In its first 20 years of existence as an independent, non-profit media agency, (1989-2009), the PCIJ has been blessed with a bountiful harvest of awards of merit and recognition—more than 150 awards for the investigative reports, books and multi-media productions and the exemplary work of its editors and writers.
In addition, the work of the PCIJ has been cited in dozens of books and publications produced by media, non-profit and development agencies.
I. Awards of Merit and Recognition for the investigative reports, books and multimedia productions of the PCIJ:
2011: PCIJ stories on governance win top honors at the National Statistics Month (NSM) Media Awards of the National Statistical Coordination Board. Executive Director Malou Mangahas won the Outstanding Award for Print and Broadcast for “her contribution in promoting and communicating reports on GMA News TV’s Investigative Documentaries and her various stories for PCIJ, “which enable statistics to reach out to a wider audience.” PCIJ Research Director Karol Anne M. Ilagan won the award for the Online Investigative Reporting.
2010: PCIJ Executive Director Malou Mangahas named “WikiPinoy of the Year” by WikiPilipinas, the online collaborative encyclopedia based in the Philippines, for her “very significant contribution to knowledge sharing in the Philippines by steadfastly advocating the passage of the Freedom of Information Act.” The WikiPilipinas editors said the award is usually given to people who have empowered the public by providing pen information and in-depth insights on the more significant issues affecting the country and its citizens.”
2010: PCIJ Multimedia Director Ed Lingao wins First Prize in the First Humanitarian Reporting Awards of the Committee of the International Red Cross in the Philippines, for his reports and documentaries on media killings and the Ampatuan political dynasty in Maguindanao.
2010: PCIJ Multimedia Director Ed Lingao named “Marshall McLuhan Awardee,” for his reports on “The Guns of Maguindanao” and his documentary, “The Maguindanao Massacre, Year One,” by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines.
2010 – The Breaking Borders Awards for outstanding web projects that “demonstrate courage, energy and resourcefulness in using the internet to promote freedom of expression,” from Google, Thomson Reuters and the Global Voices community of bloggers across the world, given in Santiago, Chile.
2010 – The Agence France-Presse’s Kate Webb Award “for exceptional journalism work in difficult or dangerous circumstances,” given in Manila, the Philippines.
2009 – AJA Award for Press Freedom from the Asia Journalists Association (AJA), an organization of journalists from over 20 countries throughout Asia, given in Seoul, South Korea.
2009 – One of Top 100 Philippine Blogs from the Daily Reviewer given to www.pcij.org/blog based on a vote of readers.
2009 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative and Explanatory Category) – given to PCIJ fellow Roel Landingin for the three-part series on official development assistance (ODA) published on February 11-14, 2008 in the Philippine Star, Malaya, ManilaTimes and Sun.Star Cebu
2008 (November 25) – Recognition from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Solita “Winnie” Monsod by the Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, the Screening Committee and the Board of Judges
2008 (November 25) – Best Feature from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to PCIJ fellow Isa Lorenzo for “A Feminine Challenge” published on i Report series, “All About Eba”
2008 (November 25) – Runner-up for Best Feature Category from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to PCIJ contributor Solita Monsod for “Tracking the Women’s Journey” published on i Report series, “All About Eba”
2008 (November 25) – Runner-up for Best Investigative Category from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Alecks Pabico for his two-part series on the politics and the contentious issues that delayed the passage of the cheaper medicines law
2008 (November 25) – Runner-up for Best Investigative Category from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Jaileen Jimeno and Karol Ilagan for their three-part series on how the administration is falling behind key indicators for education
2008 (November 25) – Runner-up for Best News Reportage Category from the 4th Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Jaileen Jimeno for the blog “Low investment in education consigns millions to illiteracy;” “Arroyo urged to adopt coherent national population policy;” and “RP failing in ‘gut-level’ MDG indicators-ADB.”
