Five Negrense bookmakers won the 2023 Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) based in Chicago, USA, for their coffee table book, “Sugar & Smiles: The Negrense Legacy Beyond 2020”.
In collaboration with Impress Quality Printing Philippines Inc. and Media Wise Communications Inc., the book was produced by Conrado Gen Tomas, Jose Kilayko Montalvo III, Benjamin de Leon Torre, Ma. Teresa Quebrar-Manalili, and J. Albert Araneta Gamboa.
Launched in November 2021 in Bacolod City, “Sugar & Smiles” has the support of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, local officials of the province, major corporations, and private enterprises, its press release said.
The 320-page coffee table book is about Negros Occidental, with the cover design created by graphic artist Nikki Solinap. It contains original artworks from watercolor painter Edbon Sevilleno.
The book’s main chapters were written by historians Modesto Sa-onoy and Roque Hofileña, lawyers Rayboy Pandan and Eli Gatanela, culturati Cecilia Locsin-Nava and Lloyd Tronco, chefs Richard Ynayan and Mia Lizares-Gonzaga, veteran journalists Carla Gomez and Cedelf Tupas, tourism official Cristine Mansinares, and advertising executive Nikki Golez.
The book project’s beneficiary is the Kalipay Negrense Foundation, under Anna Claparols Balcells.
IABC is a global community of communications professionals representing diverse industries and disciplines. For more than 40 years, IABC’s Gold Quill Awards program has recognized excellence in strategic communication worldwide, and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious awards programs in the industry. ||
