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UPCMC honors alumni in 9th Glory Awards

| Written by UP College of Mass Communication Alumni Association

Roberto Coloma, Glory Awardee for Journalism and Philippine Collegian editor during the martial law era, emphasizes that despite the changing demands of the profession today, “some things remain unchanged: journalism fundamentals still center on gathering, verifying, and delivering accurate, independent, and fair information to the public.”
Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

QUEZON CITY (March 11, 2026) — The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication Alumni Association held Feb. 28 the ninth edition of the annual Glory Awards to recognize five alumni and their outstanding impact in fields such as journalism, film, market research, and social advocacy. 

 

“This year is extra special,” UPCMCAA president Malou Choa Fagar said in her opening remarks. “Our alumni recognition program, the Glory Awards, is nine years strong, and this year’s edition is lined up with the 60th anniversary of our college. Just like a diamond, we shine under pressure.”

 

“On any given day, our alumni are writing groundbreaking stories on tight deadlines, engaging audiences by the millions, or stirring up conversations that matter. Some are even stirring up trouble—but the good kind, the activist kind, the kind that pushes society forward.”

 

Iris Cecilia Gonzales, Glory Awardee for Journalism, dedicates her recognition to her fellow business journalists: “This award is a victory for business journalists. Our field is highly specialized. Highly technical. In short — boring. But we persist because covering the economy is very important.”

 

The awards, named in honor of the college’s founding dean Dr. Gloria Feliciano, celebrate alumni whose work embody excellence and impact. This year’s honorees were veteran journalist Roberto Coloma, business journalist and columnist Iris Gonzales, independent filmmaker Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, digital market research leader Melissa Abad Santos-Baron, civic worker Elena Buensalido-Mangahas.

 

Coloma, recipient of the journalism award, emphasized the changing demands of the profession: “The era of mono-talented journalists is long over. You need a bigger arsenal to get a job and keep it. First of all, you need to deal with AI. You should also learn photography and video journalism. Fact-checking is a promising new field in this era of fake news.”

 

Gonzales, also honored for journalism, dedicated her award to business journalists, a field she described as “highly technical, in short — boring.” Nevertheless, she likewise stressed the importance of their work amid the changes and current challenges to journalism: “Covering the economy is very important. Journalism today is not easy. There’s so much fake news, so many trolls. But we must keep on telling the truth and serve the public day after day.”

 

Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, Glory Awardee for Film, shares how her journey from mainstream to independent filmmaking allowed her to find her own voice amid big business’ bottomlines and the network wars: “I can now focus on stories which resonated with me, which otherwise may not have seen the light of day.” Her work includes “Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesus” and “Boses.”
Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

Ongkeko-Marfil, recognized for her work in film, reflected on her journey from mainstream to independent cinema. “Going indie gave me control of distribution, to find one’s own audience and bring the film where it is needed,” she said. Her acclaimed film “Boses,” which tackles child abuse and music therapy, continues to screen in communities and hospitals 18 years after its debut.

 

Market researcher Santos-Baron credited her training in the college for preparing her to adapt to digital transformation: “I was future-proofed even before the term became popular. We published free digital consumer data to help [small and medium enterprise] businesses navigate the chaos. Market research will always matter. We need more courageous minds to uncover truth and stand up for the consumers who need to be understood.”

 

Issa Abad Santos-Baron, Glory Awardee for Market Research, expresses pride as an alumna of UP CMC: “I have always been a proud product of UP-IMC then, CMC today, even without this award, because I was trained to think critically, adapt quickly, and find solutions even when resources were limited.”
Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

Buensalido-Mangahas, honored for social advocacy, spoke about her work in Filipino-American historical preservation. “I know I draw necessary skills from being a trained mass communicator. We get busloads of college students from major universities in California who come to explore their Filipino heritage through a museum visit,” she shared. “I put on my storyteller hat so that they walk away with a view of who and what influences they got from their Lolo and Lola.”

 

Two distinguished honors were also conferred. SAMASKOM’s Live AIDS, the country’s longest-running campus comedy-musical, was recognized as a cultural institution for its fearless satire and enduring relevance. Senator Loren Legarda was also honored for her steadfast support to UP and the College, sustaining its legacy as a training ground for communicators.

 

Elena Buensalido-Mangahas, Glory Awardee in Social Advocacy, narrates her story as a community worker and civic leader in Stockton, California—a hub of early immigrant Filipinos who worked in the farms of America’s food basket—for more more than three decades: “I’ve had a huge opportunity to speak truth to power and assert proud Filipino-ness. This requires a combination of storytelling skills and being conversant in Filipino American history.”
Photo by Jonathan Madrid, UPS-MCO.

 

Two pillars of the college were also recognized posthumously: legendary broadcasting professor Evelyn David and long-time student records officer Consuelo “Aling Suming” Agapito, who both passed away in 2025. 

 

The ceremony doubled as a homecoming, with alumni recalling friendships and stories forged in Plaridel Hall. As Fagar noted, the college’s diamond jubilee was not only a celebration of the past but a promise of countless more stories waiting to be told.