2008 (November 14) – Top Prize (Governance Category) from the Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) – given to Alecks P. Pabico for “People Power Thrives in Naga City” published on April 29, 2007, part of the PCIJ’s i Report series on local “faces of change”
2008 (November 14) – Runner-up (Infrastructure Category) from the Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) – given to PCIJ fellow Roel Landingin for “Bids Sans Caps, Tied Loans Favor Foreign Contractors” published on February 12, 2008, second in a three-part series on official development assistance to the Philippines
2008 (November 5) – Web Award Winner from the Digital Filipino (Podcast Category)– given to PCIJ for its excellence to successfully harness the Internet for business development and e-commerce
2008 (April 9) – Finalist from the Philippine Development Innovation Marketplace (Panibagong Paraan-Project Grant Competition) – given to the PCIJ for the “Suriin ang Kahirapan: A Community Audit of Poverty in the Philippines”
2007 – 1st Prize from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)- Australian Press Awards – given to Vinia Datinguinoo-Mukherjee for “Muslim Classes Come Alive” published on i Report series on Literature and Literacy in June 2007
2007 – Finalist from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)- Australian Press Awards – given to Alecks P. Pabico for “Waste Not, Want Not”
2007 – Finalist from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)- Australian Press Awards – given to Isa Lorenzo for “A Feminine Challenge”
2007 – Finalist from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)- Australian Press Awards – given to PCIJ fellow Prime Sarmiento for “What’s Swimming in your Soup?”
2007 – Finalist from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)- Australian Press Awards – given to PCIJ fellow Rorie Fajardo for “Still Strangers in their Own Land”
2007 (November 27) – Recognition from the 3rd Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Lala Ordenes-Cascolan for “A Mother’s Breastfeeding Story”, an online investigative reporting from October 1, 2006- August 15, 2007 by the Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, Population and Development Strategies Cluster-UNFPA 6th Country Programme, Screening Committees and the Board of Judges for the Print and Online Categories
2007 (November 27) – Recognition from the 3rd Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Maitet Diokno-Pascual and Clarence Pascual for “Walking on a Knife’s Edge”, an online opinion writing from October 1, 2006- August 15, 2007 by the Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, Population and Development Strategies Cluster-UNFPA 6th Country Programme, Screening Committees and the Board of Judges for the Print and Online Categories
2007 (November 27) – Citation from the 3rd Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Jose Enrique Soriano for “Indisputable Hunger”, best photo, for making a significant difference in the amount and accuracy of public knowledge of population and human development issues affecting the lives of Filipinos from October 1, 2006- August 15, 2007 by the Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, Population and Development Strategies Cluster-UNFPA 6th Country Programme, Screening Committees and the Board of Judges for the Photojournalism Special Category
2007 (November 27) – Recognition from the 3rd Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Alecks Pabico for “The Philippines, Now a ‘Second World’ Country?” for his invaluable role in raising public awareness on population and human development issues affecting the lives of Filipinos through online opinion writing from October 1, 2006- August 15, 2007 by the Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, Population and Development Strategies Cluster-UNFPA 6th Country Programme, Screening Committees and the Board of Judges for the Print and Online Categories
2007 (November 15) – Finalist for the Best Book of Journalism from the 27th National Book Awards – given to PCIJ for the book “The Rulemakers: How the Wealthy and the Well-Born Dominate Congress – presented by the National Book Development Board and Manila Critics Circle
2007 – Best Blog from the Philippine Blog Awards (News Media Category) – given to PCIJ
2006 (December 12) – Citation from the 2nd Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Vinia Datinguinoo for her online news reportage from October 1, 2005- September 30, 2006 by the Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., United Nations Population Fund, Population and Development Strategies Cluster-UNFPA 6th Country Programme, Screening Committees for NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and the Board of Judges
