PGMA guest of honor in 13th nat’l press congress

BAGUIO CITY – President Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to grace the 13th National Press Congress on Dec. 11-13 here in the summer capital of the country wherein public interest issues related to media, culture and the global crisis will dominate discussions.

Organized by the 34-year-old Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), the country’s largest media event forms part of the annual month-long nation-wide celebration of the “National Press Congress Month and the Month of the Community Press” in the Service of the Nation.

The celebration, which includes public fora and other related activities on press freedom in various regional and provincial PAPI networks, is in line with Proclamation 1187 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

President Arroyo’s proclamation, widely hailed by PAPI members and officers all over the country, was intended to recognize, encourage and support the media’s critical importance in strengthening the bonds of national unity.

“Being the Fourth Estate, the press has the inherent mandate to play a dynamic and pro-active stance in nation-building efforts, particularly at this most crucial time of global economic downturn,” PAPI president Juan P. Dayang said.

The three-day event, to be held at the Benitez Hall of the sprawling Teachers Camp in Baguio city, is expected to be attended by some 500 media delegates and advocates from all over the country.

“We intend to build a consensus during the congress on how the media and the cultural values of the Filipinos can be harnessed to weather the onslaught of this global crisis,” Dayang said.

A key highlight of the conference, which will be addressed by senior officials from government and non-government sectors, is the Students Press Congress 2008, PAPI’s long-term advocacy to help mold a new corps of principled, committed and patriotic journalists from the academe.

Those interested to attend may call PAPI Conference Secretariat at Unit 206, Cityland Condominium VIII, No. 98, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City, Tel. (02) 8929278; Fax (02) 8944687; CP 09209094379 or email papi@gawab.com.

For those in northern Luzon, you may also contact Alfred Dizon, regional PAPI chairperson at telefax (074-421-8145), CP 09193676436 or email: northphiltimes@yahoo.com