ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III received the highest honor in this year’s 22nd Golden Dove Awards as the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas recognized him with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the broadcast industry. Lopez was recognized for how he took the lead in changing ABS-CBN’s business strategies for the benefit of its viewers.
“Our consumers have changed. They now have the power to choose how and when they would consume our content. From being a broadcast mass media company, we are now driving our revolution to become a consumer company that engages with each customer on an individual basis. We change because that is how we can best serve the Filipino,” said Lopez in his acceptance speech read by ABS-CBN Publishing CEO Ernie Lopez at the awards ceremony.
Lopez shared the honor with the men and women of ABS-CBN who have lived up to the company’s mission to be in the service of the Filipino people for the past 60 years.
“While the award is much appreciated, I was surprised to learn that there was an award attached to my doing what I love. What exactly do we do in ABS-CBN? We serve the Filipino. We begin and end with that,” he explained. “I know that whatever the future generations do, it will be to better serve the Filipino. For as long as there is a Filipino in need, we will be there to serve him.”
Apart from the top honor given to Lopez, ABS-CBN programs and personalities also bagged a total of 24 awards including the Best TV Station award for ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN won big in the television categories that include Best TV Sports Program for “Sports Unlimited,” Best TV PublicAffairs Program from “SOCO,” Best TV Comedy Program for “Goin Bulilit,” Best TV Newscast Program for “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Best TV Variety Program for “ASAP 19,” Best TV Drama Program for “Be Careful with My Heart,” Best TV Public Affairs Program Host for Kim Atienza (“Matanglawin”), Best TV Actress for Drama Program for Boots Anson-Roa in her portrayal in “MMK” episode ‘Kamison,’ Best TV Actor for Drama Program for Joel Torre in his portrayal in “Honesto,” and Best TV Station Promotional Material for “Magkasama Tayo sa Kwento ng Pasko.”
ABS-CBN Regional Network Group also raked in accolades such as the Best TV Culture and Arts Program for ABS-CBN Naga’s “Pagtalubod sa Pagtubod: Mag TV Penafrancia Special,” Best TV Public Affairs Program-Provincial for ABS-CBN Iloilo’s Diresto – DYAF, Best TV Special Program for ABS-CBN Davao’s “Agri Tayo Dito,” Best TV Newscast Program – Provincial for ABS-CBN Baguio’s “TV Patrol Northern Luzon,” and Best TV Newscaster for ABS-CBN Bacolod’s Ryan Gamboa.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN also ruled the radio categories through its AM radio station DZMM and regional stations. The Kapamilya Network bagged the Best Radio Newscast Program – Manila award for “Radyo Patrol Alas Dose,” Best Radio Public Affairs Program – Manila for “Pasada Said Trenta,” Best Radio Public Affairs Program – Provincial for ABS-CBN Palawan’s “Bantay Bata DYAP,” Best Radio Newscaster for DZMM’s Julius Babao, Best Radio Public Affairs Program Host for Ted Failon in DZMM’s “Failon Ngayon DZMM,” and Best Radio Magazine Program Host for Ariel Ureta in DZMM’s “Todo-Todo Walang Preno.”
The Golden Dove Awards program is held annually by the country’s broadcast media association KBP, where winners are chosen from the association’s members by independent jurors representing the youth, academe, religious groups, advertising industry, and government.
In photo: ABS-CBN Publishing CEO Ernie Lopez, Head of Narrowcast March Ventosa, Head of Sports Dino Laurena and OIC of Corporate Communications Kane Choa
