CITY information office head Orpheus Velasco is the newly-elected president of the Pangasinan Tri-Media Association (PATRIMA). The election was held last Tuesday at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Pangasinan office.

Velasco, also executive editor of Bangus City Journal, will succeed Bernie Erasquin of Radyo ng Bayan as president by January next year.

Velasco said that as president of PATRIMA, he will set up programs that will establish the media as a highly respected profession in Pangasinan and create programs that will bring monetary rewards to “struggling journalists.”

“We will also set activities to further strengthen the bond among the PATRIMA officers and members and forge strong linkages with both the public and private firms,” Velasco pointed out.

Other elected officers are: Joseph Bacani (DZRH-Aksyon Radyo), vice president; Sunshine Robles (CIO), secretary; Buenafe Aquino (DWIN), treasurer; Violy Ferrer (DZRH-Aksyon Radyo), auditor; and Froilan Magtoto (Manila Times), business manager.

Lelia Sy (Northern Times), Jun Velasco (Sunday Punch), Atty. Remarque Ravanzo (Weekly Guardian), Minnie Caburnay (Weekly Guardian), Rey Abaya (DWPR), Susan Yadao (DZRH), Romy Umiping (DWRS), Liway Yparaguirre (Pangasinan Star/Manila Times) Zabala (Sky Cable) and Bernie Erasquin (Radyo ng Bayan) comprise the board of directors.

Convenors of PATRIMA, who function as policymakers of the association, include: Behn Fer Hortaleza, Jr. (PIA/Pangasinan Star) Lorna Abalos (Weekly Guardian), Orly Navarro (DZSD), Ging Cardinoza (DZRH), Rhee Fer Hortaleza (Weekly Guardian), Leu Paragas (Northern Mirror), Rudy Estrada (DZRH), Helen Bernardo (DZMQ), Audrey Hidalgo (DWPR), Ding Aquino (DWIN), Yolly Fuertes (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Cesar Ramirez (Philippine Star), Romel Partoza (Sky Cable), Danny Sagun (PIA) and Venus May Sarmiento (PIA).

Carmen Galaang Claveria of the Commission of Election (Comelec) supervised the PATRIMA election. (Sunshine D. Robles)