GOVPH
MENU

PH Participates in the 18th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies

 Tehran 1

The Philippines was represented by Mr. Luis A. Morente (right), Deputy Executive Editor of the Philippine News Agency (PNA), and Tehran PE Charge d'Affaires Roberto G. Manalo, at the 18th Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel, Tehran, Iran on 23 to 26 October 2022.  The OANA agreed to develop a digital portal wherein all OANA members may upload and share news information from their respective countries. (Tehran PE photo)
 

TEHRAN 28 October 2022 — The Philippines participated at the 18th Meeting of the General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran, Iran from 23 to 26 October 2022. 

Representing the Philippines were Mr. Luis A. Morente, Deputy Executive Editor of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and Philippine Embassy in Tehran Chargé d’affaires Roberto G. Manalo.

Under the theme “New Challenges for Journalism,” the event was opened by Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mr. Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili with his strong message: “Today, [the] media is no longer a tool of power. It is power itself.” 

Also among the guest speakers at the opening was Mr. Ali Naderi, Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency, the main organizer and host of the meeting. “Today is a good opportunity for the representatives of prominent news agencies present in Tehran for the OANA meeting to observe the conditions in Iran. An independent media current is needed to disseminate the realities,” Mr. Naderi said in his message.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi also addressed the OANA delegates on 25 October. “Today’s war is the war of narratives, that is, several different narratives are presented about one incident and one must look for the facts to determine which one is correct,” President Raeisi stated.

While in Tehran, Deputy Executive Editor Morente took the opportunity to updated the Philippine Embassy in Tehran with the activities of OANA, conveying that PNA’s participation in OANA accords it broader sources of news information from a wide spectrum of countries, in fulfillment of PNA’s mandate to provide the Filipino public with up-to-date news reports from other nations. He also conveyed that he had discussions with other OANA member countries that could lead to bilateral partnerships in the near future.

CDA Manalo appreciated PNA’s participation in the OANA meeting. “News about Iran needs to reach more Filipinos in order for them to better understand and appreciate Iran as a country that is different from the rest of the Arab world,“ he said. “I highly thank Mr. Luis Morente and the PNA for bringing to the Filipino readers relevant and credible news stories from Iran. I also encourage the PNA to share more news stories about the Philippines to the Iranian news agencies that will promote a good image of our country to the Iranian people,” CDA Manalo continued.

The OANA was founded in 1961 to promote exchanges of news articles and other mass media products. Currently, it has 43 member News Agencies from 35 countries.  The PNA counts as one of its active members, sharing relevant news items with other national news agencies on a regular basis. END

Tehran 2 1

PNA Deputy Executive Editor Mr. Luis A. Morente was welcomed at the Philippine Embassy by Charge d'Affaires Roberto G. Manalo and embassy personnel for an informal exchange of views on the OANA and its plans and programs.  Mr. Morente shared that he has been with the PNA  since its founding in 1973 and it was his first time to attend the OANA Meeting. He informed that he had meetings with several OANA member countries to establish bilateral agreements on information exchanges. (Tehran PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.tehranpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinIran/ or https://www.instagram.com/phliniran/.