...the World Young Readers Prize recipients

Pinoy couple wins int'l publisher's award

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 10/15/2011

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - Two Filipinos received an award at the 2011 World Young Reader Prize Celebration, organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) in Vienna.

Sinag Publishing and Printing Services based in Laguna province is owned by husband and wife tandem Ruel and Raia Landicho.The couple recently received an award for winning the Nataza Prize during the 2011 World Young Reader Prize celebration, organized by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) in Vienna/King Bueno, correspondent, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Ruel Landicho and wife Raia, owners of Sinag Publishing and Printing Services from Calamba City, Laguna province, bagged the Nataza Prize which was awarded at the 63rd World Newspaper Congress and 18th World Editors Forum at the Reed Exhibitions Wien in Vienna.

“So kung ang isang maliit na negosyante tulad po namin kayang makakuha ng international recognition by giving social responsibility programs that work, dapat po siguro lahat ng mga entrepreneurs mag envision din ng ganun,” Raia said.

In her speech, Raia dedicated their win to her father “who serves as our inspiration everyday”.

The Nataza Prize is named after Nataza Vuckovic Lesendric (1966-2011), a Serbian who founded and ran a distribution system and then a printing plant for the independent press under the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. She introduced modern practices to the management of both operations while supporting press freedom and introducing this concept to the younger generation.

“So I wanted to see if there were cases like that and I went online and I saw Sinag. So, I especially encouraged them to submit for the prize. Although there were others as well, but they won,” said WAN-IFRA Director, Dr. Aralynn McMane.

Ruel said they do not know yet the effect the award would have on their business and personal life.

“Pero ang isa sa natitiyak naming, mas mapapaunlad namin ito, resulta ng pagkapanalo namin, mas may kredibilidad kami para maglunsad uli ng mas malawak na training seminars,” he said.

More than being nervous, Raia said she thought of her late father who started it all.

“My dad just recently passed away. He really started it all. He was the one. Kung nandito si Itay parang super saya po nung tatay ko. Para sa amin, sana nakita niya yung pagkakatawag sa amin because nobody imagined this would happen to us. So I feel na beyond po doon sa personal malaking bagay po to sa ating mga Pilipino,” Raia said.

Raia’s father established the publishing plant where 2 community newspapers—“Ang Tambuling Batangas” and “Ang Caviteno News Weekly”—are being printed.

“Naisip namin na yung social responsibility program namin connected po doon sa journalism. So we thought of giving free journalism seminars doon sa mga kabataan sa community namin sa Calamba.

We usually tie up with the Department of Education, they would give us free venues and they would help us invite students,” said Raia.

Meanwhile, McMane only has good words for journalists in the Philippines.

“We are very proud of the Philippines and the bravery that journalists have shown there. We know some great newspapers in that country so I have great hopes for the Philippine press to just even get better,” McMae said. Report from King Bueno, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent