DLSU-D grabs first PRSP Grand Prix gold

DLSU-D’s Public Relations (PR) Team Elevate and Team Alpha Communications Inc., comprised of fourth year AB Communication students majoring in PR, placed first and third in the nationwide PR Plan Competition of the 2017-2018 Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) Students’ PR Congress and Grand Prix held at the University of Santo Tomas on January 20 and 21.

PR professor and DLSU-D teams’ mentor Marco Polo confirmed this year’s win is the first champion title by the University.

“It’s a feat that I hope we can sustain. We’ve (DLSU-D) never won this before, we’ve won in the other categories before, we’ve always placed in the top three at least, but never the champion—so this is a first,” Polo said.

Team Elevate landed in the champion spot with a score of 95.4 percent while Team Alpha Communications Inc. landed in third place with a score of 87 percent. Between the two patriot teams, Team AnimaUna of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila grabbed second place in the competition with a score of 87.8 percent.

 

PRSP Grand Prix PR Plan Champion Team Elevate poses on stage with mentor Marco Polo as they receive their awards. Photo contributed by Salve Dalmacio.

This year’s PRSP Grand Prix had the theme of “Youth vs. Climate Change” in which student participants in the competition were tasked to raise awareness of wood as a sustainable material that can combat climate change while using public relations techniques.

In line with this year’s Grand Prix theme, Team Elevate presented their PR campaign titled “KAHOY” which stands for “Kalikasan, Agham, Hanapbuhay, Obra Maestra, at Yaman.” As per one of the judges’ comments during the competition, the campaign offered “comprehensive ideas” such as sustainable forest management, wood-based architecture, and local wood entrepreneurship.

According to Team Elevate leader Nicole Bedaña, “We wanted to focus on various aspects … activities on how they [millennials] can help mitigate climate change in such a way that will benefit us environmentally, economically, at tsaka culturally.”

Together with Bedaña, Team Elevate is formed by members Marielle Cruz, Alexis Tecson, Bea Granada, Mariel Delos Santos, Camille Gallardo, and Ysabela Baria.

Meanwhile, Team Alpha Communications Inc. headed by Ron Angelo Pineda conceptualized a PR plan titled “Challenge Accepted: I Could, I Wood” comprised of activities such as a four-hill tree planting activity and wood mural making inviting the participation of the masses.

“The reason why we opted for this event kasi gusto naming mag-innovate ng mga bagay na existing na para ma-incorporate sa generation ngayon ng mga millennials. We aim to lessen one million pounds of CO2 in a year after our campaign,” Pineda said.

The team is comprised of members Kathryn Arienda, Eiunece Delos Reyes, Dana Bravante, Melissa Sta. Cruz, Jaselle Madelo, and Rain Gaspe.

More than accomplishing a PR campaign, Bedaña shared how she and her teammates share the same responsibility of helping the environment by raising awareness through public relations.

“I think it’s more on the advocacy din kasi lahat ng members ng group namin really felt a lot for [the] theme. Siyempre ang dami naming statistics na nakita…nakikita namin ‘yong effects ng climate change, so siguro if it [campaign] were to be implemented, magiging masaya din kami kasi in a way makakatulong kami sa pag lessen ng carbon footprint [at] climate change sa Philippines,” Bedaña furthered.

 

PRSP Grand Prix PR Plan third placer Team Alpha Communications Inc. gathers with mentor Marco Polo (left most), PRSP Students’ PR Congress Chairman Bernie Bagaman, APR (second to the left), and Communication and Journalism Chair Artin Umali (right most) as they receive their award. Photo contributed by Salve Dalmacio.

The two teams started formulating their PR Plan in September 2017 as a required subject output of AB Communication students under the PR course track. They were also given the freedom to challenge their PR plans by entering their campaign in the PRSP Grand Prix.

Following their win, Bedaña encouraged students to grab at the opportunity to enter competitions and join extra-curricular activities to equip themselves with experience outside the classroom. Meanwhile, Pineda advised not to let fear get in the students’ way in joining competition and to draw inspiration from the success of the school and its students.

Meanwhile, Polo shared his delight on the multiple wins of his students and commended them for their commitment in accomplishing their PR campaign despite working during the semestral break.

“We’re very proud, I’m very proud of my students for what they have accomplished, they’ve really committed a lot of time and energy and talent to work together despite the fact that we were on break,” Polo said.

The gold and bronze winning teams received P20,000 and P10,000 cash prizes, respectively, along with trophies and certificates.

PRSP Students’ PR Congress and Grand Prix is an annual and nationwide PR seminar-competition that was founded by DLSU-D professor Roel Ramirez. DLSU-D has been joining since its inception. It is also the first school out of Manila to qualify in the Grand Prix and the first school to have multiple entries in the competition.