next round of elimination.
Factor 3, which takes effect only this week, has three levels. First, viewers have a bigger power to choose who gets to leave and who gets to stay. They will control 60% of the total votes. Second, the StarStruck council composed of TV director Floy Quintos, versatile actress Iza Calzado and talent manager Lolit Solis has 20% of the total score. The third level gave the Top 10 survivors a say on the elimination. For the first time of StarStruck history, they will have to vote out a fellow survivor among themselves.
Two survivors, one male and one female, will be voted out this Sunday. The votes on the fifth week will be carried over to this week’s results.
To vote out a StarStruck survivor, type OUT (space) name of survivor and send to 367 for Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers and 2344 for Globe, TM and Sun subscribers. Voting period ends at 12 nn on January 10.
The Top 10 survivors are Steven Silva, Piero Vergara, Ian Batherson, Enzo Pineda, Rocco Nacino, Diva Montelaba, Sarah Lahbati, Princess Snell, Nina Kodaka and Rox Montealegre. Who will be sent home on the elimination night on Sunday, January 10?
StarStruck V airs Saturdays right after Pinoy Records and Sundays right after Kap’s Amazing Stories while StarStruck Shout Out airs 3 times a day Mondays to Fridays on GMA.
The Top 10 survivors are:
Enzo Pineda
Ian Batherson
Nina Kodaka
Piero Vergara
Rocco Nacino
Rox Montealegre
Princess Snell
Sarah Lahbati
Steven Silva
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