The Ilocos Times

PPI’s New Board of Trustees headed by Manila Standard publisher Rolando Estabillo (6th from left). Manila Standard publisher Rolando Estabillo was elected as the new chairman and president of the Philippine Press Institute. Mr. Estabillo took the helm from former Ang Pilipino Star Ngayon editor-in-chief Al Pedroche, who described the PPI as the "most untainted media organization" in its 55 years of existence. Mr. Estabillo, who was elected unanimously by representatives of print publications from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon, and Metro Manila, thanked the members for their trust and confidence in his leadership. Former corporate secretary Amelia Cabusao (Mindanao Times) was elected vice president, while Joenald Rayos (Pahayagang Balikas) was reelected treasurer and Dexter See (Herald Express) was elected as corporate secretary. Reelected as regional trustees were Messrs. Rayos and See for Luzon; former PPI Vice President Alex Rey Pal (The Dumaguete Metropos

As the country gears for a possible shift to a federal form of government, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. underscored the important role that media has to play in ensuring that Filipinos make an informed choice on the issue. Mr. Pimentel, a member of the consultative committee tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to propose changes to the 1987 Constitution, acknowledged that many Filipinos still do not understand the concept of federalism. Nene Pimentel “This is why we need the media to play its role of educating our people. We need a free media to ensure that the dissemination of information is not controlled,” he said in his keynote speech during the 23rd National Press Forum of the Philippine Press Institute at Hotel Jen in Manila. Former Commission on Elections chairman and 1986 Constitutional Convention member Christian Monsod agreed: “Media has a big role to play, especially in education campaign and in providing the people with real news, not fa