Kapamilya box-office director Cathy Garcia-Molina and veteran journalists Rowena Paraan and Abner Mercado were among the outstanding alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) honored in the 2021 Glory Awards.
Garcia-Molina, the director behind the two highest-grossing Filipino films Hello, Love, Goodbye, and The Hows of Us, is this year’s awardee in the field of film.
ABS-CBN News Public Service and “Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo” head Paraan was recognized for her social advocacy, while former ABS-CBN reporter Mercado, who also anchored current affairs shows such as The Correspondents and Krusada, was honored for his works in broadcast journalism.
In their acceptance speeches, Molina, Paraan, and Mercado thanked their families, teachers, and their alma mater for shaping and nurturing their character, abilities, and principles that helped them get to where they are now.
“Sa akin ang natutunan ko sa UP kung papaano magmahal ng kapwa, kung papaano maging mapanuri, kung papaano magtanong…Hanggang ngayon, even in ABS-CBN, ang trabaho ko is also to help people,” shared Paraan.
“Through it all ang puhunan ko po talaga tiyaga and sipag. And I thank UP CMC again dahil kayo ang nagbukas ng daan papunta sa kung nasaan ako ngayon,” said Garcia-Molina.
“Sisikapin naming patuloy kaming maging karapatdapat sa parangal na ito at sa kakabit nitong responsibilidad,” pledged mercado, who hopes to inspire fellow and incoming journalists through the award he received.
The three are among the seven distinguished alumni selected by the Glory Awards’ panel of jurors this year for their “excellent work and impact on the communities they serve.” Launched in 2017, the Glory Awards is held by the UP CMC Alumni Association and is inspired by the legacy of honor and distinction of the college’s founding dean Dr. Gloria Feliciano.
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN News also received a nomination in The AIBs, the awards given by the Association for International Broadcasting to recognize the world’s best factual content. ABS-CBN News was nominated in the Media Freedom category alongside other reputable news organizations in the world.