Veteran PDI journalist Ubac named PCO usec

Michael Ubac (second from the right) —PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

President Marcos recently named an additional set of officers under the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), among them Michael Lim Ubac, a former Inquirer reporter turned editor and columnist, who will serve as undersecretary for integrated presidential messaging.

Ubac took his oath of office on April 4 along with Analisa “Ana” Puod, PCO senior undersecretary for operations and strategic communications; Erelson “Erel’’ Cabatbat, PCO assistant secretary for integrated presidential messaging; Aristotle Valera, PCO assistant secretary; and Rey Angelo Ramirez, director III.

Last weekend, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos posted photos of her meeting with officials of the Department of Migrant Workers, which included PCO Secretary Jay Ruiz, himself a former reporter at ABS-CBN, and Ubac.

Ubac, Puod, and Cabatbat are the latest batch of media practitioners to join the Palace communication arm.

Other ex-journalists now reporting to the PCO are Jose Maria “Joey” Villarama II (assistant secretary for television and radio), Dale de Vera (assistant secretary for media accreditation and relations), Rowena “Weng Hidalgo” Otida (assistant secretary for cultural affairs and international engagements), Sheryll Anne “Sheryll Mundo” Lizarondo (director III for print media communications office).

Maria Waywaya “Aya” Macalma (director III for television communications office), Florante Solmerin (director III for national security concerns), Alexius “Alex” Calda (director III for radio), Robertzon Ramirez (director I), and Fernando “Dindo Amparo” Sanga (director IV of the Philippine Broadcasting Service’s Bureau of Broadcast Services).

Main task

In a message to the Inquirer, Ubac looked back on his work as an Inquirer journalist, describing it as a “front-row seat to observe national politics” and to “chronicle history as it unfolds before your very eyes.”

As PCO undersecretary for integrated presidential messaging, Ubac said his main task is to create a unified messaging for the Palace through the PCO and communicate the actions and programs of various government agencies in the executive branch.

He will also oversee the Presidential News Desk and its reporting on the President’s daily activities, programs, and policies, with emphasis on positive news to “better inform our citizens and overcome the harmful effects of fake news.”

Ubac started as an Inquirer reporter in 1997 and became daydesk chief in 2013. He held this position until 2019 when he left the Inquirer to pursue graduate studies and his environmental advocacy.

He covered various beats, including covered civil society, courts, police, local governments, law enforcement agencies and courts, Congress, and Malacañang during the Estrada, Arroyo and Aquino III administrations.

An Inquirer scholar, Ubac earned his journalism degree at the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication, graduating cum laude. He later joined the paper after graduation.

He finished his master’s degree in international relations from Harvard University in 2016 and a master’s in global leadership from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he graduated summa cum laude. He also bagged the leadership award in 2022.

Recognition

His work as an Inquirer reporter has been recognized by various bodies, including the Society of Publishers in Asia Awards and the Office of the Ombudsman.

In 2024, he rejoined the Inquirer as an editorial and video content consultant. He also writes the “Moving Into High Gear” column for the Inquirer’s Opinion section.

Last year, Ubac accepted the offer of Trinity International University in Illinois to be a program scholar fellow for Ph.D. in educational studies, the second highest scholarship offered by the university. He is the first Filipino to receive this scholarship.