Top agri journalists honored

The outstanding agricultural journalists for 2002 were honored last night by the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ) in fitting ceremonies, highlighting the observance of the "Agricultural Journalism Week" and the PAJ’s 26th anniversary celebration at the National Press Club, in Intramorus, Manila.

Veteran countryside journalist Anselmo Roque, based at Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija, copped first place in the "Agricultural Journalist of the Year" category of the 2002 Binhi Awards. Roque received a P15,000 cash prize and a trophy. He serves as a correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Named as the 2002 Binhi Awardee for the "Agribeat Reporter of the Year" category was Melody Aguiba of Manila Bulletin. She likewise got P15,000 cash and a trophy.

Binhi Awards is a yearly contest initiated by the PAJ–a 26-year old association of editors, writers, reporters, other media practitioners in private and government sectors–in cooperation with institutional sponsors, aimed at professionalizing agricultural journalism in the country.

Other winners in the agricultural journalist category were; Ramon Ma. Epino (The Philippine STAR contributor), 2nd place; Thor S. Orig (Manila Bulletin) and Benny G. Enriquez (The Philippine STAR contributor) tied for 3rd place. Epino received P10,000 in cash and trophy, while Orig and Enriquez received P5,000 cash each and trophy.

In the Agribeat Reporter category, Christine Gaylican of the Philippine Daily Inquirer placed second and got P10,000 cash prize, while Evangeline de Vera of Malaya copped 3rd, receiving P5,000 cash prize. They also received respective Binhi Awards trophies.

The other Binhi Awards category winners and their respective prizes were:

• Agricultural Newsletter — PhilRice Newsletter of the Philippine Rice Research Institute and Aggie Trends of the Department of Agriculture-Central Office, P5,000 cash and trophy each;

• Agricultural Radio Program — Kanluran sa Agrikultura of DWWW, P10,000 and trophy; and

• Agricultural Information Campaign — Hybrid Rice Program of PhilRice, P10,000 cash and trophy.

Also honored were Greenfields (agricultural magazine), Alan Jacalan of DA (agri photojournalist), UMAsenso Newsletter of DA-Region 5, Kabuna mo Kami Sangkay (radio program of DWVL of DA-Region 8), four national newspapers – The Philippine STAR, The Manila Times, BusinessWorld and The Manila Bulletin – for publishing a regular agri/environment section, and four TV programs – Dighay Bayan and Mag-Agri Tayo of NBN 4, Ating Alamin of IBC 13 and Ugnayan sa DA of DA Region 12. They all received a plaque of recognition.

This year’s Binhi Awards sponsors include San Miguel Corp., Bayer Philippines, Louis Berger Group Inc., Quendancor, Crop Protection Ass’n of the Phils., and Anflocor.

Veteran journalist-turned-farmer Jose Burgos Jr. served as chairman of the 2002 Binhi Award’s five-man board of judges. The others were Press Undersecretary Bobby Capco, National Press Club president Louie Logarta, World Bank consultant and columnist Dr. Fermin Adriano, and former PAJ president and Binhi awardee Ruben Pascual.