Page 14 - OPA 2014

Outstanding Professional Award 2014

In 2002, he and his current employer, the Manila Despite being relatively new to the profession and the
Bulletin stumbled upon each other and launched him into a industry, Barbie saw his way around and in no time won the
new career path. It was not too common for publication and respect and admiration of many in the field. He did not only
media companies then to have a public relations function deliver the message of Manila Bulletin to its target markets but
within its organizations. They were actually the target publics also built on a reputation strongly founded on credibility, integrity
that Pr people would have in their shooting ranges instead. But and reliability. He also made excellent use of his communication
realizing how much more complex and competitive the industry prowess coupled with individual and organizational sensitivity
has become, Manila Bulletin had one of the first Pr men in and sharp critical thinking. He also engaged himself with some
the industry to join them. Barbie was ecstatic at the thought of the best in the field with whom he would learn from and share
of reinventing himself and putting on a brand new hat. There ideas with actively. No sooner than when he became a member,
was much to learn and that was exactly what got him excited. he was also soon elected as an officer of the prestigious Public
Besides, he also saw the challenges as well as the opportunities relations Society of the Philippines (PrSP). He later became its
to do something different and again help not only the company, Vice President, not once-but twice. He also was invited to join the
but the community/industry as well. board of judges for the prestigious anvil awards, the “Oscars” of
public relations, three years in a row.

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