Apat sa labindalawang parangal ang iginawad sa Chairman at mga personalidad ng GMA Network Inc. sa prestihiyosong Manila Overseas Press Club Grand Journalism Awards na ginanap sa Makati City.

Ang mga parangal ay iginawad sa mga katangi-tanging mamahayag upang kilalanin ang kanilang kontribusyon sa pamamahayag sa bansa.

Lifetime Achievement in TV and Journalism 2024-25 award ang iginawad kay GMA Network Chairman and adviser Atty. Felipe L. Gozon para sa kaniyang mahusay na trabaho at track record sa law at media.

Dahil sa kaniyang pamamahala, naging pinaka mahusay at pinaka pinagkakatiwalaang radio-TV network ang GMA na may 84 million viewers at presensya sa lahat ng media platforms.

“This recognition is very important and meaningful to me because one, this is only the second time in 80 years of its existence that the MOPC is giving these awards. Number 2, the MOPC as the first and oldest press club in the Philippines enjoys an importance and reputation second to none among the press clubs in the country,” ani Gozon.

Pinarangalan naman bilang Journalist of the year 2024-25 ang award-winning Journalist and host na si Jessica Soho.

Kinilala siya ng MOPC dahil sa kaniyang apat na pung taong excellence sa Broadcast Journalism.

“MOPC, thank you very much for this honor, it couldn’t have come at a better time, my 40th year as a Journalist,” ani Soho.

Sa nakalipas aniya na apat na pung taon, marami umano siyang katanungan na hindi pa masagot pero ang natitiyak daw niya ay higit na kailangan ngayon ang mga mamamahayag.

“Forty years had gone by and like many of you I’m sure, I ask: What do we as journalists have to show for all our hard work and sacrifice? Is the world or the Philippines a better place? Is Journalism, as we know it still, valued or appreciated. I am sorry that just like you I don’t have all the answers, but what I know for sure, we are needed now more than ever. For as long as there are voices need to be heard, rights that need to be protected, lives that need to be change for the better, we have to keep telling the truth and the stories of our people. Thank you MOPC for recognizing the work that we do,” sabi ni Soho.

Television Reporter of the Year 2024-25 naman ang award-winning Journalist and Balitanghali Anchor na si Raffy Tima. Pinarangalan siya ng MOPC dahil sa ang kaniyang husay sa TV at Broadcast reporting sa Pilipinas at abroad.

“To be adjudged as the best amongst my peers is both a great privilege and one that bears a great deal of pressure, marami pong magagaling sa industriyang ito at para mapabilang sa inyong magagaling, ito rin ay nakakataba ng puso…Thank you Lord. And, of course, thank you to my lovely wife who is here tonight, Mariz,” ani Tima.

Radio Broadcaster of the year 2024-25 naman si DZBB Anchor Melo del Prado.

Kinilala ng MOPC ang kalidad ng kaniyang pagiging mamamahayag sa radyo sa loob ng tatlumpu't anim na taon.

“Para kilalanin ang inyong lingkod ng mga nauna sa akin, na mga taong kinukunsidera ko na mas malawak ang karanasan kaysa sa akin ay isang napakalaking karangalan po, pasado pala ako sa panlasa nila, salamat po MOPC,” sabi ni Del Prado.

Ang MOPC ay ang pinaka una at pinaka matandang press club sa Asya na itinatag noong 1945. — BAP, GMA Integrated News