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Philippine Reporter
receives
award from Ethnic Press
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TORONTO-The
Philippine Reporter was awarded 2003 Best Editorial and
Design by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
, during the Ethnomedia Week 2003 celebration held August 31,
2003, at Liberty Grand Building at the Canadian National Exhibition
in Toronto. The paper was among 12 ethnic media organizations
in the Press and Media category that were accorded prestigious
honors by the Council-the only national |
From left,
Tom Saras, President of National Ethnic Press and Media Council
of Canada; Mila Astorga-Garcia, Philippine Reporter Managing
Editor and Co-Publisher; Carl DeFaria, Minister of Citizenship;
and Hermie Garcia, Editor and Publisher of The Philippine Reporter
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ethnic press and
media ethnic press and media organization in Canada-which was
also celebrating its 26th year foundinganniversary. Other |
awards were given to three distinguished recipients in the Arts, five
for Community Service, and 15 for Outstanding Achievement and Community
Service. The formal award ceremony was attended by politicians in
the three levels of government, officers and members of the Council
and their families, and guests.
The award was presented by Jean Augustine, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)
(Status of Women) and Thomas S. Saras, president of the Council, to
Hermie Garcia, Editor-in-chief of the Philippine Reporter,
and Mila Astorga-Garcia, Managing Editor.
The Philippine
Reporter award plaque, signed by Saras and Arnold Auguste, Chairman
of the Board of the Council, read:
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“Award to
Newspaper: The Philippine Reporter, Hermie Garcia,
Editor-In-Chief, Best Editorial and Design, presented in appreciation
for the outstanding contributions and dedication in the promotion
of the interests of the multicultural communities, the editorials
and the expression of the will of the Filipino-Canadian communities,
and for the acceptance and implementation of the principles
of equality, respect of the human values and rights, the implementation
of the objectives of multiculturalism.”
The plaque was accompanied with a Certificate of Recognition
signed by Minister Augustine congratulating The Philippine
Reporter and Garcia on receiving the award. The awards
night was the highlight of the 2003 Ethnomedia Week held to
honor the approximately four hundred ethnic newspapers and magazines
all over Canada, serving more than twelve million people of
various racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, who came from
various parts of the world and made Canada their home. It was
also a tribute to the memory of Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian
journalist, whose torture and killing in Iran has generated
worldwide protests against human rights and |
press freedom violations.
The Philippine Reporter
, which is soon to mark its 15 years of continuous publication twice
a month, was established in Toronto in March 1989, by Hermie and Mila
Garcia, professional journalists from Manila, Philippines. Reporting
events in the Philippines and in the growing local community, it covers
hard news, features, political opinion, entertainment and the arts,
sports, and community.
As noted in Canada's Other Voices, the commemorative
publication to honor the 26 years of the Council and its 2003 awardees,
The Philippine Reporter is a paper that “has become
an institution in the Filipino community.”
“With
its policy of Fair and Fearless Journalism, it has gained respect
for its independence and courage to report on stories and issues other
papers would rather ignore,” the publication notes.
A sister publication, Planet Philippines, a global tabloid
covering mainly Philippine entertainment and the arts, has also been
published by the Garcias twice a month since December 2002.
Other Press and Media 2003 Awardees are: Hadi Ebrahimi, editor and
publisher of Shahrvand B.C.; Rev. Monsignor Dr. Pranas Gaida,
editor-in-chief of the Lithuanian-Canadian Weekly; Dominique
Leval, journalist for the Express de Toronto and a regular
writer for the francophone newspaper, Le Metropolitain; Jai
Ojah-Maharaj, host producer of the Caribbean program at Chin fm
100.7 and am 1540 Toronto; Mitra Manesh, regular media
commentator for the past five years at OMNI TV Channels;
Tasos Milionis, former co-publisher of the Greek-Canadian Chronicles
and presently publisher of the Greek Telephone Guide in Ontario,
and recently the first Greek telephone directory in Canada; Antonio
Rebeiro, publisher and founder of Correio Portugues; Burhaan
Warsame, editor-in-chief of Gacal magazine, and Somali
Voice community newspaper; Emmanuel Ayiku, editor and publisher
of the Ghanaian News; Ahmadshah Hotaki, editor-in-chief of
the Afghan Post; and Teshome Worldeamanuel, publisher
and editor of TZTA, a Canadian-Ethiopian community newspaper.
The Arts awardees included the internationally acclaimed and multi-
awarded Greek-Canadian composer Christos Hatzis, whose works have
been featured in many international festivals and whose music is played
in major perfoming and broadcasting venues worldwide. Among those
honored for outstanding achievement and community service was C. Kanta
Arora, distinguished volunteer in the South Asian community as well
as in mainstream charities, and TV Talk Show host at ATN-Asian
Television Network (Asian Horizon, Jhankar) in Hindi language,
where she provides vital outreach information for isolated women,
seniors and newcomers.
The Council counts among its member organizations 83 publications,
among 244 national ethnic and media organizations it has accounted
for and listed down in Canada's Other Voices.
