MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine communicators were recognized at the recently concluded global conference and communication excellence awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Highlighting the country’s expertise in the field of communication, IABC Philippines proudly shares the accomplishments of its officers and members in the international scene, as well as the global recognition brought home by Philippine companies.
Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR, IABC Fellow, and IABC Philippines Adviser, recently chaired the 2021 Gold Quill Awards, and is the first Filipino to have been given this honor. A multi-awarded communication leader in corporate, community, and associations in the Philippines and abroad, Ritzi was also the first Filipina to be conferred the distinction of IABC Fellow, the highest honor bestowed upon an IABC member with significant impact on their organization, on IABC, and on the communication profession at large.
A past International Executive Board Director, IABC Foundation Trustee, and APAC Director, Ritzi led the 2021 Gold Quill Awards to a successful conclusion at the recent 2021 IABC World Conference, reflecting her over four decades of experience in business communication and public relations. She was also a conference speaker on “The Challenges of Communicating CSR” at the IABC Fellows session together with IABC Fellow colleague Rajeev Kumar of India.
“It is an honor to be among Philippine communicators who have continued to stand tall among colleagues globally,” Ritzi said. This can be gleaned from the annual wins in the Gold Quill Awards, in the recognition at the IABC Asia Pacific Silver Quill Awards, in conference and webinar speakerships, and in leadership posts.”
“Philippine communicators and two APAC colleagues comprised the 2021 Blue Ribbon Panel of the country which was one of 11 global sites where entries from different countries were evaluated,” she continued. “As the 2021 Gold Quill Awards Chair, I would like to express my thanks for this opportunity to serve our profession globally, and I thank everyone for your support and participation as we champion the professional, purposive, and excellent practice of communication following the Global Standard of Excellence.”
Another Filipino speaker at the IABC World Conference was Dave Devilles, IABC Philippines Board Trustee and Union Bank of the Philippines’ VP for Sustainability, CSR, and Employee Relations. His talk “HEROES2021: Employee Volunteerism Elevates CSR Through Innovative Campaign,” shared insights on how communicators can elevate CSR programs by harnessing a company’s digital capability, its knowledge capital, and its human capital through employee volunteerism.
Meanwhile, Kane Errol Choa, APR, IABC Philippines Adviser and ABS-CBN’s Head of Corporate Communication, was recently named Director of Recognition at IABC Asia Pacific. Kane will be championing the IABC Gold Quill and IABC APAC Silver Quill Awards in the region and the IABC APAC Communicator of the Year Award. The Asia-Pacific winners for the 2021 Silver Quill Awards will be announced in September while the 2022 Communicator of the Year Awards will be launched in Q4 2022.
Four Filipino companies received the prestigious 2021 IABC Gold Quill Award: the Ayala Group of Companies, Union Bank of the Philippines, Megaworld Foundation, and the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) in partnership with Media Wise Communications/ MUSE Books.
Ayala’s “Stronger Together: How the Ayala Group Helped Filipinos Cope with the Pandemic” was recognized with an Award of Merit in the “COVID-19 Response and Recovery Management and Communication” category. Union Bank’s “Heroes 2021: A CSR Campaign in the Time of Pandemic” received an Award of Merit in the CSR Category. Winning an Award of Merit under the Social Media category was Megaworld’s “Mega Summer Ventures #RoamFromHome.” “FINEX 50: Leading on to Wider Frontiers,” a coffee-table book for the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines by Media Wise Communications/ MUSE Books, also bagged the IABC Gold Quill’s Award of Merit in the Publications Category.
IABC Philippines, as it uplifts the business communications industry in the country, is proud of these achievements in the global scene of Filipino communicators. Belle Tiongco, IABC Philippines President and Football for Humanity’s Co-Founder shared, “These awards and recognitions are a testament to the world-class standard of communications leadership in the country. And IABC Philippines’ objective of enhancing this expertise continues for its members, partners, and advocates in the professional and student levels. Kudos to all our winners and officers for their valuable contribution to Philippine communications!”
Joe Zaldarriaga, IABC Philippines Chairman and Meralco’s Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications meanwhile said, “IABC Philippines has always been at the forefront of communication excellence not only in the region but at the global level. As we continue to push forward in this new normal, we are assured in the thought that coming out with work worthy of accolades and recognition continue to signify that the Philippines is at par with the rest of the world. Congratulations team Philippines!”
IABC Philippines is the first IABC country chapter in Asia. It is an association of top business, industrial and organizational communicators and professionals. IABC supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth, learning, and communication excellence, linking Filipino practitioners with colleagues and practices worldwide.
Its two major communication excellence industry awards are the Philippine Quill and the CEO EXCEL Awards. IABC is a member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.