2006 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Vinia Mukherjee for “Preparing for Disaster” published in i Report on March-June, 2006
2006 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Vinia Mukherjee for “Preparing for Disaster” published in The Philippine Star, Business Mirror, Malaya, Manila Standard Today, and Sun Star Cebu in August 14-15, 2006
2006 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Alecks Pabico for “New Rx Needed for Generics Movement” published in Malaya on September 28-29, 2006
2006 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Vinia Mukherjee for “Tempest in a (Feeding) Bottle”
2006 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Tess Bacalla for “Boys Town Wards Cry of Sexual Physical Abuse” published in The Philippine Star, The Manila Times, Malaya and Sun Star Cebu on June 12-13, 2006
2006 (April 19) – Top Prize (Women and Development Category) from the Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) – given to Tess Bacalla for “One Year after Quezon Disaster, Women are Leading their Families toward Recovery” published in major newspapers on November 14, 2005
2006 (April 19) – 1st Runner-up (Poverty Issues Category) from the Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) – given to Chit Estella for “Substandard Nursing Schools Sell Dreams of a Life Abroad” published in major newspapers on March 21, 2005
2005 – Best in Online Opinion Writing from the Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Alecks Pabico for his blog post on the living conditions of thousands of resettled families at the Southville Housing Project
2005 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Vinia M. Datinguinoo for “Mama can’t eat” published in i Report on January- March, 2005
2005 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Luz Rimban for “Running on taxpayer’s money”
2005 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Cheryl Chan for “Perils of Generation Sex”
2005 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Luz Rimban for “Major players elude government’s anti-logging drive in Aurora”
2005 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Avigail M. Olarte for “So young and so trapo”
2005 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Avigail M. Olarte for “Trained to care”
2005 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Alan Robles for “Mutants on your plate”
2005 – Best Investigative Report from the Annual PopDev Media Awards – given to Jaileen Jimeno for her two-part series on public access to modern family planning methods
2004 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Yvone T. Chua, with additional reporting by Avigail Olarte and Booma Cruz for “Fat salaries, big allowances and other perks of lawmaking” and “An expensive – and unaccountable – legislature
2004 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Chay Florentino-Hofileña and Aries Rufo for “The showbiz press gets into politics”
2004 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “Much ado about numbers”
2004 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Yvonne T. Chua and Booma B. Cruz for “Pork is a political, not a developmental, tool,”
2004 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Luz Rimban for “In Tarlac, CARP gives land to the wealthy” published in Business World, Cebu Daily News, Malaya and Mindanao Daily Mirror on July 5-6, 2004 by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the Ateneo de Manila University
2004 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Cecile C.A. Balgos for “Half-truths in advertising” published in i Magazine on January- June 2004
2004 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Ibarra C. Mateo for “Spinning the news”
2004 (May 7) – Appreciation from the Rock the Vote ’04 (Edukasyon sa Halalan para sa Kinabukasan) – given to PCIJ by Grassroot Project for Development
2004 (January 9) – Finalist from the Philippine Development Innovation Marketplace (Panibagong Paraan-Project Grant Competition) – given to the PCIJ for the “Empowering Citizens through the One-stop Information Site on Philippine Politics and Government”
2004 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “Much ado about numbers”
2003 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Tess Bacalla for “BIR officials amass unexplained wealth”
2003 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to the PCIJ Team for “Who was responsible for the IMPSA deal?”
2003 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Explanatory Category) – given to Jose Torres Jr. for “The Making of the Mindanao Mafia”
2003 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “Corruption still goes on at DepEd filed offices”
2003 (August 30) – 2002 National Book Award – given to PCIJ for the book “Investigating Corruption” edited by Sheila S. Coronel and Lorna Kalaw-Tirol by the Manila Critics Circle, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Book Development Board
2003 (February 8) – Public Service Award from the Bantay Katarungan – given to PCIJ for its fearless in-depth reportage on the Narvasa Court, for its documented reports on the former President Joseph Estrada, his wealth, his mistresses and his cronies, for its impartial, no-nonsense investigative reporting on the GMA Administration, shortly after it came to power, and for its remarkable initiative and exceptional courage in performing its task under three different administrations, admirable sense of fairness and unimpeachable integrity, and for its respect for the facts and the available evidence
2003 – Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts – given to Sheila S. Coronel
2002 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Luz Rimban and Sheila Samonte-Pesayco for “Trail of power mess leads to Ramos”
2002 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Malou C. Mangahas for “The Estrada plunder case, Year 1: Trial of the century’s may take ages to finish”
2002 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Marites Sison for “Garbage problem rooted in money and politics”
2002 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Luz Rimban for “A dangerous place to be a journalist”
2001 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila Samonte-Pesayco for “GSIS insurance monopoly: ‘A never-ending scam’
2001 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards (Investigative Category) – given to Luz Rimban and Mike F. Leonen for “In haste in government approval of IMPSA power project deal” published in Business World, TODAY, The Freeman on April 1-3, 2001 and Cebu Daily News on March 31- April 2, 2001
2001 (September 8) – 2000 National Book Award for Journalism – given to PCIJ for the book “Betrayal of the Public Trust: Investigative Reports on Corruption” edited by Sheila S. Coronel – presented by the Manila Critics Circle and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
2001 (August 27) – The Chino Roces Freedom Award of the year – given to PCIJ for seeking and revealing the truth, with outstanding courage and professional competence, so the people may know
2001 (July 25) – Public Service Award for Pioneering and Exemplary Public Service – given to PCIJ by the Ateneo de Manila University
2001 (March 1) – Recognition from the House of Representatives (Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights, Office of the Speaker and AKBAYAN – given to PCIJ for their unwavering commitment to true, fair and fearless reporting: for the risks they took and sacrifices endured and for their immeasurable contribution to the phenomenon that was People Power II
2000 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua, Sheila S. Coronel and Vinia M. Datinguinoo for “Can Estrada Explain his Wealth?” (published in Business World, Philippine Post, Pinoy Times, Sun Star Manila, Cebu Daily News, Sun Star Cebu, Freeman, Today, and Philippine Collegian on July 25-26, 2000), Ma, Lourdes Mangahas and Luz Rimban for “First Family’s Firm Flouts the Law” (published in Business World, Pinoy Times, Philippine Star and Philippine Collegian on August 21, 2000), and Sheila Coronel for “Erap and Families” (published in i Magazine on September 2000)
2000 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Marites Dañguilan-Vitug and Glenda Gloria for “Cronies scramble to get Clark casino for Estrada”
2000 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Prime Sarmiento for “Corruption and waste weigh down agriculture”
2000 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Luz Rimban and Mike Leonen for “Baguio forest cut down to build ‘Cronyville’”
2000 (December 12) – One of the Top 10 Newsmakers of the Year from the Bulong-Pulungan
2000 (September 9) – 1999 National Book Award – given to PCIJ for the book “From Loren to Marimar: The Philippine Media in the 1990s” edited by Sheila S. Coronel by the Manila Critics Circle and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
1999 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “Up to 65% of textbook funds goes to bribes”
1999 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Chay Florentino- Hofileña and Ian Sayson for “Centennial Expo: convenient cover for election fundraising”
1999 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Into the Light” published in i Magazine on January-March 1999
1999 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Marites Sison for “In a bind, many single mothers leave their kids in orphanages”
1999 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Jaileen Jimeno for “Government women’s budget goes to frivolous projects”
1999 – Award for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “Robbed: An Investigation of Corruption in Philippine Education”
1999 – Award for Media from the National Book Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel (editor) for “From Loren to Marimar: The Philippine Media in the 1990s”
1999 – Finalist for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Cecile C. A. Balgos (editor) for “Her Stories: Investigative Reports on Filipino Women in the 1990s”
1999 – Finalist for Documentation from the National Book Awards – given to Cecile C. A. Balgos (editor) for “News in Distress: The Southeast Asian Media in a Time of Crisis”
