At a ballroom filled with innovators, creatives, and government officials, Ana Pista, APR, delivered her first official speech as president of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines during the 39th anniversary celebration of the Department of Science and Technology–Technology Application and Promotion Institute.
The January 30 event, held at The Manila Hotel, also marked the awarding ceremony of Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD) 2025, a nationwide campaign recognizing Filipino creatives who translate grassroots innovations into visual narratives.
For Pista, the moment was both ceremonial and symbolic. It was her first public address in her new role, delivered before a room where science, communication, and creative industries converged.
A leadership milestone in a room full of storytellers
PRSP President Ana Pista framed her remarks around the evolving role of public relations in an age where emerging technologies move faster than public understanding.
“Public relations is no longer just about telling stories; it is about stewarding them with integrity, purpose, and responsibility to ensure that government programs truly resonate with the communities they are meant to serve,” she said.
Her message underscored the importance of ethical and strategic storytelling, particularly when communicating government-backed innovations to broader audiences. In a digital-first environment shaped by short-form video, advertising, and visual platforms, she emphasized that credibility and trust must remain central.
The anniversary celebration of DOST-TAPI provided a fitting backdrop. Created under Executive Order No. 128 in 1987, the institute is tasked with promoting technology commercialization and innovation support services in the Philippines.
As the agency marked 39 years of service, it also highlighted the role of creatives in bridging complex technologies and everyday communities.
From citizen journalism to visual storytelling
The fourth edition of Gawad Alunig x Dalumat drew nearly 200 submissions from Filipino creatives nationwide, reflecting a growing interest in science communication through accessible formats.
This year’s campaign marked a strategic shift. Instead of focusing solely on science citizen journalism, GAxD 2025 leaned into visual storytelling through short-form video advertisements and photo essays.
Through Gawad Alunig, participants produced creative advertisements that translated complex technologies into engaging narratives. Gawad Dalumat, meanwhile, highlighted in-depth visual storytelling through photography and concise written features.
The campaign also functioned as a public relations tool for DOST-TAPI, helping identify potential technology proponents who may qualify for the institute’s programs and services.
Recognizing Filipino creatives and innovation stories
Five entries were proclaimed grand finalists for Gawad Alunig from 70 total submissions, with 40 shortlisted. Another five were named grand finalists for Gawad Dalumat from 93 submissions, with 43 shortlisted.
Among the Gawad Alunig awardees:
- Grand Winner: Team Creative Blocks for “Taghoy”
- 1st Runner-Up: Team STEM Uno Productions for “Nuez Naturals”
- Honorable mentions included Team KATIG Productions (“Project Abiso”), Team PATAK (“Dropwise: Where clean water has no social status”), and Team CATSU (“Parahag-ot”)
For Gawad Dalumat:
- Winner: Team Bihasaya for “I-POT: The Roots of Tomorrow”
- 1st Runner-Up and People’s Choice Award: Team Patak for “Patak na Pinaglalaban”
- 2nd Runner-Up: Team InnovAksyon Helios for “Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Put Out Fires Before They Begin”
- Additional recognitions included Best Innovation Story awards for entries such as “Power in Every Hatch: A Hybrid Egg Incubator Built for Poultry Farmers”
The breadth of topics ranged from agriculture and renewable energy to environmental monitoring and community-based technologies, reflecting how local innovations continue to surface beyond laboratories and into lived communities.
Communication as connective tissue
Also speaking at the ceremony was Roberto A. Aligada, executive director of the Ad Standards Council, who highlighted the responsibility that comes with shaping narratives around innovation.
“Science provides the numbers, but communication provides the soul. When creativity and innovation work together with responsibility and truth, advertising can become a catalyst that changes lives,” Aligada said.
His remarks echoed Pista’s emphasis on responsible communication. In a setting where innovators, creatives, and policymakers shared the same stage, storytelling was positioned not as a decorative layer but as a structural element in public engagement.
For PeoplePlacesPlates readers, the evening was a reminder that lifestyle, culture, and communication often intersect with science in quiet but consequential ways. The technologies being developed in agriculture, disaster resilience, and renewable energy will not reach communities without narratives that make them understandable and relevant.
As DOST-TAPI celebrates nearly four decades of promoting technology commercialization, the spotlight this year extended beyond inventors to the creatives who interpret their work.
For PRSP President Ana Pista, stepping into her first official speech as PRSP president in this setting signaled a broader message: that in an era of emerging tech and rapid digital distribution, how stories are told may be as important as the innovations themselves.
