President Benigno Simeon Aquino III was conferred the “People’s Choice Award” by a group of reputable veteran journalists during the “Bulong Pulungan” Christmas Party held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on December 18, 2012.

President Aquino was honoured for his consistent high popularity ratings since his term began in 2010. The “Bulong Pulungan” group saluted the President for his leadership and “matuwid na daan” principle which endeared him even more to the people.

Another awardee is Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr. who was accorded the “Exemplar Award in Corporate Governance”.

The “Bulong Pulungan” is an esteemed media group composed of some of the country’s well respected journalists. Established in 1986, the “Bulong Pulungan” core group includes Deedee Siytangco and Jullie Daza of Manila Bulletin; Joanne Rae Ramirez and Domini Torrevillas of the Philippine Star; Rina David, Thelma San Juan, Letty Magsanoc, Mandy Navasero, and Aida Sevilla of Philippine Daily Inquirer; Sandee Masigan of Travel Life, Donnie Ramirez of ABS-CBN media, Joy Fong of Vanity, and Chay Santiago of Woman’s Home Companion.

According to Deedee Siytangco, co-founder of the “Bulong Pulungan”, the group has been conducting a yearly citation of individuals from private and government sectors. “Yung isa sa activity namin dito ay ang pagbigay ng citation at recognition sa mga individual sa government at sa private sectors na nagbigay ng malaking kontribusyon sa ating bansa. This year, tatlo po ang binigyan natin ng award. Dalawa from the government sector at isa mula sa private sector,” she said.

The other two “Exemplar Awardees” are Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson (for Public Service) and Robert Lim Joseph of the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines (for Travel and Tourism).

Siytangco said Chairman Naguiat was recognized by the group because of the state-owned gaming firm’s significant contributions to the “Matuwid na Daan” policy of the Aquino administration.

Under Naguiat’s leadership, PAGCOR embarked on life-changing Corporate Social Responsibility projects such as the allocation of P1 Billion funding for the construction of thousands of classrooms in public schools nationwide under the “Matuwid na Daan sa Silid Aralan” project. PAGCOR will earmark a much bigger funding of P2 billion for the construction of more classrooms for the Filipino youth by next year.

PAGCOR also allocated P100 million for the PNOY Bayanihan. The project is in partnership with the Department of Education (DepED), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which aims to eradicate the backlog of school chairs in public schools through the conversion of confiscated logs into armchairs.

The state-owned gaming firm likewise provided a P20 million funding to support the “Kasibulan Grassroots Football Program” which aims to promote the game of football across the country in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation. Close to 38,000 Filipino youth and children aged six to 12 years old are now playing football because of the program.

Through various reforms instituted by the new management, PAGCOR has also been realizing record revenues. From July 2010 to September 2012, the state-owned gaming firm has already generated total revenues of P83 billion. Of this amount, more than P41 billion was channelled to various nation-building programs of the government.

Meantime, apart from the awarding ceremony, the “Bulong Pulungan” also conducted a charity raffle for the victims of typhoon Pablo in Mindanao. The event earned a total of about P355,000 from the sold raffle tickets and donations from Manila Bulletin editors and the Bulong Pulungan core group. The financial grant was turned over to Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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