1999 – Finalist from Louie R. Prieto Journalism Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “As much as 65% of Textbook Funds Goes to Bribes”
1998 (June 18) – Centennial Year Journalism Award from the RCM Marcelo H. del Pilar – given to Sheila S. Coronel and Ellen Tordesillas for their exposition of the purchase by the Amari Corporation of reclaimed land from the Philippine Estates Authority (PEA)
1998 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel and Ellen Tordesillas for “The Grandmother of all scams”
1998 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua for “DECS plagued by ‘ghost’ deliveries”
1998 – Award for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel (editor) for “Pork and other Perks: Corruption and Governance in the Philippines”
1998 – 3rd Prize from Louie R. Prieto Journalism Awards – given to Alecks P. Pabico for “Law on tribal rights reaches a dead end”
1998 – National Book Award for Journalism from the Manila Critics Circle – given to PCIJ
1998 – Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Fellowship for Media – awarded to Sheila S. Coronel
1997 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Justice to the highest bidder”
1997 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Claire Tielens for “God’s own assembly line”
1997 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Rachel Khan for “Comelec: Weighed but found wanting”
1997 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Colleen Chien for “Energy policy keeps 17 million Filipinos in the dark”
1997 – Finalist for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Yvonne T. Chua (editor) for “Uncovering the Beat: The Real-World Guide to Reporting on Government”
1997 – Finalist for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Danilo Arao, Yvonne T. Chua and Alecks P. Pabico for “The Electronic Trail: A Guide to Computer-Assisted Research and Reporting in the Philippines”
1997 – Finalist for Biography from the National Book Awards – given to Maria Rosa Henson for “Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny”
1996 – Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Fellowhip for Media – awarded to Howie G. Severino
1996 (October) – Finalist from Louie R. Prieto Journalism Awards – given to Howie G. Severino for “Nasugbu farmers lose out to tourism”
1996 (July 9) – 1st Runner-up for Excellence in Writing on Women and AIDS – given to Cecile C.A. Balgos by the AIDSCAP Women’s Initiative of Family Health International and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
1996 – National Book Award for Journalism from the Manila Critics Circle – given to PCIJ
1996 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Chay Florentino-Hofileña for “Profits from disaster”
1996 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Squeeze Play on the North Luzon Expressway”
1996 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Asian ‘tigers’ feast on sharks”
1996 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Gemma Luz Corotan for “Corruption charges hound Ramiro”
1996 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Marites Dañguilan-Vitug and Eric Gutierrez for “Misuari faces big headaches”
1996 – Award for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel (editor) for “Patrimony: Six Case Studies on Environment and Local Politics in the Philippines”
1996 – 2nd Place for Best Documentary from the Cultural Center of the Philippines – given to PCIJ for “No Time for Play”
1996 – Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Fellowhip for Media – awarded to Howie G. Severino
1995 – Award for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Jose F. Lacaba for “Boss: Five Case Studies of Local Politics in the Philippines”
1995 – Finalist for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Cecille C. A. Balgos for “The Child with a Fish for a Twin (Or how not to write about children)”
1995 – Award for Photojournalism from the National Book Awards – given to Alex Baluyut and Gemma Luz Corotan for “Brother Hood”
1995 – Finalist for Environment from the National Book Awards – given to Howie G. Severino (editor) for “The Green Guide: A Sourcebook on the Philippine Environment”
1995 – National Book Award for Journalism from the Manila Critics Circle – given to PCIJ
1995 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to PCIJ with the Institute for Popular Democracy for “Jueteng thrives in the Ramos heartland”
1995 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Gemma Luz Corotan for “The meteoric rise of Hilarion Ramiro”
1995 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Gemma Luz Corotan for “The NFA: Tailor-made for corruption”
1995 (August 24) – 1st Place from the Asian American Journalists Association National Awards (Photography – Unlimited Subject Matter) – given to Rick Rocamora for “Caged” Manila’s Invisible Children”
1995 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Howie G. Severino for “Widespread fraud mars DENR flagship program”
1994 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Howie G. Severino for “Chemical Giant Evades Ban on Deadly Products”
1994 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Stella Tirol-Cadiz for “Tan Yu’s projects: Grand plans but little achievement”
1994 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Earl and Disraeli Parreño for “Hostages of war”
1994 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to J. R. Alibutud for “Filipino war veterans: American dream ends in nightmare”
1994 (December 7) – Honorable Mention from the Annual Science and Technology Journalism Awards – given to Sheila Coronel by the Philippine Press Institute and the Philippine Geothermal, Inc.
