Radio broadcaster Yves Montecillo, reporter and anchorman of DHYB RMN Bacolod, was elected president of the Negros Press Club for 2021-2022 on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the NPC building in Bacolod City.
Montecillo is the first from RMN-Bacolod to lead the 85-year-old press club, considered the oldest in the Philippines.
He got 69 votes to defeat fellow broadcaster Rey Siason of Muews Radio, who garnered 46 votes.
Montecillo, 29, who will succeed Daily Guardian’s Glazyl Jane Marie Masculino, will start his term on March 1.
“It’s payback time. They voted for the younger ones so it’s now our turn to serve,” the incoming president said in an interview right after the election as he thanked the members of the club for participating in the voting amid the COVID-19 quarantine measures.
Montecillo, who is currently one of the NPC directors, also appealed for unity among the members as he prepares to lead the club still facing the challenges brought by the health crisis.
“The election is over, let us start working again for the betterment of the club,” he said, noting that almost all the plans of the club last year were halted because of the pandemic.
He added that this year, the club’s activities will still depend on the developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But, we will surely prioritize our seniors. We will look for more subsidy for them. We will increase the burial and medical assistance given to the members and their kin,” said Montecillo, who is also the president of the City Hall Press Corps, and a local media officer of the Asian Football Confederation.
Montecillo’s “New Normal” line-up won all the top positions.
He is joined by Eljohn Castaño (Radyo Bandera Sweet FM) as vice president, who won with 58 votes against Daily Guardian’s Dolly Yasa, who earned 52 votes.
Nanette Guadalquiver of the Philippine News Agency was elected secretary with 59 votes against Chrysee Samillano of The Visayan Daily Star, who got 46 votes.
Aksyon Radyo Bacolod’s Eden Aboso won as treasurer with 65 votes against Jun Julita of DYKB RPN, with 43 votes.
Martian Muyco of Digicast Negros took the post of auditor, with 60 votes, defeating Elsie Jolingan of DYKB RPN and Negros Daily Bulletin, who garnered 43 votes.
The four directors included SunStar Bacolod’s Merlinda Pedrosa, who topped the list with 73 votes, followed by Boy Duran of Aksyon Radyo, 62 votes; Carla Cañet also of SunStar Bacolod, 57 votes; and James Toga of Negros Daily Bulletin, 55 votes.
Past presidents Edgar Cadagat, Eddie de la Fuente, Edmund Aspero and Dolores Epacta-Miranda comprised the election committee along with veteran radio broadcaster Fred Salanga of Aksyon Radyo Bacolod.
The club no longer held a General Assembly before the voting in compliance with the minimum health protocols set by the authorities particularly on the conduct of mass gathering. – NND
