MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) promoted its spokesman, Joe Zaldarriaga, to vice president and head of corporate communications effective Dec. 1.
He was previously the company’s assistant vice president and head of public information office.
Starting as a media relations staff when he joined the company in 1989, Zaldarriaga rose from the ranks with his dedication to business communication and public service, and became the face of Meralco.
With the corporate communications team under his watch, Meralco bagged several awards from prestigious awards giving bodies here and abroad for its business communication excellence.
Meralco was named Company of the Year four times at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, the first in the awards show’s 17-year history, and also bagged two top awards for communication skills and research.
The team won the first and only PR Team of the Year Award at the Anvil Awards, dubbed as the “Oscars of PR,” conferred by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
Zaldarriaga also led the company and the country to win several international awards in PR and communications, namely as one of Asia Pacific’s best In-house PR Communications Team of the Year for three consecutive years , 2019, 2018 and 2017 by PR Awards Asia; Silver Stevie for Communications Team of the Year at the 2018 International Business Awards, Gold Stevie for Community Relations Campaign from 2016 International Business Awards Stevie Awards; trophies from the 2016 Asia Pacific’s The Gold Standard Awards for Issues Management/ Crisis Communications and for Corporate Citizenship (In-Country); Gold for Crisis Communications/ Issues Management Campaign of the Year and Silver for CSR Campaign of the Year from 2016 PR Asia Awards; Bronze for Community Relations/ Public Service Communications at the 2016 Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, among others.
Prior to joining Meralco, he was a news reporter and deskman.
Outside the walls of Meralco, Zaldarriaga is the chairman of International Association of Business Communicators Phils. (IABC Philippines) and co-chairs IABC Forum Series.
His years in public service was recognized by the University of Manila, awarding him with the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation.
Zaldarriaga graduated from De La Salle University in 1985 with a degree in Asian Studies specializing in the Japan studies program.