Aklan Journalist bags first ‘Story of the Year’ Award given by Bantala-UPV

Jun N. Aguirre, a journalist based in Aklan has bagged the first Story of the Year Award for Website given by the University of the Philippines-Visayas through its Bantala Media Excellence Program.

Aguirre, 44 has been chosen as a winner because of his story “Indigenous leaders killed in the Philippines were ‘red-tagged’ over dam opposition” published in Mongabay website last February 8, 2021.

The Bantala is a search for excellent media stories that deepen participatory democracy, discuss protection of human rights, address various forms of social and cultural marginalization, and fight against disinformation.

Among those personalities who graced the Bantala Awarding Ceremony held at UP-Visayas (Iloilo City Campus) Little Theater were Maria Reesa a Nobel Prize Awardee and Ms. Laure Beaufiols, the British Ambassador to the Philippines.

“I thank Mongabay and Filipino editor Leilani Chavez for the Awards. I also thanked the Internews and the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) for their support in various fellowships,” Aguirre said. Aguirre is currently a fellow of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, the Kirin and Tempo University on South East Asia in Stimulus Financing Packages.

Aguirre also produces the Boracay Island News Network website and the same YouTube channel. Aside from Aguirre, other winners include Nestor Burgos who won three awards which are the first recipient of the Nonoy Espina Journalism Award, special award for producing pioneering news stories and in-depth reports that make significant impact especially in Western Visayas … despite difficult circumstances.”

The Espina family also received a PostHumous Awards for his unselfish dedication and commitment towards responsible journalism.

Also, the Radyo Pilipinas-Iloilo won four awards. Among were Emme Rose S. Santiagudo, John Paul S. Hervas, Elena C. Pabiona and Runelyn R. Jamolo. They have won the awards in different categories.

Iloilo Blogger Ted Aldwin Ong has also been named as Story of the Year Award for Social Media. He earned the honor for his story on back-to-back Gold Awards of Iloilo City as a bike-friendly metropolis.

The organization of the first Bantala Award is chaired by Dr. Zoilo Andrada Jr.