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| PPI’s New Board of Trustees headed by Manila Standard publisher Rolando Estabillo (6th from left). |
Manila Standard publisher Rolando Estabillo was elected as the new chairman and president of the Philippine Press Institute.
Mr. Estabillo took the helm from former Ang Pilipino Star Ngayon editor-in-chief Al Pedroche, who described the PPI as the "most untainted media organization" in its 55 years of existence.
Mr. Estabillo, who was elected unanimously by representatives of print publications from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, and Metro Manila, thanked the members for their trust and confidence in his leadership.
Former corporate secretary Amelia Cabusao (Mindanao Times) was elected vice president, while Joenald Rayos (Pahayagang Balikas) was reelected treasurer and Dexter See (Herald Express) was elected as corporate secretary.
Reelected as regional trustees were Messrs. Rayos and See for Luzon; former PPI Vice President Alex Rey Pal (The Dumaguete Metropost), and Dalmacio Grafil (Leyte Samar Daily Express) for Visayas; Cabusao and Adrian Michael Amatong (The Mindanao Observer) for Mindanao.
Pedroche, during the annual membership meeting of the national organization of newspapers at Hotel Jen in Pasay on July 4, 2019 commended the secretariat of PPI, led by Executive Director Ariel Sebellino.
He likewise thanked PPI's partners, especially Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), for continuously supporting responsible journalism, especially the community press.
In his report presented to PPI members, Mr. Sebellino said the organization has consistently pushed for its advocacy to fight disinformation through its scholastic outreach program. It likewise organized three workshops on federalism with the support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
On the following day, July 5, PPI hosted a National Press Forum with the theme " Governance, Democracy, Media: Building Better Communities.” Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. served as keynote speaker.
PPI capped its 23rd National Press Forum with the 2018 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards.