About the Awards

Brightleaf Winners and Judges with Philip Morris Managing Director Chris Nelson

"Palawan Greens" of Erasmo "Sonny" Espiritu won the 1st Philip Morris Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards Best Agriculture Photo category.

The Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards is a news and features competition that aims to give due recognition to the very best agricultural journalists in the country, all while promoting agriculture development and sustainability in the Philippines .

Last year, members of the media from the metro and other regions joined the competition to showcase the Filipinos' talent, passion, and dedication to topnotch reportage of the Philippine agrculture industry.

Emerging as winners were:

Fermin M. Diaz of Lamb Magazine, with "Meet the New Kids in Town" for Agriculture Story of the Year, and "Producing the Eggs Despite the Odds" for Best Agriculture Feature Story (National);

Teddy P. Molina of Saniata Magazine, with "Tobacco Has Other Uses", for Tobacco Story of the Year;

Freddie G. Lazaro of Manila Bulletin, with "Pilot Areas for Sorghum Production in Ilocos Region Picked" for Best Agriculture News Story (National);

Mary Rose Sarne of Woman Talk, with "Sea Urchin Cures Lymphocytic Leukemia" for Best Agriculture Radio Segment;

Regina Fernandez of Studio 23 BKTV, with "Forestry" for Best Agriculture TV Segment;

Madeleen Tacadena of Anara-Ar Magazine, with "Tobacco Farmers Losing Interest?" for Best Agriculture News Story (Regional);

Joel Contrivida of Bandillo ng Palawan, with "May Pera Nga Ba Sa Kasoy?" for Best Agriculture Feature Story (Regional);

Erasmo "Sonny" Espiritu of Manila Standard Today, with "Palawan Greens" for Best Agriculture Photo Segment.