Excellence must be a way of life. Manifesting this paradigm, GMA Network recently concluded its nationwide search for college graduates with commendable performance in important aspects that uphold the true meaning of being a Kapuso.
Of the 7 finalists, Mari Angelyn Miranda Arambulo, a Communication Research graduate from the College of Mass Communication – University of the Philippines (Diliman), emerged as the GMA Excellence Awardee for 2015. She received a plaque and P50,000.00.
Arambulo thanked GMA for the award and admitted that it was an uphill battle. “I want to say thank you for this opportunity, for recognizing students, and it is truly an inspiration for us and for future students to continue working hard,” she says. She also expressed her interest in joining GMA Network in the future.
For this year’s search, a total of 28 nominees vied for the award, with the top 7 finalists making it to the final screening held on July 16 at the GMA Network Headquarters in Quezon City. These finalists include Arambulo and her UP batchmates, Edmer C. Maguan, Ma. Regina T. Lopez, and Kiersnerr Gerwin B. Tacadena, Darlene Amabele P. Salunga from Angeles University Foundation, Perry S. Saico from Weslayan University Philippines and Lord Bien Lelay from the University of Sto. Tomas.
During the final screening, the finalists shared their goals and advocacies, as well as their experience and hardships, with the members of the panel of judges, namely, Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko Foundation President Dr. Orlando Mercado, GMA AVP for Public Affairs Neil Gumban, and Yes Pinoy Foundation Chairman and Kapuso actor Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III.
Meanwhile, GMA Network Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon said he is proud of this year’s participants, and revealed that a number of winners and finalists of the previous editions of the award program are now with GMA. “This is our way of recognizing people and inspiring them to do better things so they will succeed later in life,” he says.
The awarding ceremony was preceded by inspiring talks from GMA News senior correspondent Dano Tingcungco, who was a finalist of the GMA Network Excellence Award himself, and Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown Winner Betong Sumaya.
Now on its 14th year, the GMA Network Excellence Award is among the flagship CSR programs of the Kapuso Network. This CSR initiative aims to push excellence as a way of life by honouring select graduating students of Mass Communication and Electronics and Communications Engineering who have demonstrated exemplary track records in the areas of leadership, academic performance and social responsibility.
In previous years, only students from partner universities and colleges were eligible to join the competition. However, starting this year (covering academic year 2014-2015), the competition became nationwide in scope and open to all bona fide Filipino graduating students of Mass Communication, Multi-Media Arts, Advertising or any equivalent course focused in communication, as well as ECE.
Partners of the GMA Excellence Awards 2015 include Yes Pinoy Foundation, Airfreight 2100, Inc. (Air21), College of the Mass Communication – University of the Philippines (Diliman), Don Bosco Technical College, and Angeles University Foundation. (Iris Joy Abarquez)
