EMPHASIZING television’s influence on the young, the 6th UST Students’ Choice Awards for Television (USTv) called on networks to provide viewers with shows that will help them make “good choices.”
Vice Rector Fr. Pablo Tiong, O.P., in his opening speech, said television networks should deliver what is “sensible and beneficial.”
“We, as consumers and as an audience, should exercise deep responsibility in what we watch, what we listen to, and what we use,” Tiong said. “In the same way, media providers should also responsibly deliver what is sensible and what is beneficial, rather than just what is hip and earning.”
Broadcast giant ABS-CBN got the limelight during the awards night by bagging 16 of 28 awards. Sister network and two-time USTv winner for Most Youth-Oriented Station, Studio 23, won two trophies.
Nominees were determined through a University-wide survey facilitated by the Office of the Secretary General, the Institute of Religion, and the dean’s offices of the University’s 20 colleges and faculties last October.
The survey included all local shows aired from June to September 2009, and had 3,326 third year and fourth year student-respondents.
“Freshmen and sophomores were excluded [from the survey as] they are new to the Thomasian environment and are not yet enforced with the Thomasian values,” said Alvin Ang, director of the Research Cluster for Cultural, Educational, and Social Issues, which drafted the methodology used in the survey.
A student-dominated Board of Judges headed by Secretary General Fr. Florentino Bolo, Jr., O.P. then evaluated the survey and come up with the winners.
ABS-CBN won most of the awards during the awards night last February 18.
Defunct primetime drama Tayong Dalawa was named the Students’ Choice for Daily Local Soap Opera, with lead star Kim Chiu winning as the Students’ Choice for Actress in a Local Soap Opera.
Child star Zaijan Jaranilla, fondly called as “Santino,” won as the Students’ Choice for Actor in a Daily Local Soap Opera for May Bukas Pa, which received the first Special Award for virtues of faith and hope.
ASAP won for the fourth time as the Students’ Choice for Most Popular Variety Show. Maalaala Mo Kaya is still undisputed as Students’ Choice for Drama Program after bagging its sixth trophy.
Naruto and environmental TV program Matanglawin won as the Students’ Choice for Full Animated Program and Educational Program, respectively. Both “Kapamilya” shows were last year’s back-to-back winners for the same categories.
“The USTv award is the very first award that this show has received. Since then, other awards came pouring in,” said Matanglawin host and UST alumnus Kim Atienza.
Primetime news program TV Patrol World grabbed the Students’ Choice for Local News Program award.
“Ang mga nagbabantay sa balita ang tunay na mga bayani,” said TV Patrol World anchor Ted Failon, who won as the Students’ Choice for Male News and Current Affairs Host.
The Students’ Choice for Female News and Current Affairs Host Korina Sanchez spoke highly of the youth in her acceptance speech.
“Ang kabataan ang ating kinabukasan. Dapat nating gamitin ang kabataan, kapangyarihan, at karapatan sa makabuluhang paraan,” Sanchez said.
Primetime entertainment program Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN) won its first award as the Students’ Choice for Entertainment News Program, beating four-time winner The Buzz, also of ABS-CBN.
“Being entertaining, responsible, and educational all at the same time is a very huge responsibility,” SNN and The Buzz host Boy Abunda said.
ABS-CBN’s winners also included Kape’t Pandesal (Students’ Choice for Catholic Program), Boys Over Flowers (foreign soap opera), The Singing Bee (game show), and George and Cecil (situational comedy).
Studio 23 bagged the first Students’ Choice for Sports Program for televising UAAP as Y-Speak got its fourth USTv public affairs talk show title.
Undisputed winners I-Witness (Students’ Choice for Documentary Program), Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (magazine program), and Bubble Gang (gag show) gave glory to GMA Network, which was awarded with eight trophies.
“A lot of people have asked us in I-Witness, why do we always focus on children in our documentaries. I always say, children experience the societal pains before anyone else, but they are the most powerful sector, and they will empower us more,” I-Witness host Kara David said in Filipino.
The country’s longest-running public service program Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko was also honored with the very first USTv Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service for its 34 years of service.
Other winning “Kapuso” shows were Wish Ko Lang and Mel and Joey, which were named Students’ Choice for Public Service Program and Talk Variety Program, respectively.
UST High School alumna Sarah Geronimo was again crowned as the Students’ Choice for Local Music Video Performer, while Thomasian-dominated band Hale bagged the Students’ Choice for Local Music Video award for Bahay Kubo.
No one received the Speculum Veritatis (Mirror of Truth) and the Most Responsible Youth-Oriented TV Station trophies this year. Broadcaster and UST alumnus Arnold Clavio was awarded with the Speculum Veritatis last year. Studio 23 had won the most Youth-Oriented TV Station twice.
“These special awards are not handed out yearly, it’s just that no one stood out to deserve these awards for this year,” Varsitarian publications adviser and USTv judge Joselito Zulueta said.
The night’s performers were singer Erik Santos, dance group Gigger Boys, and The Singing Bee balladeers including alumna Apple Chiu. Atienza, Jugs Jugueta, and Vice Ganda surprised the audience with a live segment of the talent program Showtime.
Other media personalities who graced the event were Gerald Anderson, Bianca Gonzales, Bubble Gang comedians Boy II Quizon and Diego, Dimples Romana, Sam Concepcion, Robi Domingo, AJ Perez, Vicky Morales, and former Mr. Thomasian Personality and May Bukas Pa actor David Chua.
