THE UNIVERSITY has relaunched “USTV+,” an award for media excellence that will recognize individuals, “influencers,” and programs across communication and journalism, entertainment, and science and health.
Aside from recognizing television content, the 2026 edition of the USTV+ Awards will be conferred on practitioners in digital and social media and other emerging media formats.
“The designation ‘USTV+’ signifies the expanded scope of the awards, highlighting that recognition is conferred on the basis of the quality, relevance, and impact of media content regardless of platform,” UST Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P. said in a memorandum.
The relaunched USTV+ Awards adopted a “weighted voting system” for select discipline cluster-based award categories.
This will “promote a more equitable and representative evaluation of nominees” by considering the academic context and the choice of the student body, the memo stated.
UST+ will have 17 categories divided into nine clusters: humanities and social sciences, medicine and allied sciences, science and technology, accountancy, business, and management; music, arts, and design; physical education and sports, sacred sciences, law, entertainment and popular culture.
Among the nominees under the psychology categories for awareness and advocacy were Bianca Gonzales, Hannah Pangilinan, Janina Vela and Jusdani.
In the communication, journalism, politics, and society category, news programs “24 Oras,” “TV Patrol,” “State of the Nation,” “Dateline Philippines” and political podcast “Facts First” were nominated.
Journalists Atom Araullo, Pia Arcangel, UST journalism alumna Lian Buan, Jeff Canoy, UST journalism faculty member Christian Esguerra, and Ed Lingao were listed as individual nominees.
“I-Witness,” “Reporter’s Notebook,” and “The Chiefs” were the nominees under public affairs, while the individual nominees were Karmina Constantino, Kara David, UST alumnus Jove Francisco, John Nery, and Howie Severino.
David was also one of the nominees under the individual education category, joining Kim Atienza, Mona Magno-Veluz, and Lyqa Maravilla.
Under the “media influencer” award in health, the nominees were alumna Dr. Vicki Belo, Dr. Aileen De Lara of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Alvin Francisco, and pharmacist and content creator Ramon “Arshie” Larga.
The nominees under science communication were television programs “Born to be Wild,” “DOSTv Science for the People,” “iWitness,” and digital platform “EarthShaker.”
Nominated for the media influencer award in environmental awareness and advocacy were Araullo, David, Chai Fonacier, Ethan Hernandez, Nadine Lustre, and Celine Murillo.
For the media influencer award in music, the nominees were Alto Momma, Clara Benin, Gabrielle Pangilinan, Justin Taller, and Kiana Valenciano.
Under the media influencer award in fine arts and design, Cartoonist Zach, Geloy Concepcion, Hannah Reyes Morales, Jilson Tiu, Kevin Raymundo, and Shaira Luna were nominated.
Nominees for the media influencer award in physical education and sports were Ceej Tantengco Malolos, Enver Florendo, Gretchen Ho, and Hidilyn Diaz.
Under the entertainment and popular culture, the nominees were: “Eat Bulaga” and “It’s Showtime” (variety); “Dirty Linen,” “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” and “Pulang Araw” (drama); “Bubble Gang,” “Dogshow Divas,” and SPIT (comedy); “Pinoy Big Brother,” “Rainbow Rumble,” and “Running Man Philippines” (game show); “Balota,” “Kontrabida Academy,” and “Quezon” (movie); and “Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast,” “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” “Kuan on One” (talk).
Contenders for the individual award for entertainment and popular culture included Anne Curtis, Luis Manzano, Luis Manzano (variety); writers Suzette Doctolero and Ricky Lee and director Dominic Zapata (drama); Cathy Garcia-Sampana, UST alumnus Jun Robles Lana, and Kip Oebanda (movie); and Eugene Domingo, Macoy Dubs, and Michael V. (comedy).
Nominated for the digital evangelization award were Fr. Fidel Roura, Fr. Fiel Pareja. Fr. Jose Francisco Faller, S.J., and Romar Chuca.
The full list of nominees can be accessed through ustv.ust.edu.ph/survey/info.
Students officially enrolled in Manila and General Santos campuses may vote through the official voting platform integrated into the UST Cloud Campus or via ustv.ust.edu.ph,
