A “Built Different” Breakthrough: Asian Pearl Earns CMMA Recognition for Excellence in Community Media

JCI Manila’s Asian Pearl was honored as Best Local Community Publication at the 47th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) held on November 19 at the Citystate Tower Hotel, marking a landmark victory for the organization’s Brand Communications team and solidifying one of the signature legacies of this year’s “Built Different” thrust.

The ceremony, covered in a Saksi report by journalist Jamie Santos, honored Filipino media institutions and professionals who uphold integrity, truth, and social responsibility. Spearheaded by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, this year’s CMMA underscored the essential role of media in “sharing the truth and awakening society’s conscience.” 

The CMMA’s prestige is reflected in its roster of winners such as Atom Araullo, Chris Tiu, Connie Sison, Pia Arcangel, Boy Abunda, and Jessica Soho.

This win also crowns a historic awards streak for Asian Pearl, which has now become multi-awarded in under a year since its digital relaunch: first winning the Golden Titan Award, followed by the Temiong Award, and now securing the CMMA, its first-ever external national recognition.

BrandCom’s Leadership Under Migi Gabrino: A Digital Legacy That Redefined JCI Manila’s Voice

This milestone is widely seen as a direct result of the strengthened Brand Communications (BrandCom) Directorate under Director Juan Miguel “Migi” Gabrino, whose stewardship of the Brand Communications (BrandCom) Directorate strengthened JCI Manila’s digital presence, messaging discipline, and multimedia output. BrandCom’s integration with the editorial team was instrumental in building a consistent narrative for JCI Manila: professional, values-driven, and anchored on community relevance.

Under his direction, BrandCom rebuilt JCI Manila’s communication infrastructure, from social media systems and digital branding to stronger documentation, creative standards, and public visibility. A key element of this transformation was the relaunch of Asian Pearl as a modern, digital-first publication, now recognized nationally by CMMA.

Working closely with Editor-in-Chief Dan Michael Gallego, BrandCom helped shape Asian Pearl into a platform that goes beyond event coverage, producing stories grounded in civic impact, nation-building, and leadership development. This synergy between BrandCom and the editorial team revived JCI Manila’s institutional voice: professional, credible, and aligned with the organization’s purpose.

Their collective efforts laid down a legacy: a publication that both documents and defines what it means to be a modern young leader in JCI Manila.

Asian Pearl is now regarded as one of the flagship “Built Different” legacies of the 2025 Board, an initiative expected to continue making an impact within and outside JCI Manila in the years ahead.

A Night of Challenge and Conviction

In a powerful homily, Cardinal Advincula urged media practitioners to embrace a form of hope grounded in moral courage and conscience, not naïve optimism.

“Hope is not soft,” he warned.
“Truth-telling, moral resistance, and countercultural behavior could cost you your reputation, your safety—even your life.”

He emphasized that gentleness is not weakness, but a disciplined response amid disinformation and hostility.

The Archbishop lamented the erosion of Filipino values such as kapwa and bayanihan, urging communicators to choose budhi—conscience—over mere hiya.

“Makonsensiya naman kayo,” he said, calling on journalists to defend truth and call out deception.

Cardinal Advincula reminded journalists and creators that their mission goes beyond documenting events.

“We would be remiss in our mission if we were not ready to hold people accountable for their lies and trickeries,” he said.
“Our time calls for reckoning.”

He called media practitioners stewards of truth, entrusted with gifts meant to uplift society and protect dignity, congratulating the finalists and winners for shaping conscience and culture.

A Milestone That Signals a New Chapter

For JCI Manila, the CMMA win is both a recognition and a responsibility. It confirms the strength of the BrandCom framework established this year and validates the organization’s renewed commitment to purposeful, ethical, impact-driven storytelling.

More importantly, it cements digital Asian Pearl as a lasting institution: one that will continue shaping conversations, elevating civic stories, and defining JCI Manila’s relevance in society.

As Cardinal Advincula concluded:

“May you embody the hope that you report. May you guard the truth you disseminate. May you uphold the dignity of the people you serve.”

The work is only beginning, and the impact of this “Built Different” legacy will endure.