Holcim Journalism Awards finalists set
Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. is set to announce the winners of its contest for excellent journalism on sustainable construction, after the independent panel of judges have determined the competition’s awardees.
The finalists for the inaugural Holcim Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction, which drew 82 entries, are:
1. “The wonders of wood” by BusinessMirror’s Roderick Abad
2. ”An indigenous green design” by BusinessMirror’s Imelda Abano
3. “Sustainable construction safeguards biodiversity” by BusinessMirror’s Anjo Alimario
4. “How soon we forget: A year after Ondoy, are public school safer, better equipped for learning?” by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Chelo Banal-Formoso
5. “Closing the loop between sanitation and food security” by BusinessWeek’s Mike Banos
6. “Building green homes in Sandari” by Batulao Views’ Alma Anonas Carpio
7. “Design according to nature” by BusinessMirror’s Max de Leon
8. “Chasing after windmills” by Monday Magazine’s Jose Bimbo Santos
9. “An enlightening experience” by Women’s Feature Service’s Kara Santos (published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
10. “In the open” by BusinessWorld’s Victoria Vizcarra.
The panel of judges were composed of Ernesto Adobo, assistant secretary for field operations for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Dr. Georgina Encanto, former dean of the University of the College of Mass Communication and president of Transparency International, Phils.; Grace Favila, senior adviser to the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Business for the Environment; Felino Palafox, managing partner and founder of architecture firm Palafox Associates, and Luis Teodoro, deputy executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
The Screeners were Marissa Cruz, director of the DENR Public Affairs Office, and Medi Fernando, secretary of the Board of Trustees of Kaibigan ng Kaunlaran at Kalikasan, Hector Bryant Macale, senior staff at CMFR, UP journalism professor Khrysta Rara, and Arch. Boyet Tejuco of Palafox and Associates.
The winner of the Sustainable Construction of the Year will receive P100,000 in cash and a three-day stay in Singapore this November to attend the regional leg of the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction. Merit awards will be given to three articles that best explain the benefits of sustainable construction to the environment, communities and consumers. Their authors will receive P50,000 and will also be flown to Singapore in November.
The remaining finalists will receive P10,000 each, while the editors of the articles that won the major awards will also be given cash prizes. The winners of the contest will be announced next month.
Sustainable construction is one of the main advocacies of the Holcim Group due to its belief that the fields of architecture and construction have a crucial role in achieving a more sustainable future. Sustainable construction refers to the practice of creating structures in ways that are innovative and transferable, environmentally responsible, economically viable and aesthetically pleasing.
Holcim Philippines launched the contest last year to raise public awareness and appreciation for sustainable construction by engaging the media to provide outstanding reports on the said topic. This local initiative is in support of the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction, a global competition that recognizes projects and visions contributing to a more sustainable environment. The latter contest is headed by the Switzerland-based Holcim Foundation.
The contest was open to all Filipino journalists nationwide and accepted articles published from August 10, 2010 to May 31, 2011. It had a student category, which was concluded last December. Ateneo de Manila University’s Joaquin de Jesus won the contest for an article on the need for the local builders to look back in Philippine history for building ideas rather than adopt Western standards that may not be applicable here.
