Some of the nation’s biggest corporations, agencies, and schools are going head to head this year for the highest honors at the 13th Philippine Quill Awards, the country’s most prestigious and comprehensive awards in business communication.

After much anticipation, the IABC Philippines recently announced the frontrunners for the Top Awards as well as the nominees for Company, Agency, and School of the Year, heading to the awarding ceremony on March 9 at the Grand Ballroom, Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila, Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

Poised to take home the Top Award in the Communication Management division, which includes strategic communication planning and execution of internal, external, and integrated programs, are ABS-CBN Corporation (Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na), Holcim Philippines (The Holcim Philippines Employee Communication Program), Manila Water Company (The Manila Water Scoopers: Cultivating Journalists in Our Corporate Midst), Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (Metrobank Group Helping Hands Relief and Rehabilitation Response for Yolanda Survivors), and TV5 Network, Inc. (Radyo5 Taxi Squad: Todo Radyo Serbisyo).

The contenders for Top Award in the Communication Skills division, which covers technical skills such as writing, design, and multimedia production showcased in marketing and communication campaigns, are Shell Companies in the Philippines (Get Fuel, Earn Points with Shell and SM Advantage Card), Shell Companies in the Philippines (Shell Centennial Campaign), Shell Philippines Exploration (Shell Powering Progress Together-Asia), Smart Communications, Inc. (Paskong Pasasalamat), and TV5 Network, Inc. (Rescue5 Activity Book for Visayas).

Aiming to be the first Top Awardee in the Communication Training and Education division, which recognizes the mentorship and education role of consultants and senior communicators are the Communication Research Department, UP College of Mass Communication (Be Aware: You are at Risk Communication Conference) and Shell Companies in the Philippines (Customer & You Training Camp).

This new division was introduced in the 2013 Quill alongside Communication Research Management division, which focuses on the role of research and measurement in strategic communication work.

Universities and colleges all over the nation are also gunning for prizes in the Philippine Student Quill Awards, the junior version of the Quill that honors outstanding communication work by students. Nominees for Top Award include two from Bataan Peninsula State University (Pusod: The Guilds Literary Folio 2013-2014; The Guilds Advocacies: Magazine 2014 and three from Colegio de San Juan de Letran (Cyberrape; Rainbow X; Tahan Na).

The Top Award is given to entries with the highest score among Excellence Awardees per division. Organizations, agencies, and schools with the most Excellence Awards are also awarded with Company, Agency, and School of the Year.

The nominees for Company of the Year are ABS-CBN Corporation, Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), Shell Companies in the Philippines, Smart Communications, Inc., and Unilever Philippines, Inc. Battling to be Agency of the Year are DM9 Jayme-SyFu, Ogilvy Public Relations Manila, PTFJ AD Consult, Strategic Works, Inc., and Studio 5 Designs, Inc.

Vying for School of the Year, on the other hand are Angelicum College, Bataan Peninsula State University , Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde, and University of Santo Tomas.

IABC Philippines president Kane Errol Choa shared that the nominees represent the best of the field this year, which has once again risen in number compared to the previous year. There was a 59 percent increase in the number of Quill entries, and a 31 percent increase in the Student Quill.

“The competition is getting tougher every year, not only because there are more participants but because the quality of the entries has also improved. We at the IABC Philippines see this as an indication that more organizations are taking communication more seriously as a business strategy. It’s a victory for our group,” he said.

IABC Philippines is the first chapter outside North America of the international IABC, a global network of around 15,500 business communicators in 80 countries. The IABC presents the Gold Quill Awards, considered as the global standard in business communication.

Belle Tiongco, the chair of this year’s Philippine Quill Awards Committee, said awardees this year can expect a grand ceremony, with the help of Gold sponsors ABS-CBN Corporation, Holcim Philippines, Inc., PRU Life UK; Silver sponsors San Miguel Brewery, Inc. and San Miguel Corporation; and Bronze sponsors BA Securities, Inc., Enchanted Kingdom, Inc., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Pag-IBIG Fund, Social Security System (SSS), and TeaM Energy Corporation.

Also showing support are media intelligence partner iSentia, media partners adobo magazine, ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC), BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Manila Bulletin, Rappler, and The Philippines Star, and official tabulator Reyes Tacandong & Co.

“More than a competition, the Quill Awards is an opportunity for companies to come together and celebrate our shared successes in the field of business communication. We have prepared a nice gathering and we hope more organizations join us next year,” she said.