UST HOSTED the 32nd Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), a recognition given by the Archdiocese of Manila to media practitioners for “upholding Christian values and ideals,” last October 13 at the Medicine Auditorium.
“The CMMA is given to recognize that particular instrument (media) where truth was upheld without diminishing charity,” said Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, who also serve as the CMMA honorary chairman.
Cardinal Rosales stressed the significance of social communication in his welcome remarks, saying, “we wanted to listen to what had happened and what is happening that’s why social communication is very important to us.”
Thomasian student publications failed to set recognition from the CMMA. However, “Sulo,” the official student publication of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, got a nomination for best student organ in the college division category.
Fontanilla said that the University should be active in submitting entries like publications and radio and TV productions.
“I know the students are very talented and very creative, so I think it’s just a matter of persistence so that [the CMMA] will really get to appreciate the creative work of Thomasians,” she said.
Meanwhile, Thomasian broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio of GMA7 emerged as the “most awarded” media practioner after receiving three CMMA awards, namely Best Talk Show for Kandidato, Best News Program-TV for Saksi and Best Public Service Program-TV for Unang Hirit.
“I was really surprised when I was called because I was invited just as a presentor of the awards,” Clavio told the Varsitarian.
“Maybe the hardwork of the people behind the camera made us win the award. They worked hard to produce a quality program which GMA is known for,” he said. “At least we were able to meet their expectation for us to be a mass media with responsibility and fear of the Lord.”
Clavio said he hoped there would be more Thomasians in broadcasting outlet like journalism alumna Sandra Aguinaldo and communication arts alumnus Cesar Apolinario, who also work for GMA Network.
“Dagdagan pa natin para maging proud ang University natin,” Clavio said.
CMMA was established by the late Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in 1978 to stress the importance of mass media and to instill a sense of responsibility among media practitioners.
