ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) earned its first Anvil Award for Public Relations at the recently concluded 50th Anvil Awards held in Marriott Hotel, Manila for its advocacy campaign that encouraged overseas Filipinos (OFs) to exercise their right to vote in the 2013 elections.

“Boto Mo, Kinabukasan ng Bawat Pilipino,” earned a Silver Anvil under the category Outstanding Public Relations Programs Directed at Specific Stakeholders. The campaign, developed by TFC as a result of its landmark partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), won for meeting the highest standards in terms of addressing the campaign’s defined objectives of promoting the overseas voting to Filipinos outside the homeland; defining a strategic plan that includes the engagement of our kababayans at key touchpoints, execution of communication elements with the maximization of resources; and making effective evaluation post-campaign.

According to Anvil Awards Committee Chairperson Milen De Quiros, APR, “The Anvil is the symbol of excellence in public relations in the Philippines, conferred by a distinguished multi-sectoral jury to outstanding public relations programs and tools designed and implemented in 2013.”

Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) President Bong Osorio, APR, says this year’s Anvil was very competitive as the PRSP recorded a total of 423 entities, the highest in years. He says: “TFC’s campaign won over notable finalists. The award attests to the network’s adherence to highest standards of excellence in Public Relations.”

”Community and nation-building are embedded in ABS-CBN’s corporate culture, reflecting our organizational values and objectives. Thus, working with Philippine government agencies like COMELEC, DFA and Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide to involve overseas Filipinos in the election process is an endeavor that makes much sense. Winning an Anvil award for our PR campaign to promote that involvement is a validation of that effort. Our team thanks our leadership, all our partners, PRSP, and the Anvil Committee for this recognition,” said ABS-CBN Global Director of Corporate Affairs & PR Nerissa Fernandez.

Receiving the award for the TFC team were ABS-CBN Asia-Pacific Managing Director Ailene Averion and members of the Global Corporate Affairs and PR team Marianne de Vera and Somewell Aljames Gadiane; officers from prime agency partner such as DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) represented by Vice Chairperson Edgardo Castro as well as key partners Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) represented by Undersecretary Mary Grace Ampil Tirona and Overseas Workers’ Welfare and Administration (OWWA) represented by Advocacy and Social Marketing Division (ASMD) Head Josephine Tobia.

The ANVIL is the symbol of excellence in public relations in the Philippines, awarded by a distinguished multi-sectoral jury to outstanding public relations programs and tools designed and implemented during the previous year. The Anvil Awards competition is conducted annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines. The awards given are Silver, Gold, Platinum and the Grand Anvil Award. The Anvil Award is much coveted and is given only if the high standards are met.