- DOLORES EPACTA-MIRANDA
The Negros Occidental Chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas will celebrate World Radio Day on Friday, Feb 19 with the observance closing on Feb. 27.
World Radio Day was proclaimed by member-states of UNESCO in 2011 and was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012.
The local celebration is officially in its 7th year. The WRD commemorates the day when UN established the United Nations Radio in 1948.
The Bacolod celebration is being observed in keeping with City Ordinance No. 08-14-702 with Mayor Evelio Leonardia issuing Executive Order No. 4 on Jan. 25, 2018, constituting the WRD celebration committee in the city.
Nona Demaala Magbanua, KBP chair, said the celebration on Feb. 19 will feature a webinar on “Radio on the New Normal”.
The speaker will be Edwin Montilla, station manager of 96.3 Easy Rock FM and AM program and operations director of Manila Broadcasting Company.
The celebration will be capped with the Tingog and Handurawan Award, which recognizes outstanding performances of local radio stations personnel in various categories.
The awards include Icon of Radio, Anchorman, Reporter, News Presenter (male and female), Best News Program for AM and FM;
Best Program Presenter (male and female), Best Radio Drama (AM and FM) and Best Entertainment Program (Am and FM).
KBP will also present special awards on Management/Administrative Performance and Broadcast Engineering/Radio Drama Production.
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Serving the local KBP chapter with Magbanua are Jeony Bigay (DYHB), vice chairman; Grace Visitacion (DYVS), secretary; Edgar Lucasan (DYRL), treasurer; Loel Katalbas (DYAG), auditor; and Serafin Plotria (iFM 94.3), standards performance officer.
The board of directors is composed of Jose Francisco Muñoz (Love Radio 91.9 & Easy Rock 105.5), Ferdinand Tan (DYKB), Jerry Mayordo (RJ 100), Divine Grace Cuello (DYWB Bombo Radyo), Jennifer Ellaga (Star FM), John Michael Ballados (Magic 106.3) and Chona Gosiaoco (DYAF).
Joy Pastoral and Roberto Pabulayan handle the secretariat and marketing functions, respectively.
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Local Broadcasters are also playing an important role in the larger media industry in the province.
In the Negros Press Club election for 2021 held on Jan. 23, five broadcasters were voted to occupy nine of the positions. Leading the elected officers are Yves Montecillo (DYHB), president; and Eljohn Castaño (Radyo Bandera), vice president.
Also elected were Eden Aboso (DYEZ), treasurer; Martian Muyco, auditor; and Renato Duran (DYEZ), member of the board of directors. – NWI
