DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 Oct) – Veteran broadcaster Abner Francisco earned the 2015 Titus Brandsma Award Philippines for Leadership in Community Communications.
The biennial Titus Brandsma Award Philippines is the country’s version of the international Titus Brandsma Award given by the International Christian Organization of the Media (ICOM) –the world association of religious and secular media, the Dutch Bishops’ Conference and the Dutch Carmelite Province, read the letter sent to Franciso.
“I could not believe it when I saw the letter. I just answered their call. I cant still believe it until I asked the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) to confirm this award. When I checked the past awardees, I felt so humble,” Francisco told MindaNews.
Francisco, 41, started his career in broadcast journalism as a field reporter of Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation’s radio station dxND in Kidapawan City from 1997 to 2001.
After leaving NDBC in 2001, Francisco wrote for community paper Headliner until 2002.
He joined dxCA Charm Radio’s Pulso ng Bayan in 2003 and still anchors the morning public service program until today.
Moreover, Franciso occasionally contributes reports to CNN Philippines.
In 2010, he organized the Watchful Advocates for Transparent, Clean and Honest Governance in North Cotabato (WATCH North Cotabato). Since its inception, the group has already filed at least 30 graft cases against government officials and employees before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The awarding ceremonies will be on November 27 at the Titus Brandsma Center, in New Manila, Quezon City.
Francisco, who hails from the remote town of Arakan in North Cotabato, finished Development Communication Major in Development Journalism at the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan in 1998.
“My first award ever. Wala gid ko award sa school,” he said.
