The Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) has announced that the group unanimously elected Eugene Asis, People’s Journal entertainment editor, as president.
Asis co-founded what initially began as a social club for entertainment editors of the national broadsheets and top tabloids with the late Manila Standard entertainment editor and SPEEd’s president emeritus, Isah V. Red.
Immediate past president Ian Farinas of People’s Tonight, turned over the post to Asis, full of confidence his decades-long experience in the industry and unwavering vision to help uplift the quality of Filipino movies to global standards will steel the group and further its success.
Asis started his career in journalism in the early ‘80s as writer for Kislap, Liwayway, Jingle Extra Hot, and Orig Magazine where he eventually became editor in 1982. He has been editor of People’s Journal’s entertainment section since 1990.
Eventually dabbling into writing and directing movies, it is his front-row seat in the ups and downs of the local movie industry that has long made Asis an authority in local show business. He is also a recipient of the Gawad Amerika and Guild of Educators, Mentors and Students (GEMS) awards as Entertainment Editor of the Year.
Asis’ top priority as he assumes the leadership of SPEEd is to mount the 5th edition of The Eddys or The Entertainment Editors’ Choice movie awards by November.
Meanwhile, the group unanimously decided as well to keep the current roster of officers through to the new biennial term as follows: Tessa Mauricio-Arriola (The Manila Times) is Vice President External; Salve Asis (Pilipino Star Ngayon and Pang-Masa), Vice President-Internal; Maricris Nicasio (Hataw), Secretary; Gie Trillana (Malaya Business Insight), Asst. Secretary; Dondon Sermino (Abante), Treasurer; Dinah Ventura (Daily Tribune), Asst. Treasurer; Nickie Wang (Manila Standard) and Ervin Santiago (Bandera) as co-PROs; and Nestor Cuartero (Tempo) as director and advisor.
The rest of SPEEd’s members include Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Jerry Olea (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Rohn Romulo (People’s Balita), Janiz Navida (Bulgar), and Neil Ramos (Tempo).