1993 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Eric Gutierrez for “House of Representatives’ business interests: Congressmen violate conflict-of-interest rule”
1993 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Eileen Mangubat and Marites Sison-Paez for “Hooked on Nubain: Indictable pain-killer lures Cebu addicts”
1993 – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Yasmin Arquiza for “The Green Evolution: The environmental movement at the crossroads”
1993 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Stella Tirol-Cadiz for “Millions at stake in lotto war”
1993 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Stella Tirol-Cadiz for “Judiciary on trial: Unethical practices of justices”
1993 – Award for Journalism from the National Book Awards – given to Marites Dañguilan-Vitug for “Power from the Forest: The Politics of Logging”
1992 – Recognition from the Earth Savers Movement – given to PCIJ for the Development and Rehabilitation of the Environment through Arts, Media and Science in consonance with the 1992 UN Earth Summit Goals by DREAMS Honor Roll Earth Day
1992 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel, Malou C. Mangahas, Howie G. Severino, Eric Gamalinda, Stella Tirol, Lan Mercado and Cecille C. A. Balgos for “Hard times: The challenge to President Ramos”
1992 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “The making of the President: 1992”
1992 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Stella Tirol-Cadiz for “De Venecia’s debt trail”
1992 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Wounded earth: T’bolis fight for their ancestral land”
1992 (March 14) – Best Book from the Catholic Press Awards – given to PCIJ for “Kudeta: The Challenge to Philippine Democracy”
1992– Award for Anthology from the National Book Awards – given to PCIJ for “Saving the Earth: The Philippine Experience”
1991 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Marites Sison-Paez for “Like a rolling stone: Manila’s homeless”
1991 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Carolyn O. Arguillas for “Money for nothing: Kidnappings are big business”
1991 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Editha Erecre Eco for “Married to the M.O.B. (Mail-Order Bride)”
1991 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Howie G. Severino for “Marijuana: Principal crop in roadless Ifugao town”
1991 (August 30) – Press Freedom Award from the Annual (Philippine Movement for Press Freedom) PMPF Awards – given to PCIJ
1991 (June 27) – Likas Yaman Award from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – given to PCIJ
1991 (March 21) – Recognition from the Communicators’ League for Environmental Action and Restoration (CLEAR) – given to PCIJ
1990 – 1st Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Constantino Tejero for “Censorship in Philippine movies and television”
1990 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Cecile C. A. Balgos for “Chaos in the courts”
1990 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Red Batario and Girlie Alvarez for “One million have fled their homes to escape fighting”
1990 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Malou C. Mangahas for “The traffic in human organs”
1990– Award for Anthology from the National Book Awards – given to PCIJ for “Kudeta: the Challenge to Philippine Democracy”
1990– Best Book Award from the Catholic Mass Media – given to PCIJ for “Kudeta: the Challenge to Philippine Democracy”
1989 – (October 3) – 3rd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Agrarian Reform” published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer from April 24-26, 1989 by the Institute of Business and Government
1989 – 2nd Prize from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Ceres P. Doyo for “The AIDS threat”
1989 – Finalist from the Jaime V. Ongpin Awards – given to Sheila S. Coronel for “Right- wing evangelicals”
II. Citations for the PCIJ from Media and Development Agencies:
2009 – From the statement of the Makati Business Club on the PCIJ’s three-part investigative report, “Can President Arroyo Explain Her Wealth?” – August 12, 2009
“We wish to commend the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism for a job well done on its three-part series on President Arroyo’s still-to-be-explained wealth. The press serves a watchdog function and, disagreeable as it may be to those who have suffered its nasty bite, we must allow the press to perform this function, without coercion or threats.
