By Janna Mae E. Bobier 

Far Eastern University (FEU) Communication students bagged the Best Public Service Print Ad for their ‘This, Abled’ entry at the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) under the student category.

CMMA held its first ever virtual awards night last December 19 to recognize the exemplary works of mass media practitioners and institutions that promote Christian values.

Among the roster of awardees was the ‘This, Abled’ poster of Communication senior students Matthew Castaneda, Stephanie Nicole Chua, Allyana Maralit, Arni Pia Olga Naya, and Masahide Romas under faculty Nikko Visperas and Chair Anansa Dijan—that aims to empower individuals with disabilities.

Due to the group’s objective to negate the existing perception of disability, they came up with the theme ‘This, Abled’ which is a play on the word “disabled.”

“The poster aims to advocate that individuals with disabilities are first handicapped with the idea [that] the word ‘disability’ implies towards them. As a result, we kick-started from the idea of re-empowering them. This was done by shedding a different light on the word ‘disabled’ as ‘this abled,’ the group collectively shared.

Additionally, the group hopes to create a more compassionate world for handicapped individuals.

“By first convincing the public of changing their view of the disabled, we are one step ahead of creating a more compassionate world,” they added.

Initially a course requirement, the group also shared what made the project significant.

“What really made a difference was our inspiration for the poster. As students of the University, we’ve made it a point to strive for our goals and aspirations. Taking this into consideration including the theme assigned to us, our group was inspired to create a poster that empowers the disabled, and is also a statement of reminder for others,” they stated.

Along with the said poster, distinguished FEU student entries also made it to the list of finalists: ‘Tuwing Umuulan’ for Best Public Service TV Ad and ‘Nagkakaisang Bayan’ for Best Public Service Radio Ad.

Established in 1978 by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, then Archbishop of Manila, CMMA is a prestigious award-giving body that pays tribute to those who “serve God by the means of mass media.”

(Photo courtesy of Masahide Romas)