GMA Network marks twofold win this August

Broadcast giant GMA Network Inc. (GMA) recently posted back-to-back victories by winning industry citations from two award-giving bodies in separate ceremonies held last week. For its commitment to delivering credible and quality television programming, the network was conferred the Outstanding Television Station for 2011 award by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC). In its citation, VACC commended GMA's "valuable service to the community through consistent quality television programming that tackles timely issues and concerns and its professional and balanced treatment of news and documentaries particularly those that underscore the cause of victims and the criminal justice system." GMA dominated other industry nominees in the roster of major VACC awards headlined by major citations received by GMA News TV (GNTV), the first and only news and public affairs channel on Philippine free TV, as well as the station's radio broadcast subsidiary, DZBB 594 khz. GNTV's primetime newscast State of the nation, anchored by Peabody awardee and the country's most awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, was given the Outstanding Television Program Award. Similarly, DZBB, led by Mike Enriquez, one of the country's most credible broadcast journalists, won the Outstanding Radio Station recognition. Soho and Enriquez were respectively recognized by the VACC as Outstanding Television Host and Outstanding Radio Host. GMA 7's John Paul Soriano, meanwhile, won as Outstanding Television Reporter, while DZBB's Carlo Mateo bagged the Outstanding Radio Reporter award. Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who addressed the audience at the awarding ceremonies held on the occasion of VACC's 13th Founding Anniversary on August 26, said the awardees spoke "of a deep and strong commitment, of the willpower to stay on course despite disappointments and obstacles and, of course, [they] speak of credibility." GMA chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon said "the commendation pushes GMA to continue producing balanced, fair, impartial news stories that would hopefully expand the Filipinos' level of social awareness." Championing the Filipino language On the other hand, the Quezon City Academy (QCA) and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino's (KWF) Gawad Sagisag Quezon commended the network for its pervasive use of the Filipino language in many of its channels and programs. GMA, the only television station in the roster of 12 awardees, was cited for its excellent use of Filipino in running its mainstream Channel 7 and its international channels GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV. The recognition was awarded in conjunction with the celebration of the National Language Month in August, the same month when former President Manuel L. Quezon was born. Quezon is credited largely for making Filipino as the national language of the Philippines. GMA’s change of tagline from “Where You Belong" to “Kapuso ng Bawat Pilipino" signals the Network’s commitment to infuse the Filipino language to better communicate with its audience. — JMT/VS, GMA News