THE Lopez Group won another Grand Anvil at the 44th Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), through Energy Development Corporation (EDC).

EDC’s communication plan for Northern Negros, “Harmonizing Environment and Technology,” bested over 200 entriesand gained the approval of the 25-member board of jurors as the best public relations program in 2008.The program allowed EDC to gain community acceptance for its Northern Negros Geothermal Project inside the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park.

EDC chairman Oscar M. Lopez and president Paul A. Aquino led the team that received the Grand Anvil in ceremonies on February 20. The EDC program was announced as the Grand Anvil winner after receiving an Anvil Award of Excellence earlier in the evening.

The Lopez Group last won the Grand Anvil in 2005 for the exemplary integrated communication program of Manila North Tollways Corporation, which helped with the implementation of new toll rates at the North Luzon Expressway.

Five other Lopez Group communication entries received Awards of Excellence and another five received Awards of Merit.

These are Lopez Memorial Museum’s Conservation Program (Excellence, PR Programs); ABS-CBN Studio Tours and Museum (Excellence, PR Programs), Kapamilya Services (Merit, PR Programs) and online publication e-Frequency (Merit, PR Tools); EDC’s Privatization Program (Excellence, PR Programs), 2007 Annual Report (Excellence, PR Tools), and Geothermal Power audiovisual presentation (Merit, PR Tools).

Also taking home awards were Eugenio Lopez Foundation’s publication, “The Power and the Glory” (Excellence, PR Tools); Bayan B2BIZ Outsourcing and Offshoring Report (Merit, PR Tools); and Lopez Group Foundation’s Bridges, a report on Business Excellence and Social Responsibility (Merit, PR Tools).

In addition, the group received four Awards of Recognition for the 2007 Meralco Annual Report and for Bayan’s Wireless Landline PR program, Biggest Bill Loser electronic and interactive media campaign, and www.bayan.com.ph website.

Awarded annually by the PRSP, the Anvil Award symbolizes excellence in public relations and is awarded by a multi-sectoral jury to outstanding public relations programs and tools implemented in the past year. A record 234 entries were received in 2008, with 104 receiving Excellence, Merit and Recognition awards. (Carla Paras-Sison)

1. (L-r) EDC president Paul A. Aquino; Lopez Group chairman Oscar M. Lopez; EDC SVP for environmental and external relations Agnes de Jesus; NNGP resident manager Gino dela Cruz; and environmental superintendent Erwin Magallanes.

2. Anvil Awards juror and Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Midas Marquez with EDC’s Toni Nieva and Dave Devilles.

3. Lopez Museum director Cedie Lopez-Vargas, Rosan Cruz and Prof. Maita Reyes with their two Awards of Excellence.

4. ABS-CBN’s corporate communications division (l-r): Internal communications officer Cristina Tan; PR manager Kane Choa; writer Jan Enriquez; Studio Tours tour administrator Aaron Domingo; corporate communications head Bong Osorio; Studio Tours manager Rogy Panganiban; and public affairs officer Edgardo Wenceslao.

5. LGFI president Rafael M. Alunan III, program associate Vanessa Suquila and project consultant Dario Pagcaliwagan.

6. Bayan corporate brand and communications manager Freyja Santos, VP John Rojo, chief executive consultant Tunde Fafunwa, marketing head for Bayan Business Anne David, and corporate brand web officer Julius Conanan.