The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) has, once again, proved that it will keep thriving as it returns to its not-so-new main office along the CCP complex while also embracing the 'new normal' in this pandemic.
In 2022, the company steadily took its time to bring back the pre-pandemic activities for its employees such as the basketball and bowling tournament. This leisure activity surely brought back memories as familiar and unfamiliar faces gather to showcase camaraderie and enjoy their time together while also adhering to the health and safety protocols.
It is best to say that MBC owned 2022 with the success of some of its activities and projects this year.
MSFF and AFDQ return
The return of the MBC Short Film Festival (MSFF) and Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen (AFDQ), both projects born during the height of the lockdown in 2020, were even bigger this year.
Daluyong, a short film about a passionate young fisherman who aspired to be a well-known rapper, bagged the Grand Prix Award during the awarding ceremony of the MBC Short Film Festival 2022 last August.
Directed by Ervie Jay Torzar, "Daluyong" was also named the Best Short Feature in the competition.
The Grand Prix winner took home a total of PHP 220,000 – PHP 20,000 for qualifying in the final screening, PHP 100,000 for winning in the category/genre, and another PHP 100,000 for winning among category winners.
Meanwhile, Marikit Manaois, a 25-year-old beauty from the mountains of Baguio City was crowned as the newest Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen back in November.
The stunner bested 11 candidates from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao throughout the four competition legs — the Pride of Place, Talents and Skills Competition, Queens for a Cause, Evening Gown Competition, and Q&A. Aside from the crown and sash, Marikit took home PHP 50,000, the same amount will also be given to her chosen charity, Helping Hands.
She will also be receiving an all-expense paid vacation to Boracay courtesy of Feliz Hotel Boracay. She will enjoy 4 days, 3 nights stay for two at Feliz Hotel Boracay with breakfasts, including roundtrip airfare and pocket money.
The newly-crowned digital queen also received special awards such as the Palmolive Naturals #GandangNatural and Miss Charm. She will be receiving PHP 10,000 each, respectively.
Star City and Aliw Theater reopens its doors
Three years after the fire, Star City and Aliw Theater opened its doors to the public.
In February, the popular amusement park reopened, offering 25 new rides to its visitors which include Star Frisbee, Seahorse Viking, Jungle Splash, among others.
As of writing, Star City operates from Monday to Friday starting December 19, 2022, until January 8, 2023. Visitors are still encouraged to follow the minimum health and safety protocols.
Meanwhile, the reopening of the Aliw Theater this year symbolized the rising of the phoenix.
The formal reopening of the theater last August was led by Ballet Manila's Artistic Director Lisa Macuja-Elizalde and her husband, Fred Elizalde, who had gifted the theater to the ballerina back in 2002, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the newly-named Elizalde Complex.
Back in 2019, the prima ballerina vowed that the complex will soon "rise like a phoenix" and indeed, the reopening of Aliw Theater — home to Macuja-Elizalde's Ballet Manila — was the fulfillment of this promise.
The new space has a seating capacity of 1,275, with space for the merchandise in the lobby. It is available for concerts, theatrical performances, and other live performances.
Brand new seats, a spacious and airy theater lobby, state-of-the-art lights and audio equipment, and a giant LED wall are some of the upgraded and updated features of the venue.
DZRH remains at the top
Manila Broadcasting Company’s (MBC) flagship radio station DZRH further proved its broadcast excellence in 2022.
Earlier in June, veteran broadcaster Deo Macalma was recognized as one of the Outstanding Journalists for 2022 of the RCM Journalism Awards.
Macalma, who hosts Damdaming Bayan — one of the most prized programs of DZRH, was cited by the club as an artist who "presents the truth wrapped with his wit to stimulate critical thinking and sound judgment."
During the recent 10th PMAP Makatao Awards for Media Excellence in December, the station brought home two awards.
The People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) has awarded DZRH Stories: Pinoy Documentaries hosted by Edniel Parrosa and Jecelle Ricafort the Best Radio Public Affairs Program.
Dr. Cesar Chavez, the host of Special on Saturday (SOS), was named the Best Radio Public Affairs Program Host.
In the same month, DZRH also emerged as the leading AM radio station in Metro Manila and Mega Manilla, according to the latest data from Kantar Media.
The results of Kantar’s radio survey for December 2022 showed that DZRH acquired the highest AM audience share of 48.32 percent among all AM radio stations in Metro Manila.
The station has also been named the leading AM radio station in the December survey conducted by Nielsen data.