The organization's role , as articulated in the Council's Board
of Directors foreword to Canada's Other Voices, is “to
represent the members of the foreign languages publications of Canada
on the federal and provincial levels and to take a stand on fundamental
questions such as human rights, social justice and social acceptability
for every citizen or Canadian resident, as well as the preservation
and respect of the cultural heritage of all Canadians, and finally,
an input in the development of Canadian foreign policy.”
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Two Filipino-Canadians
honored
at UP Prep Golden Anniversary
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MANILA–The University
of the Philippines Preparatory School celebrated its 50th anniversary
in grand style January 3, 2004 in Manila. The celebration featured
a nostalgic tour of the school’s former location at Rizal Hall
on Padre Faura, and a gala night held at the NBC Tent, at the Fort’s
Global City, in Taguig, Metro Manila.
FILIPINO-CANADIAN AWARD-EES (from left) Mila Astorga-Garcia
and Virginia Ugto-Alarcon. |
Two Filipino-Canadians
were accorded special recognition during the prestigious school’s
grand celebration: Toronto resident Mila Astorga-Garcia, co-publisher
and managing editor of The Philippine Reporter, who was recipient
of the Distinguished Alumnus Award in International Journalism;
and Edmonton resident and former UP faculty member Virgina Ugto-Alarcon,
vice principal of Dene Tha’ Community School in Chateh,
Alberta, who received a special citation as the first Asian
recipient of the Prime Minister’s award for education
in Canada last year.
Garcia, a U.P. Prep 1965 graduate, was one of 61 alumni selected
by the 10-member panel of judges, chaired by Carmelita Caparros-Ramirez,
and consisting of former faculty members of the UP, that had
conducted the stringent evaluation. “The selection was
based on the excellence and distinction you have achieved in
your particular field of endeavor which has brought honor to
the school and country, ” reads the letter sent to Garcia
from the Awards Committee informing her of the award. |
Alarcon was one of the school’s faculty members accorded a touching
and fitting tribute
specially
prepared by Ana B. Urbina (65), head of the faculty coordinating
committee, Pinky Aragon Choudhury (65) and other UP Prep alumni.
Each of the teachers was given an appreciation award, some posthumousl.
Special citations were also given to nine alumni, some posthumously,
for honorable life and death causes they had bravely championed,
that included social and political activism; community service;
women’s rights advocacy; testifying in a murder case;
as
a pioneering kidney donor; and for valuablecontributions in
information |
 |
| UP PREP CLASS 65 -- one of 20
classes that graduated from the prestigious high school
posing for posterity at the gala celebration. |
technology.
UP Prep was a unique high school created in 1954, when the UP Board
of Regents authorized then UP President Vidal Tan to open a first
class high school in Manila. The school’s high standard curriculum
was designed for grade school graduates with the aptitudes and intellectual
talents for university level education. Only by passing a battery
of rigorous examinations could a student get in, and once accepted,
he or she had to hurdle to pass each of the four tough years of the
highest standard of education ever given to high school students in
the Philippines before one could graduate. In 1973, after graduating
20 classes — comprised altogether of 1500 graduates —
UP Prep was merged with UP HIgh School to later become what is now
known as UP Integrated High School.
The gala celebration was attended attended by over 600 Prepians —
many coming from various parts of the world. The evening’s program
included dinner and dance; a well-applauded audio-visual presentation
showing some of the best UP Prep memories; a very entertaining special
number by comedienne Nanette Inventor, a 1969 graduate; a raffle;
fellowship; and lively dancing which stretched to the wee hours of
the next day, to the music of two of Manila’s tops bands,—
Pryor Years Band by Mike Pedero, a UP Prep 67 graduate, and Willy
Cruz’s band.
The 50th anniversary activities, which took a year of preparation,
were put together by no less than eight committees of UP Prep alumni
and faculty, headed by executive committee chair Jejomar Binay, Makati
Mayor and UP Prep 58 graduate, with Felipe Gozun (56) as vice chair;
Tom Banguis (59), project director; Sylvia Amos-Lansang (59) and Daisy
J. Serrano (59) as secretary.
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Reporter
gets 2nd award for best editorial
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AWARDEE Hermie Garcia
(center), publisher of The Philippine Reporter, receives
plaque for Best Editorial and Visual Interpretation from
Ontario Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman (right) and
Thomas Saras, president of Naional Ethnic Press and Media
Council of Canada.
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TORONTO - The Philippine Reporter was recently awarded for
"Best Editorial and Visual Presentation," by the National
Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada. This is the second time
the paper won this award from the prestigious national press organization,
the first in 2003.
The award was presented to Hermie Garcia, publisher and editor,
by the Hon. James K. Bartleman, Ontario Lieutenant Governor, and
Thomas Saras, president of the NEPMCC, during the September 15 award
ceremonies held at Queen's Park, Toronto -- the highlight of activities
commemorating Ethnomedia Week
The Philippine Reporter was among 15 newspapers in Canada
accorded prestigious honors by the Council - the only national ethnic
press and media organization in the country.
