The lights dimmed, the bass thrummed through the floorboards, and for a few seconds, the collective breath of the country’s top communicators was held in anticipation. This was the “61st Second” — the moment where the noise stops and the legacy begins.
Last night, the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP)‘s 61st ANVIL Awards “Gabi ng Parangal” proved exactly why it is dubbed the “Oscars” of Philippine public relations.
Held under the theme “The 61st Second: Pushing Past Possibilities,” the gala was more than a trophy presentation; it was a high-energy celebration of stories that hit the mark and stayed there.
Jessica Soho formally bangs the symbolic anvil, marking the opening of the Gabi ng Parangal
The evening’s gravity was set early on with the symbolic Banging of the ANVIL, led this year by broadcast journalist Jessica Soho. As the sound of metal on metal echoed through the ballroom, it underscored the core values shared by both journalism and public relations: truth, credibility, and service.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who served as one of the distinguished figures of the evening, emphasized the deeper role of communicators in today’s climate.
“The work of a public relations practitioner and the excellence that PRSP is trying to drive them toward is important,” Sereno said. “Because as you can see now, the messaging in our society is very dark. It’s very sad. PR has a role in becoming a harbinger of hope.”
Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno delivering her keynote speech
She added that beyond brand reputation, communication must serve a larger purpose.
“If we bring good news as a foundation of our hope to rise as a country, then practitioners will not only have a livelihood, but also a role in helping the country rise. They become real nation builders,” she further stated.
The best of the best
Jessica Soho (4th from left) with the PRSP Board (from left:) Franz De La Fuente; Andy Saracho, APR; Maria Luisa Paragas-Sebastian, APR; Ana Ruby Pista, APR; Abigail L. Ho-Torres, APR; Steve Michael Moore; Mikey De Quiros, APR; and Norman Agatep, APR.
When the major awards were announced, the ballroom erupted in applause as industry leaders and household brands took center stage.
The Jollibee Group emerged as Company of the Year, while its partnership with Stratworks secured the coveted Grand ANVIL Award, the highest program honor of the night.
Jollibee Group emerged as Company of the Year, with Stratworks securing the Grand ANVIL Award
In the category for PR Tools, Security Bank Corporation claimed the Platinum ANVIL, recognized for transforming complex corporate information into accessible and meaningful communication for the public.
On the agency front, BrandPlay was named Agency of the Year, while PLDT and Smart were inducted into the Hall of Fame after achieving five Company of the Year titles and five Golden ANVIL distinctions.
Gold ANVIL winners
PLDT and Smart were inducted into the Hall of Fame after achieving five Company of the Year titles
The Gold ANVIL Awards were awarded to outstanding PR programs submitted by: ACEN Renewable Energy; Advocacy Partners Asia (two awards); AHA! Behavioral Design; BDO Unibank; Spotify; CDO Foodsphere; Cignal and Tribal; Development Bank of the Philippines; EastWest (two awards); and First Gen Corp.
The same award was also conferred to Full Circle Communications; Galderma; Heads Up PH; Jollibee and Stratworks (eight awards); Meralco (five awards); Maynilad; NuWorks Interactive Labs; and Palawan Group of Companies. The same distinction was also conferred to PepsiCo; PLDT Home; Simpol/Advocacy; Spark Philippines (two awards); TCL Philippines; and Watsons (two awards).
For Gold ANVIL Awards in PR Tools, honors went to Advocacy Partners Asia, Security Bank, and Vitro Inc.
Silver ANVIL winners – PR programs and campaigns
Silver ANVIL Awards in PR programs were awarded to campaigns submitted by: AboitizPower; 18 Advocacy Partners; AHA! Behavioral Design; AIA; AIA and Ogilvy (two awards); Asian Hospital; Avida Land Corp.; Babaylanes DDB Manila; BPI (two awards); Coca-Cola and Ant Savvy Creatives; De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde; DigiPlus Foundation; DigiPlus Interactive; Divina Law; DOST (three awards); EastWest (two awards); and GCash (three awards); GNPower; Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund); ID8 (three awards); InLife (four awards); IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines; Jollibee and Stratworks; Jollibee Group (Chowking); Jollibee and Ripples Inc.
The same accolades were also conferred to Makati Medical Center (three awards); Mang Inasal (Jollibee Group); Meralco (nine awards); Maya (“Welcome to Maya Black”); MullenLowe MARC (five awards); New Perspective (two awards); Newport World Resorts; Nickel Asia Corp.; NuWorks; One Meralco Foundation (five awards); Palawan Group of Companies (two awards); PepsiCo and DDB (two awards); PJ Lhuillier (three awards); PLDT Home (two awards); PLDT and Smart (two awards); RCBC (five awards); Security Bank (two awards); SM Retail; Spark PH; STI; TCL (three awards); Telus Digital (two awards); The Philippine Star; Toyota; Unilab; and Watsons (two awards).
Silver ANVIL winners – PR tools
For PR tools, Silver ANVIL Awards were awarded to: Advocacy Partners (two awards); BPI; BusinessWorld; Clark International Airport; Coca-Cola and Ant Savvy Creatives; DOST; Havas Ortega; ID8; Jollibee and Stratworks (two awards); Jollibee and Ripples (three awards); Kaya ng Pinoy Inc.; Maya; Meralco; MSD Philippines; Newport World Resorts; PLDT and Smart; Prometheus | Adidas; SM Foundation; The Philippine Star; The Rotary Club; and Watsons.
Beyond the glitter
Ana Pista, APR, Chair of the 61st ANVIL Awards, explaining the judging process
Ana Pista, APR, Chair of PRSP’s 61st Anvil Awards, reminded the audience that behind every trophy was discipline and grit. “Behind every submission you see tonight is a process that demanded patience, discipline, and heart,” Pista said. “Tonight, we are not just celebrating campaigns or tools. We are celebrating an industry that refuses to stand still.”
Pista shared that the awards drew 78 participating institutions, up from about 50 the previous year, reflecting the industry’s growing belief in the power of strategic communication.
Sereno echoed this sentiment, noting that awardees were selected not only for creativity, but for their contribution to the public good. “When we were choosing the winners, we looked for the element of nation-building — what can give hope to Filipinos,” she said. “These can become models or templates for how corporations can relate to the rise of the country through transparency and honesty.”
She also added that excellence in public relations must always be anchored in values. “It can be excellence, it can be good governance, it can be transparency and honesty — all of these are elements that can build a good nation,” Sereno further stated.
All entries underwent a rigorous three-tiered judging process and were independently audited by SGV & Co., ensuring transparency and credibility.
The 61st second
As hosts Thale Joy Blanco Escuton, Franz de la Fuente, and Emver Cortez closed the program, the message lingered: in public relations, time can be fleeting — but the best stories make every second count.
With the industry looking ahead to its 62nd year under incoming PRSP President Norman Agatep, the 61st ANVIL Awards ended with a single conclusion: the future of Philippine PR is not just arriving — it is being shaped.
