MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Venus Navalta was posthumously awarded the Gawad Oblation by the University of the Philippines for her outstanding contributions to the University, the media and marketing industries, and the community at large.
UP President Danilo Concepcion said, “The UP Gawad Oblation is a special award given by the UP President to UP alumni and friends for extraordinary service with or in the name of UP.”
He added, “The award is considered UP’s highest recognition to its benefactors and supporters who have rendered extraordinary service to our dear alma mater.”
The awardees personify one of the most enduring symbols of UP, the Oblation. One of the masterpieces of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, it is a visual representation of a line in Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios “Sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.”
The award is bestowed to individuals who have increased the institutional visibility, international prestige and recognition of UP and helped it undertake its mandate as a national university.
Venus’ award for extraordinary service refers to her advocacy in the fields of education, research, public service, creative production, and the arts.
She headed various multinational media agencies and founded what is now one of the largest media and modern marketing consultancy firms in the country, Mediabrands Philippines, where she was Chairman and CEO until her demise in 2021.
Venus relentlessly pursued landmark partnerships with UP through its Office of Public Affairs, offering her time and expertise as well as her team’s on endeavors such as the development of Covid communications for the public; modern communications management for the University backed up by stakeholders sentiment analysis and other progressive marketing approaches, among other projects.
She also contributed to the improvement and modernization of the college of broadcast and mass communications.
Her other endeavors always represented the best values of the university – of honor and excellence through mentorship, commitment, and professionalism.
She gave her spirited support to Renucci Rice in their advocacy to lift farmers’ lives and livelihoods. She helped professionalize start-ups toward true and lasting growth by being a guiding hand of Ignite Founders, a group of individuals and organizations helping to solve the country’s problems. As a board member of iDance Foundation, she helped fund scholarships for poor but talented and gifted young Filipinos. Her commitment to community development and national growth led her to conceptualize and stage Navigate Mindanao – a pioneering research project and marketing convention to help open the true potential of Mindanao for the benefit of Mindanaoans.
She was a strong proponent of Filipino talent and pride which she and her team showcased in the staging and success of the 2017 Miss Universe pageant. Building on this, her team’s work for Iloilo City is the start of an ambitious plan to brand, develop and put as many Philippine destinations on every tourist’s list. She was a board member of the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective and contributed to efforts to draw global attention to the city via its inclusion in UNESCO’s global list of the world’s creative cities.
Today, those she mentored and inspired continue her advocacies including media responsibility, business ethics, supporting the improvement of communities, and her grand wish of making Angono, her hometown, the next UNESCO creative city.
Venus is survived by her son Carlo and husband Egay Navalta who received the award on her behalf.
Remembering Venus Navalta, media industry icon and gracious woman leader
