Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid, president emeritus and trustee of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) was conferred the 2007 THE OUTSTANDING FILIPINO (TOFIL) Awardee for Literature and Journalism during the formal ceremonies held recently at the Insular Life Auditorium.

Dr. Braid was cited for being a preeminent communication specialist, educator, media practitioner, scholar, and social advocate. The Awards body noted that the past years, “Dr. Braid has committed herself in imparting the importance of communication in diverse fields and endeavors related to priority work, such as in environment and sustainable development, education, literacy, judicial reform, children and women’s rights and media.”

This year’s jurors also said that Dr. Braid is recognized for her involvement with the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) which she co-founded with renowned Filipino journalists S.P. Lopez and Jose Luna Castro in 1980. “Braid has provided strategic vision and guidance to AIJC which is now one of the leading graduate schools specializing in communication studies.”

One of Dr. Braid’s notable achievements cited by the Awards sponsors - JCI Senate Philippines and The Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. was in being one of the pioneers of alternative learning system (distance education) in the Philippines, which she pursued throughout the years under the auspices of UNESCO and other international organizations.

Dr. Braid is not only recognized in the field of journalism and communication. She was also dubbed as “Ina ng Kilusang Kooperatiba.”  She co-founded the Cooperative Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. with the late senator Manuel Manahan. She also introduced the cooperatives provision in the 1987 Philippine constitution.

As a media practitioner, Dr. Braid traces her root at the Philippine Broadcasting System, where she produced pioneering public affairs programs. She’s the founding president of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, (where she introduced the concept of a cooperative newspaper), founding trustee and chair of Ang Pilipino Star Ngayon, and publisher and founder of The Filipino Entrepreneur magazine.  She also served as board director for the People’s Television Network. Today, she is a regular columnist of the Manila Bulletin. 

The Awardee has been with UNESCO for decades. She is currently chair of the Communication Committee of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines. She is a council member of the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication in Paris.

Other 2007 TOFIL awardees are Jose S. Concepcion, Jr., for Social Advocacy; Felipe F. Cruz, for General Construction; and Dr. Hernani G. Golez, for Agriculture.