“It now behoves the President to personally respond to the issues raised by the PCIJ article. It is unfortunate that instead of clarifying matters, the President has opted to call in her legal advisers who have tried to attack the message as well as the messenger rather than respond in any meaningful and germane manner.
“In particular, the business community would be particularly interested in the remarkable growth of Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth during her incumbency as a government employee from 1992 to 2008, when her personal wealth increased from P6.73 million to P143.54 million, according to the PCIJ account. That equates to a compounded growth of 21.1% per annum, wherein her net worth doubled every 3.4 years. Her stock portfolio, meanwhile, grew by 41% per annum from P55 million in 2006 to P110 million in 2008, at a time when the Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 21%.
“Held against the light of economic reality and the First Couple’s declared assets and income sources, the impressive growth of Mrs. Arroyo’s wealth is difficult to fathom. Through her lawyer, the President has stated that she stands by the “truth and veracity” of her SALN, but it is difficult to accept her statement at face value if all that she has to substantiate her claim is the paltry information provided in the document and her spokespersons’ explanations that only lead to more unanswered questions.
“Like Caesar’s wife, the President must be above suspicion. As the highest public servant in our country and in the interest of good governance, Mrs. Arroyo must set an example by making a full and transparent accounting of her and her family’s wealth. She owes the Filipino people an explanation.”
2008 – From the Inaugural Report of Center for International Media Assistance – “Empowering Independent Media, U.S. Efforts to Foster Free and Independent News Around the World”
“The Manila-based Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has broken hundreds of stories in print, radio, TV, and online documenting official corruption as it trains a generation of investigative journalists in the region. In 2000, a PCIJ team revealed how then-President Joseph Estrada had amassed luxury homes, lavished money on mistresses, and acquired secret stakes in a dozen companies. The series goaded the Philippine media into action, helped form key charges in an impeachment trial, and ultimately led to Estrada’s downfall.”
2008 – From the Inaugural Report of Center for International Media Assistance – CIMA Research Report: Global Investigative Journalism: Strategies for Support – “Empowering Independent Media, U.S. Efforts to Foster Free and Independent News Around the World”
…in Manila, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has produced hundreds of stories, eight documentaries, and two dozen books documenting official corruption and corporate abuse, while helping train a generation of investigative journalists across Southeast Asia. The development of investigative journalism overseas owes much to a growing network of non-profit centers like the PCIJ, according to veteran trainers and reporters active in the field.”
2008 (June 15) – From “Muckracking and attack dogs” by Benjamin G. Defensor, The Manila Times
…The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), which has become a unique and major journalism institution. At first it was considered a “wire agency” for investigative stories. The PCIJ was a challenge to some editors who saw that major journalistic projects, usually those that require a series of in-depth articles, should be one of the tasks of a newspaper. Having to share “agency” stories was just unimaginable at a time when exclusives and scoops still reigned as the hallmarks of a top newspaper.
But when PCIJ articles used by client publications won major prizes in the J.V.Ongpin Investigative Journalism Awards, editors and publishers took notice. And instead of looking at PCIJ as a competitor, accepted it as an ally. For the publication shares in the glory won by a PCIJ report.”
2007 (December 5) – from the Global Investigative Journalism: Strategies for Support – A Report to the Center for International Media Assistance
The PCIJ… is widely credited with successfully spreading the practice of investigative reporting within the Philippines — and with helping introduce it across the rest of Asia. Yet, despite the PCIJ’s high profile and success, it has relied heavily on grants to subsidize its training — and most of those funds have been raised, quite deliberately, from overseas.
