Page 15 - OPA 2014

Outstanding Professional Award 2014

In the print media industry, Barbie also became an active Barbie has also been invited to speak at the Publishasia,
leader in the United Print Media Group (UPMG), an organization the biggest gathering of publication executives and editors
which boasts of having the leading publication companies, from from all over asia. There he shared some insights and ideas on
broadsheets to tabloids to magazines as members. after serving how to cope with the challenges print media faces through new
as PrO, he was elected as Vice-president again twice and also and creative executions. He underscored the need to introduce
chaired the 2nd Print Media congress in 2012. It was here that and embrace new ideas and open new opportunities to convey
he helped lead the industry in a campaign that reasserted the the message of newsmakers and advertisers in order to remain
importance and relevance of the print. UPMg and its members competitive and sustain patronage. He used the stage to
also actively encouraged the advocacy for the resurgence of showcase to publishers in the region what Manila Bulletin has
the reading habit, especially among the young. all these were intitiated and introduced. Barbie has also been invited to host
carried out in the midst of the rapid aggressive emergence of the the asia Media awards, the highly acclaimed award giving body
new digital age and the strong dominance of other mainstream for works of excellence in print media, for several years in a row
media. Barbie and the UPMg leadership did not see the new held in various asian countries including Thailand, Indonesia,
medium as a foe or threat; they saw this as an opportunity and Hongkong, Macau and India.
a new platform to embrace. as congress chair, he rallied the
members of the industry to unite and close ranks to assert the In a span of almost 4 decades, Barbie has traversed across
conference’s theme that “Print is here to Stay”. armed with companies, industries and careers. This notwithstanding, he
creativity and innovativeness, Barbie and UPMg called for new has always achieved things through his brand of work style and
approaches and disciplines without compromising credibility ethics. This has also consistently won for him admiration and
to keep print interesting and responsive to people’s needs. It respect from people who he would work with or would see him
reasserted that the print media remains to be a key player in at work. It was also during this time that he has continuously
the nation’s development and success. proven and demonstrated, time and again the discipline,
dynamism and dedication that characterize him as a true
professional and a compleat achiever. He has shown how it is
to perform any job with utmost zeal and passion, not only to
pursue excellence, but more importantly, at the end of the day,
to make a real difference for many others!

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