‘Your achievements serve as an inspiration for others’
Welcome remarks by Atty. Rudyard Arbolado, Inquirer Print COO, at the 1st Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards:
Good morning! Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Thank you for joining us today.
On behalf of the Inquirer, it is my great pleasure to welcome all of you to the very first Inquirer ESG Impact Awards. Today, we celebrate 35 outstanding winners—true champions of Environmental, Social, and Governance, or ESG, initiatives.
The Inquirer ESG Impact Awards goes beyond recognition. Rather, it is a platform for positive change showcasing how projects here in the Philippines are creating real and lasting change in our communities.
By honoring your efforts, we hope to set powerful examples that will inspire others—whether large corporations or small enterprises—to take part in this shared mission of building a more sustainable and inclusive future.
The Inquirer ESG Impact Awards is also an occasion to underscore the growing significance of ESG in shaping sustainable enterprises and fostering responsible citizenship. We firmly believe that ESG principles are not only integral to the future of business, but also a cornerstone for achieving long-term success and building a more sustainable and inclusive society.
As a media institution, the role of Inquirer in advancing ESG lies in amplifying your stories and fostering a collaborative community—one that empowers corporate citizens to embrace ESG, exchange best practices, and drive meaningful change.
Together with The Star Media Group of Malaysia and Kompas Gramedia of Indonesia, we have anchored our shared strategy on three fundamental pillars: education, engagement, and community.
In a broader sense, the role of Inquirer—and of journalism as a whole—in promoting ESG principles is both fundamental and indispensable. A 2024 Unesco Report concluded that “high-quality journalism is foundational to accountable democratic governance.” It underscored the vital role of media in ensuring government responsiveness, strengthening electoral accountability, reducing corruption, and advancing sustainable development.
Indeed, without access to reliable information on government actions, how can citizens demand accountability?
Journalism, therefore, is rightly regarded as a public good—a service from which all of society benefits. This is the contribution that Inquirer, together with our partners in Malaysia and Indonesia, brings to the broader ESG landscape.
Our commitment to delivering high-quality, credible, and impactful journalism to Filipinos is, we believe, an essential platform for amplifying your stories, highlighting your achievements, and giving voice to your aspirations.
To the pioneer batch of Inquirer ESG Impact awardees—congratulations, and maraming salamat po. Your achievements serve as an inspiration for others to follow, demonstrating that true success is inseparable from responsibility, and that progress and purpose must always go hand in hand.
Thank you for joining us. Mabuhay po tayong lahat.