2007 (December 5) – From the Global Investigative Journalism: Strategies for Support – A Report to the Center for International Media Assistance – “A Model for Muckracking: The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism”
Few non-profit groups win the kind of accolades showered on the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. “The people who impressed me the most were the PCIJ,” says Roderick Macdonell, who ran the World Bank’s investigative reporting program for five years. “They were doing just incredibly courageous work, and under threat at times,” adds Suzanne Siskel, who ran the Ford Foundation office in Manila during the late 1990s. “They always kept their integrity; they always were doing very innovative work.”
Founded in 1989 with a few hundred dollars and a single typewriter, the PCIJ has grown into the gold standard for investigative reporting in Asia. The Center is best known for its series on the hidden wealth of President Joseph Estrada, which forced his resignation, but the PCIJ’s impact goes far beyond that scandal. Its reporters have broken hundreds of stories in print, radio, TV, and online, produced eight documentaries, and written two dozen books, meticulously documenting official corruption and corporate abuse. Its trainers have almost single-handedly educated a generation of investigative journalism in the Philippines and spread their know-how across Asia. The Center’s alumni, moreover, are now ensconced at major TV stations, newspapers, online sites, and universities.
2006 (Spring) – From “The Growing Importance of Non-profit Journalism” by Charles Lewis, Shorenstein Fellow
The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is widely acknowledged today as the premier investigative reporting institution in Asia, literally introducing investigative journalism to the Philippines and other countries in the region. Not only have its high impact, multimedia investigative reports served as a public example, the organization also has separately held seminars and published training manuals teaching national and international journalists about techniques for investigating political corruption, how to access information laws and other exigencies in the entire Asia-Pacific region. PCIJ trainers have also worked with local journalists on-the-ground in Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, China and Thailand, and, in fact, a similar organization patterned directly after PCIJ was created in 1997, the Nepal Center for Investigative Journalism (known on the ground in Nepal as “KPK”). The Philippine Center’s success also has inspired journalists in other countries – Bangladesh and Indonesia, for example – who have been fascinated and flirtatious entrepreneurially about creating a similar organization.
2005 (September 22) – From “See it, hear it” by Max T. Limpag, Sun Star Cebu
The infamous “Hello, Garci” recordings, for example, were first made available online by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) blog. PCIJ was also the first to break the story on the existence of the three-hour recording of conversations between President Arroyo, among others, and a senior election official, online manager Alecks Pabico said in the Philippine Journalism Reports July issue. With the demand for the recordings straining PCIJ’s US-based web server, other bloggers offered help by putting up alternate locations to download the file and setting up a way for it to be shared, using the more efficient peer-to-peer network. The blog has come a long way from its inception as a personal online journal.
2000 (December 9) – from an interview with Doreen Fernandez with San Francisco Chronicle, Department of Communication, Ateneo de Manila University
The PCIJ “is the foundation stone of the Philippine media… It’s brave, and it’s necessary. They went ahead of the other media.”
1998 (Fall) – From the Nieman Notes compiled by Lois Fiore – “Muckraking in Philippines” by Rigoberto Tiglao, Nieman Fellow and Co-Founder of PCIJ
“I read nearly every book on the topicthere were not too many of them at Widener Library interviewed directors of investigative journalism and wrote a research study explaining ho a center could be set up in the Philippines. About a year after I got back, a group of us sharing the same concerns decided to do something about it. We rewrote my research paper into a project proposal and got the Asia Foundation to fund what we called the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
“That was nine years ago. After its first years, when it seemed to be ready to fold up for lack of funding and newspaper publishers’ unwillingness to support it, the PCIJ has become a respected journalism institution in the country. It does far more than trade tips on reporting techniques. It publishes reports that have won media awards in the country year after year. Dial its trunk line now, and you’ll be asked what section of it you want to reach: women’s desk, environment, publishing, training and editorial. It even has its own quarterly magazine, “I” (as in investigative), a combination perhaps of the 1970’s Ramparts or Rolling Stone (when that magazine was still a serious one), and Nieman Reports.”