16 November 2015 - The Philippine American Press Club, USA held the 2015 Plaridel Awards on October 08 at the Fort McKinley Restaurant in South San Francisco, which honors all journalists, publishers, reporters, correspondents and producers who submitted print/online, and broadcast work for the scrutiny of a panel of judges who decided on best investigative/in-depth story, best international reporting, best news story, beast profile writing, best community reporting in television, among others.

It also awards the Torch Bearer Award, which is given to individuals or institutions “for bearing the torch of the Filipino ideal and keeping it aflame through the winds of change and the passage of time.” 

On behalf of Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. accepted the award and took the opportunity to update the attendees of the status of the case filed by the Philippines regarding certain features of the West Philippine Sea. 

In Consul General Bensurto’s opening remarks, he thanked the Philippine American Press Club, USA for their important work of bringing up-to-the-minute news for Filipinos who are based in the United States. He added that for those Filipinos who live abroad, “Media, particularly the PAPC, is a medium by which we are able to connect with the Philippines.  There is an unshakeable thirst for news about home, and media plays a big part in bringing reassurance and connectivity across the miles. This is particularly relevant to us now, as we prepare for the Presidential elections next year.”

He encouraged the press corps to “provide relevant content with balanced views, as [their] words and photos are what shape and guide our decisions, learn about relevant issues such as overseas voting,the West Philippine Sea, economic and investment prospects, immigration and labor issues. We learn about our rights as a citizen of the Philippines, of America, of the world, and we learn to take a stand and demand for equitable treatment and accountability from our elected leaders.” END