For the second time in three years, The Philippine STAR has been named 'Business News Source of the Year' at the 34th EJAP Business Journalism Awards. Three of its reporters won individual awards, securing the outlet's recapture of the honor. The ceremony took place last Friday at the New World Makati Hotel.
The Philippine STAR recaptured the 'Business News Source of the Year' award after three of its reporters triumphed at the 34th Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Business Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Ayala Group. This marks the outlet's second win in three years, following their near-sweep in 2023.
Louella Desiderio won Trade Reporter of the Year, her fourth victory in five years. Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas secured Agriculture-Mining Reporter of the Year, also his fourth time. Gerard de la Peña's long-form piece 'Airport solution tests resilience of Bulacan residents' took Best Feature Story of the Year; it was published in The STAR on November 3, 2024, and highlighted stories of residents impacted by the new Bulacan airport.
Iris Gonzales leads The STAR's business section alongside editors Conrado Diaz Jr., Rica Delfinado, Lawrence Agcaoili, and editorial assistant Elaine Briones. The event coincided with EJAP's 40th anniversary.
Other winners included BusinessWorld (Luisa Jocson in banking, Beatriz Cruz in finance); BusinessMirror (Lorenz Marasigan in Telco-Transport, Lenie Lectura in Energy); Meg Adonis of Philippine Daily Inquirer in Capital Markets; and Darwin Amojelar of Manila Standard in Macroeconomy.
The board of judges was chaired by former finance undersecretary Milwida Guevara, CEO of Synergeia Foundation, with members including SEARCA director Mercedita Sombilla, UP professor Sarah Lynne Daway-Ducanes, and others. Myla Iglesias of Malaya Business Insight serves as EJAP's current president.