Reaping what you sow

Text and photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
Binhi Award — that’s the name of recognition given annually by the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. (PAJ). Named from the Pilipino word which means seed, it is given since 1978 in different categories. 
The first time I won it — as Countryside-Based Agri Journalist of the Year — was in 1994.  At that time, the president was Michael M. Alunan and the chairman of the Board of Judges was Press Secretary Jesus C. Sison.
The citation reads: “For overcoming the provincial limitation of the writer’s world of agriculture and producing a body of works that’s national in scope and substance in extolling and pushing for agricultural development.”
In 1997, I won another award for Countryside Agricultural/Environmental Writer.  The trophy was signed by Mary Ann Lj. Reyes, PAJ president, and Ramon Ma.  Epino, the chairman of Binhi Awards Committee.
“For the journalist’s unwavering espousal of agricultural and environmental causes in provincial publications that ring with ecological alarm, popularize environmental defense and push for remedial measures and renewal,” the citation reads.
It took almost two decades before I receive another award.  Last March 29, 2016, I got the Environment Story of the Year for my article entitled, “Topsoil: Going, going, gone?” which appeared in EDGE Davao.  The awarding was held at Makati Diamond Residences with San Miguel Corporation (SMC) as the sponsoring agency for the second time.
“Once again, we are proud to stage the 2015 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards as a fitting tribute to our colleagues covering the agriculture, environment and agribusiness beats,” said PAJ President and formerPhilippine Star business editor Roman Floresca.
“For the second straight year, we are privileged to have San Miguel Corporation as our major sponsor, and we sincerely thank SMC President and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang for his continued generous support,” said Floresca, adding that the Binhi Awards has been conducted since 1978 to recognize the efforts of print and broadcast journalists for their reportage on the major developments and issues in the country’s agriculture, fisheries, environment, food and agribusiness sectors.
In response, the SMC said: “We are grateful for your efforts to continuously raise the bar in agriculture journalism and constantly shine a light on this sector. Through your reportage on their achievements, their struggles, and the opportunities available to them—as well as the ones they create—you serve as a catalyst for growth and help ensure that government and all stakeholders stay focused on the big goal: to develop and strengthen our countryside, and enable and empower our farmers.”
Noel Reyes, PAJ vice president for internal affairs and Binhi Awards committee chairman, said this year’s competition has attracted more than 100 contestants nationwide, who vied for 14 categories.
The top three journalists in three major categories — agricultural journalist, agri beat reporter and environment journalist — received cash prizes of P50,000, P30,000 and P20,000 and a trophy, respectively.
The minor categories received P20,000 and a trophy.
The Agri News Story of the Year went to Fermin Diaz for his article, “Backyard grown pigs have heap E virus,” which was published in Livestock and Meat Business Magazine while Leo Ortega Laparan II, author of Manila Bulletin’s “Facets of PH farming: Is it really aging”, was adjudged winner of the Agri Feature of the Year.
Fellow Dabawenyo Ruben Gonzaga received the Agri Television Program of the Year for ABS-CBN Davao’s “Agri Tayo Dito.” Declared Agri Radio Program of the Year was DZMM’s “Sa Kabukiran.” Louie Tabing, who hosted “Sa Kabukiran” won the Agri Broadcast Journalist of the Year.
Kaunlaran Magazine, published by Pangkat Kaunlaran, was declared Agricultural Magazine of the Year. PhilRice Magasin, published by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of the Department of Agriculture, was named Agricultural Newsletter of the Year.
Business Mirror was chosen as the Agricultural Section of a National Newspaper of the Year; section editor Jennifer Ng received the trophy.  Mauricio Victa, also of Business Mirror, was named Agri Photo Journalist of the Year.
DA-PhilRice’s “Gusto Namin, Milyonaryo Kayo!” won Agri Information and Media Campaign of the Year.
There were three winners each of the following categories: Agricultural Journalist, Agri Beat Reporter, and Environment Journalist.
The top three winners of Agricultural Journalist of the Year were Business Mirror’s Mary Grace Padin, Livestock and Meat Business Magazine’s Fermin Diaz, and Agrikultura, etc. Magazine’s Abe Belena.
Padin also won the Agri Beat Reporter of the Year.  The second and third prizes went to Philippine Star’s Czeriza Valencia-Vigilia and Manila Times’ James Konstantin Galvez. 
Galvez also won the second prize of the Environment Journalist of the Year.  The top prize went to Ellalyn B. De Vera of Manila Bulletin and the third prize was taken by Jonathan L. Mayuga of Business Mirror.
The 2015 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards board of judges was chaired by former agriculture secretary William Dar, who served for 15 years as director-general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
“Having been in the field of agriculture, both here and overseas, I continue to appreciate the coverage extended by the members of PAJ and other media persons involving the agriculture, environment and agrarian sector beats,” Dr. Dar said.
The other judges were: Mary Jane Oconer Llanes, SMC assistant vice president for media affairs; Leo A. Deocadiz, publisher of The HongKong SUN, and first Binhi Awardee as ‘Agricultural Journalist of the Year’ in 1978; Angelo B. Palmones, assistant vice president for news and current affairs of DZRH radio network, and former AGHAM party-list representative during the 15th Congress; and ​Sylvia Europa-Pinca, president of Europa Public Relations Inc.
For the 2015 search, PAJ adopted the theme: Excellence in agricultural journalism for a better Philippines.  “The accent this time is one of the most neglected role of the media, that of being public educators,” said agricultural journalist Abe Belena.