The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) has put Security Bank Corporation in the spotlight as it awarded the company the Platinum Anvil during the 61st ANVIL Awards “Gabi ng Parangal” on Tuesday night, underscoring its leadership in purpose-driven communication.
The lights dimmed, the bass thrummed through the floorboards, and for a few seconds, the collective breath of the country’s top communicators was held in anticipation. This was the “61st Second” — the moment where the noise stops and the legacy begins.
Held under the theme “The 61st Second: Pushing Past Possibilities,” the gala went beyond a trophy presentation, transforming the night into a high-energy celebration of stories that resonated and endured.
Often dubbed the “Oscars” of Philippine public relations, the PRSP‘s ANVIL Awards once again gathered the industry’s best and brightest to honor work that combined strategy, creativity, and purpose.
The evening formally opened with the symbolic Banging of the Anvil, led by broadcast journalist Jessica Soho. The resonant strike set the tone for the night, echoing the values shared by journalism and public relations alike — truth, credibility, and service.
Jessica Soho formally bangs the symbolic anvil, marking the opening of the Gabi ng Parangal
The ‘Best of the Best’
Among the night’s major winners, Security Bank Corporation stood out in the PR Tools category, earning the Platinum Anvil for its ability to transform complex corporate information into clear, accessible, and meaningful communication for the public.
PRSP’s Ana Pista, APR (left), Louie Sebastian (right) and Chief Justice Sereno (2nd from right) together with executives of Security Bank, which earned Platinum Anvil at 61st ANVIL Awards
Jollibee Group emerged as Company of the Year, while its collaboration with Stratworks secured the coveted Grand Anvil Award, the highest program distinction of the night.
On the agency front, BrandPlay was named Agency of the Year, recognized for its creative agility and strategic excellence.
Beyond the glitter
Jessica Soho (3rd from left) joins members of the PRSP Board of Trustees (from left:) Franz De La Fuente; Andy Saracho, APR; Maria Luisa Paragas-Sebastian, APR; Ana Ruby Pista, APR; Abigail L. Ho-Torres, APR; Steve Michael Moore; Mikey De Quiros, APR; and Norman Agatep, APR.
While the ballroom buzzed with applause and celebration, the evening also underscored the discipline behind award-winning work.
Ana Pista, APR, Chair of the 61st ANVIL Awards, reminded attendees that every trophy represents months — even years — of rigor and resolve.
“Behind every submission you see tonight is a process that demanded patience, discipline, and heart,” Pista said. “Tonight, we are not just celebrating campaigns or tools. We are celebrating an industry that refuses to stand still.”
This year’s awards saw participation from 78 institutions, up from about 50 the previous year, signaling the industry’s growing confidence in strategic communication as a force for impact and nation-building.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who served as one of the distinguished figures of the evening, echoed this sentiment, noting that awardees were selected not only for creativity, but for their contribution to the public good. She also emphasized the deeper role of communicators in today’s climate.
“When we were choosing the winners, we looked for the element of nation-building — what can give hope to Filipinos,” she said. “These can become models or templates for how corporations can relate to the rise of the country through transparency and honesty.”
All entries underwent a three-tiered judging process focused on strategic clarity and data-driven insights, with the entire process independently audited by SGV & Co., reinforcing the credibility of the awards.
Making every second count
As hosts Thale Joy Blanco Escuton, Franz de la Fuente, and Emver Cortez closed the program, the message lingered: in public relations, time is fleeting — but the stories that matter most are those that continue to resonate long after the moment has passed.
With the industry looking ahead to its 62nd year under incoming PRSP President Norman Agatep, the 61st ANVIL Awards ended on a clear note — Philippine PR is not just keeping pace with change; it is pushing past possibilities.
