Aklan tri-media to stage ‘Aklan Press Freedom Week’

KALIBO, Aklan – Media organizations here vowed to popularize and institutionalize the Aklan Press Freedom Week celebration as opportunity for the media leaders to foster closer ties and to strengthen its ranks.

Boy Ryan Zabal, director for Visayas of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and two-termer president of Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps (APDPC), proposed the holding of Aklan Press Freedom Week by April, which he said would create an effective venue for local media practitioners to appreciate their role in the communities and remind them of the importance of press freedom.

“A few years ago, the tri-media is longing for activities that will build and enhance camaraderie and friendship among local broadcasters and writers. It seemed that they are supportive of organizing weeklong events for the Aklan media before the Aklan Day on April 25,” he said.
The press freedom week scheduled on April 19 to 25 features symposium on media works, lectures, film showing, fun and games, forum on media ethics, photo exhibit and socials to be participated in by media outlets in print, radio and television and all Aklan journalists.
The activities coincide with the annual celebration of separation of the province of Aklan from its mother province of Capiz every April 25 through Republic Act No. 1414.
In a resolution to the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan in its 7th regular session last Thursday, the Aklan Press Freedom Week is a unique venue among competing radio, newspapers and cable stations in the province to get together, to underscore the media’s role in the community and to emphasize the significance of press freedom.
“The local media leaders as a gesture of professionalism and dynamic practice of ethical principles of journalism in Aklan united themselves to organize the Aklan Press Freedom Week to remind the community journalists and the Aklanons that press freedom should always be protected,” the resolution stated.
The resolution is supported by the biggest names in the Aklan media - PAPI president Juan P. Dayang, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Aklan chapter chairman and IBC DyRG station manager Augusto Tolentino, Aklan United Media Association (AUMA) president Winston Carillo, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Aklan chapter chairman Jujet Reyes and Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan Press Corps president Arnel Arrieta.
Other signatories are:
1. Aklan Press Club past president Odon Bandiola
2. RGMA DyRU station manager Butz Maquinto
3. RMN DyKR station manager and KBP Aklan performance officer Jerome Vega
4. Aklan Media Forum managing director William Arguelles

5. Bombo DyIN station manager and KBP Aklan vice chairman Eril Ibardolasa
6. Love Radio Kalibo officer-in-charge Jhinkie Jane Balairos
7. KBP Aklan treasurer and CBIS DyYM 98.5 Hot FM station manager Terence June Toriano
8. KBP Aklan executive secretary Eleanor Reyes of IBC DyRG

9. APDPC secretary Roben Laserna of CBIS Hot FM
10. RGMA DyRU program director-news and public affairs Lyneth Mendoza
11. Kalibo Cable TV Network, Inc. production officer and APDPC board of director Gary Vargas
12. APDPC Business Manager and anchorman Rolly Herrera of IBC DyRG
13. Senior field reporter and APDPC board of director Michael Selorio of RGMA DyRU
14. APDPC auditor Ronnel Irodestan of CBIS Hot FM
15. RGMA DyRU Program Director Let-let Barrios-Rapio
16. Philippine Information Agency Aklan officer-in-charge Venus Villanueva
17. Arnel Relampago of KCTV / Love Radio Kalibo
18. RGMA DyRU news director Annie Lee Bautista
19. Senior field reporter Ron Bautista of RGMA DyRU
20. Conrad Indelible of RGMA DyRU and Aklan Press Club
21. Bombo Radyo DyIN assistant station manager Joemer Soriano