GMA Network Inc. received four awards from the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) Grand Journalism Awards in Makati City on Monday.
The MOPC is the first and oldest press club in Asia, established in 1945.
GMA Network, Inc. Chairman and Adviser Atty. Felipe L. Gozon was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in TV and Journalism 2024-25 award for his excellent work in law and media.
“This recognition is very important and meaningful to me because one, this is only the second time in 80 years of its existence that the MOPC is giving these awards. Number 2, the MOPC as the first and oldest press club in the Philippines, enjoys an importance and reputation second to none among the press clubs in the country,” Gozon said in his speech, as aired by “Saksi.”
Gozon noted that 12 awards were given out at the event, and four were from the Kapuso network. He said the awardees “are the best among the best—myself excluded—in the field of journalism in the Philippines today.”
With his leadership, GMA became the most skillful and trusted TV and radio network with 84 million viewers and a presence on all media platforms.
Jessica Soho was named Journalist of the Year 2024-25 for her work and contributions spanning decades.
In her speech, Soho said that the award came at the best time, as she is celebrating her 40th year as a journalist.
She added that she still has a lot of questions about the industry and its impact that she cannot answer, but that journalists are very much needed in this day and age.
“Forty years had gone by and like many of you I’m sure, I ask: What do we as journalists have to show for all our hard work and sacrifice? Is the world or the Philippines a better place? Is journalism, as we know it still, valued or appreciated?” Soho said.
“I am sorry that just like you, I don’t have all the answers. But what I know for sure, we are needed now more than ever. For as long as there are voices [that] need to be heard, rights that need to be protected, lives that need to be changed for the better, we have to keep telling the truth and the stories of our people,” she added.
Soho also thanked the MOPC for recognizing the hard work journalists do.
“Balitanghali” anchor Raffy Tima was meanwhile named Television Reporter of the Year 2024-25 for his skills in TV and broadcast reporting in the Philippines and abroad.
“To be adjudged as the best amongst my peers is both a great privilege and one that bears a great deal of pressure, marami pong magagaling sa industriyang ito at para mapabilang sa inyong magagaling, ito rin ay nakakataba ng puso,” Tima said.
He thanked the Lord, as well as his wife and fellow journalist, Mariz Umali who was also present at the event.
Finally, Melo Del Prado of DZBB was named Radio Broadcaster of the Year 2024-25 for his skills as a radio journalist for 36 years.
“Para kilalanin ang inyong lingkod ng mga nauna sa akin, na mga taong kinukunsidera ko na mas malawak ang karanasan kaysa sa akin ay isang napakalaking karangalan po, pasado pala ako sa panlasa nila. Salamat po MOPC,” he said. —Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
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