The leading Cebu-focused blog and digital magazine, Sugbo.ph won the major award of ‘Social Media Advocacy of the Year’ for its mental health awareness campaign #WalayBiyaay in the recently concluded Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA) 2020.
Globe Telecom recognizes the the important role of media and bloggers during the current crisis as people rely on them to deliver breaking news, updates, and in-depth reports about the pandemic whether inside the country or abroad. Among the ten finalists in the social media category in the Visayas, Sugbo.ph’s “Wala’y Biyaay: Mental Health Awareness” emerged as the winner.
Shift of content
Since the start of the community quarantine in April 2020, Sugbo.ph has shifted its content focus from travel-related activities to relevant news, updates, and other important information about the COVID-19, especially in the local community level.
“Amid crisis, our team exerted all efforts to help inform our readers about the virus and encourage them to stay at home through custom, engaging infographics and easy-to-understand articles and/or social media posts.”
– Ram Mancelita, Editor-in-Chief of Sugbo.ph
Wala’y Biyaay Campaign
When stricter community quarantine was implemented all throughout the country, the Sugbo.ph team noticed thousands of people online were expressing their struggles and that they were feeling lost, depressed.
“As some members of the team have also experienced such struggle, we thought we could do more than the news and updates. So, we decided to create this advocacy and made sure our message would reach to many people, at the same time, be relatable to them. That is where “Wala’y Biyaay” (Walang Iwanan) came about.”
“Wala’y Biyaay” are truly short words in Cebu’s native language but are very meaningful, especially in this time of pandemic. Putting this advocacy as one of its top priorities in content creation, Sugbo.ph has been publishing a series of social media posts and blog articles that are original and relatable.
The content served as reminders to the readers that they are not alone in this time of crisis; that mental health is just as important as physical health; and that the struggles they are going through are valid. Some of the posts also encouraged others to check on their friends and remind them they will be there for them, even virtually.
Cebu COPES
Taking it a more personal level in reaching out their followers, Sugbo.ph partnered with “Cebu COPES – Counselors Online Psychological and Emotional Support”, a group of licensed guidance counselors in Cebu.
This enabled the readers and followers of Sugbo.ph to avail free, confidential online and telecounseling services and psycho-social support by registered guidance counselors through Facebook chat and phone calls.
Reach and engagement
Since its launch in April, the advocacy posts of Sugbo.ph have been getting positive feedback and great engagement with thousands of people reached.
The introductory post of #WalayBiyaay reached to more than 115,000 people and garnered at least 5,000 engagement.
Its most popular post published on June 23, 2020 after a series of bad news and frustrating announcements came out, reached to more than 650,000 people with an engagement of 80,000.
Mental Health articles
Sugbo.ph also takes pride of producing original and relevant mental health-related articles. Here are some must-read content:
GMEA 2020
The Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA), which is now in its 8th year, was created to recognize media practitioners and outfits as well as bloggers in Visayas and Mindanao who delivered stories that are dynamic, progressive, accurate and truthful.
GMEA is also seen as a way to honor them for upholding the essential ideals of journalism in whatever way or form in order to benefit future generations.
This year’s winners are:
Explanatory/Investigative Story of the Year for Digital
- VIsayas – (CEB) Dale Israel, Ador Vincent Mayol, Nestle Semilla, and Connie Fernandez-Brojan
“Cebu City cries out: ‘We need more docs, nurses’ (Part 1)/ Overworked Cebu nurses seek
aid as morale drops (Part 2)”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Ace June Rell Perez
“Infodemic amid pandemic”
Explanatory/Investigative Video Story of the Year for Digital
- Visayas – (BCD) Erwin Nicavera
“Emotional Monster”
- Mindanao – (CDO) Rhyndl Nephi-Z (Nef Luczon)
“Feature: Northern Mindanao Medical Center”
Breaking News of the Year for Digital
- Visayas – (CEB) Neil Jean Navarro and Laureen Mondoñedo – Ynot
“Chinese man with nCoV dies in Manila hospital”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Ace June Rell Perez
“Mati tourism reopens; health measures implemented”
Photo of the Year for Digital
- Visayas – (CEB) Aldo Banaynal
“Hotspot Zapatera”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Erwin Macariñas
“Children against an inferno”
Social Media Advocacy of the Year
- Visayas – (CEB) Ram Mancelita
“Sugbo.ph’s “Wala’y Biyaay (Walang Iwanan): Mental Health”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Ace June Rell Perez
“A convo series”
Blog of the Year Award
- Visayas – (BCD) Maria Sigrid Lo
“Resilient Pinay Moms + Other Stories of Hope”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Verna Liza Luga
Woman Elan Vital
News Report of the Year for Print
- Visayas – (BCD) Erwin Nicavera
“Barter group helps Negrense farmers cope with pandemic”
- Mindanao -(DVO) Ace June Rell Perez
“The protocol heals or kills”
Explanatory/Investigative Story or Documentary of the Year for Print
- Visayas – (CEB) Cherry Ann Lim
“Filipino children most appealing to global online sex predators (Part 1)/ Covid-19
lockdown creates ‘perfect storm’ for sexual abuse of children online (Part 2) ”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Ace June Rell Perez
“Teachers on the frontlines (Two-part series)”
News Report of the Year for Radio
- Visayas – (CEB) Rowena Capistrano
“Noah Complex namugna bunga sa gugma sa biktima sa covid-19.”
- Mindanao – (DVO) Rose Bernales
“Nihit nga blood supply nasinati karon pandemic”
Explanatory/Investigative Story or Documentary of the Year for Television
- Mindanao – (GSN) Jerry Dumdum, Jr.
“Tindog Mindanao”
Covid-19 Story of the Year
- Visayas – (ILO) Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
“How this mayor turned Iloilo into a model city with its “all action” approach to fight COVID-19”
- Mindanao – (CDO) Lina Sagaral Reyes
“Barangay Carmen prepares for game-changing Covid-19 survey/Oca compares antibody survey to basketball ‘offense’
Community Development Story of the Year
- Visayas – (BCD) Erwin Nicavera
“”Plant. Grow. Share.”
- Mindanao – (CDO) Angelo Lorenzo
“Private school develops Covid-19 tracker to help LGUs”
Newsmaker of the Year
- Visayas – (CEB) Maria Lourdes “Nini” Cabaero
SunStar Publishing, Inc.
- Mindanao – (CDO) Lina Sagaral Reyes
Freelance
Editor of the Year
- Visayas – (CEB) Michelle So
SunStar Publishing, Inc.
- Mindanao – (DVO) Reuel John Lumawag
“SunStar Davao”
For more information about the GMEA 2020, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/globe-media-excellence-awards
