MANILA, PHILIPPINES — From an academic scholar of public relations to a thought leader in the communications field, award-winning communications practitioner and COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration & Chief Executive Director, Partner and Co-Founder Ferdinand L. Bondoy has been appointed to lead the industry’s student programs – the Students’ PR Congress (rebranded to Students’ PR Con) and Grand Prix (Hack Sprint edition) of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the Student Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.
Mr. Bondoy also served as one of the regional jurors of the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organization) Next Generation PR World Cup. The Southeast Asian leg of the competition for young PR practitioners was organized by the Public Relations and Communications Association Asia Pacific (PRCA APAC). He was also elected as a member of the United Kingdom-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International Communications Committee composed of PR leaders from across the world – Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Ferdinand Bondoy has also been elected to the IABC Philippines’ Board of Trustees for 2021 to 2023. He was named as Corporate Secretary and Chair of Digital Communications and Public Relations Committee. He is also serving as the Co-Chair of the Philippine Student Quill Awards and is spearheading a special project for youth and students. Those who want to participate in the Philippine Student Quill Awards can submit their entries at www.philquill.com.
Earlier in 2021, Mr. Bondoy was elected to this year’s Board of Trustees of PRSP. He is also appointed as Chair of the Students’ PR Congress (rebranded to Students’ PR Con) and Grand Prix (Hack Sprint edition) and under his term, he will be introducing and leading the 1st virtual, interactive, and nationwide edition of the said student activities. The PRSP Students’ PR Con is happening this November 20, 2021 and interested parties can register at www.prspstudentsprcon.com/register.
Ferdinand started young in the communications field having been an academic scholar of PRSP in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Bachelor of Mass Communication. In his young professional years, he has been assimilated to IABC Philippines as he led projects for the Digital Communications Committee of the Philippine Quill and Student Quill Awards and eventually serving as an evaluator of the prestigious award-giving body.
“Spearheading the Students’ PR Con and Grand Prix Hack Sprint edition of PRSP and the Student Quill Awards of IABC Philippines is close to my heart as my career and craft started through the industry’s student programs. It is an honor and an opportunity for me to give back to the industry by preparing the next generation of communications and public relations professionals and leaders, just like how I was honed in the field. It has come full circle and I think this is the reason why I was given this position, to complete the narrative that the seed sowed yesterday are the fruits harvested today,” said Mr. Bondoy.
“It is also an honor and a responsibility to represent the country and work for the industry in a global scale through the landmark projects and programs organized by PRCA and CIPR. And we will continue to contribute, be heard and be part of this global community of PR experts and leaders to further grow the discipline across the globe and impact social change.”
In the same spirit of paying it forward, Mr. Bondoy, together with COMCO Southeast Asia’s pool of experts, built the Camp COMCO Mentorship Program, an intensive and comprehensive talent incubation initiative, industry linkage course, and apprenticeship program designed to transform communication, marketing, and multimedia arts students and fresh graduates into revolutionary practitioners of the industry. Now on its 16th Cycle, Camp COMCO has been recognized for producing high-caliber young communications practitioners since 2016. He is also fondly called as “Coach” by those whom he took under his wing and mentored extensively in the practice.
In 2016, Mr. Bondoy co-founded COMCO Southeast Asia, a global award-winning integrated communications agency headquartered in the Philippines with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, which champions the practice of the emerging global disciplines of New PR and Smart Social. In just 5 years, the trailblazing communications agency has done groundbreaking work for more than 70 local, regional and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. Under his leadership, COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards, Best PR Agency – Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards and Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year in Asia at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, and 85 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.
COMCO Southeast Asia culminated its Blazing Sapphire 5th anniversary celebration with the launch of COMCO Middle East & Africa and the unveiling of its 10-year growth masterplan which includes the formation of COMCO AOX League of Enterprises, the umbrella organization for the Agency’s existing and upcoming ventures, initiatives and advocacies.
To know more about ComCo Southeast Asia, visit www.comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comco-hq and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.