Other awards were also given to 30 individuals for their outstanding
contributions in the field of the humanities, arts, letters, community
service, industry, and science.
The formal award ceremony which was hosted by the Hon. Bartleman,
was attended by politicians including the Hon. Dalton McGuinty,
Premier of Ontario; Hon. Michael Colle, Ontario's Minister for Culture
and Immigration; the Hon. Howard Hampton, MPP, leader of the Ontario
NDP; the Hon. Jim Karygiannis, M.P.; and the Hon. David Miller,
Mayor of the City of Toronto.
The Philippine Reporter's award plaque, signed by Saras and Clyde
McNeil, Chairman of the Board of NEPMCC, read:
"Award to Garcia, Hermie, Editor-in-Chief, The Philippine
Reporter, presented in appreciation for Best Editorial and Visual
Interpretation and oustanding achievements, contributions and community
service and in recognition of his efforts in promoting Philippine
traditions and the interests of his community, his leadership and
dedication for the promotion of multiculturalism, human rights,
respect of human values, integrity and equality among all Canadians."
The Philippine Reporter's first NEPMCC award was presented
during the Ethnomedia Week 2003 celebration at Liberty Grand Building
at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
This year's awards was the highlight of the 2005 Ethnomedia Week
held to honor the approximately four hundred ethnic newspapers and
magazines and media organizations in Canada, serving more than 12
million people of various racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds,
who came from various parts of the world and made Canada their home.
The Philippine Reporter, which is in its 17th year of continuous
publication twice a month, was established in Toronto in March 1989,
by Hermie and Mila Garcia, professional journalists from Manila,
Philippines. Reporting events in the Philippines and in the growing
local community, it covers hard news, features, political opinion,
entertainment and the arts, sports and community.
At the award ceremonies, The Philippine Reporter was described
as a paper that has become "an institution in the Filipino
community...with its policy of fair and fearless journalism, it
has gained respect for its independence and courage to report on
stories other papers would rather ignore." It was also noted
that The Philippine Reporter was described by a Philippine Ambassador
to Canada as "the newspaper that has the strongest impact in
the Filipino community."
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Reporter Managing Editor receives Human Rights/Social Justice Award from Ethnic Press Council |
 AWARD. Ontario 's Lieutenant Governor David C. Onley (right) confers the Human Rights/Social Justice Award to Mila Astorga-Garcia of Philippine Reporter. At left is Thomas Saras, president of National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada .
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TORONTO- The Philippine Reporter 's Mila Astorga-Garcia was honored with the Human Rights/Social Justice Award for 2007 by the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC), on the occasion of the annual Ethno Press and Media of Canada celebrations.
The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented Garcia her award at the formal presentation ceremonies held Monday, Oct. 29, in the Lieutenant Governor's Suite at Queen's Park. The Lieutenant Governor was assisted by Thomas S. Saras, president of NEPMCC.
Also honored at the award ceremonies were Toronto Mayor David Miller, and Don Wanagas, the City of Toronto 's Director for Communications, for their support of the ethnic press and media.
Twelve other individuals of various cultural backgrounds from all over Canada were presented awards in the Individuals category, while a dozen publishers, editors-in-chief, directors and producers of electronic media were awarded in the Journalism category. Two were accorded lifetime achievements.
Garcia was recognized for her work as a committed journalist, writing for The Philippine Reporter where she is managing editor; a researcher, and a community activist working on social justice issues in the Filipino and the greater ethnic community. Specifically cited was the recent research study she had authored, titled, “The Road to Empowerment in the Filipino Community: Moving from Crisis to Community Capacity Building ,” published by CERIS-The Ontario Metropolis Centre, in April 2007.
This is the third time The Philippine Reporter was honored with prestigious awards by the NEPMCC.
The Philippine Reporter publisherHermie Garcia was honored with the “Best Editorial and Design” Award in 2003. Garcia again received the“Best in Editorial and Visual Interpretation” Award in September 2005,
The Philippine Reporter was described by the NEPMCC as “an institution in the Filipino Canadian community (that) has gained respect for its independence and courage to report on stories and issues other papers would rather ignore.”
Before migrating with her family to Canada , Mila Astorga-Garcia was a reporter with Business Day (now Business World), Southeast Asia 's first business daily, covering the foreign affairs beat. She wrote for various national newspapers and magazines before that. She co-edited the books Filipina I and Filipina II, the first anthology of Filipino women's writings in English, with writers Marra Pl. Lanot and Lilia Quindoza.
At present, Garcia works as Research Analyst in the area of strategic social policy at the City of Toronto . She is also Research Director of the Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ), and is currently completing a CASJ collaborative research with Dr. Philip Kelly on labour market issues affecting the Filipino community in Canada . The first part of this research, titled, “The Deprofessionalized Filipino,” which tackled the lack of access to professions and trades by Philippine-trained Filipinos in Canada , was presented in a workshop at the 10th International Metropolis in October 2005 in Toronto .
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