Mayor Vico Sotto leads oath-taking of PRSP Board for 2026-2027

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) formally inducted its Board of Trustees for the 2026–2027 term before Vico Sotto, Mayor of Pasig City, in a ceremony held at the Temporary Pasig City Hall on March 9, 2026.

Vico Sotto (right), Mayor of Pasig City, swears in PRSP’s new Board of Trustees (from left): Andy Saracho, APR; Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR; Maria Luisa Paragas-Sebastian, APR; Steve Dailisan, MC; Steve Michael Moore Jr.; Engelbert Apostol; Emver Cortez; Agapito Del Rosario Zaldarriaga; Karla De Quiros; Edgar Timbungco, APR/CPME; Norman Agatep, APR; and Ana Ruby Pista, APR.

Mayor Sotto warmly welcomed the 2026–2027 PRSP board, comprising Ana Ruby Pista, APR, of Ardent Communications and AI Centre of Excellence (ACE) — President; Norman A. Agatep, APR, of Grupo Agatep — Vice President for Internal Affairs and Chair of the ANVIL Awards; Edgar U. Timbungco, APR/CPME, of Mang Inasal Philippines — Vice President for External Affairs and Chair of the PR Congress; Karla De Quiros of Full Circle Communications, Inc. — Corporate Secretary and Chair of Membership and General Membership Meetings; Agapito Del Rosario Zaldarriaga of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) — Treasurer and Chair of Ways and Means; Emver Cortez of the Philippine Information Agency (NCR) — Internal Auditor and Chair of Professional Development; Engelbert Apostol of the Quezon City Government — Chair of CSR; First Officer Steve F. Dailisan, MC, of AirAsia Philippines — Chair of Information and Marketing; and Steve Michael M. Moore Jr., MA, CMP, of De La Salle‑College of Saint Benilde — Chair of Student Caravan and Grand Prix.

Also joining them as advisers are Ma. Luisa “Louie” Paragas-Sebastian, APR, of Brown Bag Communication Phils., Inc. (Ex-Officio Trustee); Andy Saracho, APR, of Philippine Veterans Bank, and Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR, of the International Association of Business Communicators.

The event marked the beginning of a new term anchored on PRSP’s vision to “Steward the Story,” a directive for PR professionals to evolve from a reactive posture to one that actively shapes narratives around crises and misinformation. Central to this vision is the principle of stewarding the narrative through good governance. For the board, having Mayor Sotto administer the oath symbolized the values the organization seeks to uphold: transparency, accountability, and public trust.

A shared focus on media literacy

During the ceremony, discussions between Mayor Sotto and the PRSP board highlighted a shared priority: media literacy.

Both sides acknowledged the growing impact of misinformation, fake news, manipulative gambling advertisements, and disinformation driven by the misuse of artificial intelligence in today’s digital environment. Mayor Sotto noted that many people fall victim to misleading information that can seriously affect their livelihoods.

PRSP expressed its willingness to support initiatives that promote critical thinking and responsible media consumption, particularly among students and communities interested in communication and public relations.

Programs for the coming term

PRSP also outlined several initiatives for the 2026–2027 term, including:

Expanding the National PR Congress to reach more practitioners in the other regions, such as Cebu and Davao.
Continuing professional development programs for communication professionals.
Strengthening student engagement initiatives, including PR caravans and competitions.

Through these programs, PRSP aims to equip communicators and the public with the tools needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape while advancing ethical and responsible storytelling — ultimately living out its mandate to steward the story.