Professional development programs, strategic partnerships launched in Cebu caravan
Our PRSP officers and industry partners gather in Cebu City for the launch of “Steward the Signal: PRSP Goes to Cebu,” a collaborative initiative focused on upskilling PR and communications professionals.
2 JULY 2026, CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES – We at the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) formally launched our regional expansion efforts in Cebu on Thursday, July 2, bringing our flagship professional development programs outside Metro Manila for the first time in over two decades.
During a press conference, we introduced our milestone initiative, “Steward the Signal: PRSP Goes to Cebu,” featuring the regional rollout of the PR Caravan and MAKI+FIESTA. The move aims to make continuing professional education more accessible to communication practitioners in the Visayas while promoting responsible communication, media literacy, and stronger collaboration among the academe, industry, media, and government sectors.
Our President, Ana Ruby Pista, APR, spearheaded the initiative, bringing our organization closer to establishing a formal PRSP Cebu chapter and expanding our regional network.
In her opening remarks, President Pista shared that our Cebu expansion represents a long-overdue step in making our programs accessible to communication professionals outside Metro Manila.
“If we’re serious about calling ourselves the country’s premier organization for public relations professionals, then we have to stop behaving as though the profession begins and ends in Metro Manila,” Pista said. “Learning shouldn’t require a plane ticket. Professional growth shouldn’t depend on your location.”
Following the press briefing, PRSP and our partner organizations held a ceremonial contract signing to formalize several strategic collaborations. Our first agreement was signed between PRSP Professional Development and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), focusing on advancing public sector communication excellence and nation-building initiatives.
Our President, Ana Ruby Pista, and PLDT-Smart’s Roby Alampay seal a landmark partnership to upskill Visayan communicators and digital creators.
Our second partnership, between PRSP Professional Development and PLDT-Smart, seeks to promote digital transformation, strengthen corporate communications, and enhance crisis resilience efforts. Meanwhile, our PR Caravan team joined hands with Globe and Southwestern University (SWU) PHINMA in a partnership aimed at supporting regional student development and fostering academic collaboration.
“We are thrilled to finally bring PRSP’s programs to Cebu. This marks the beginning of a stronger, more connected communications community in the Visayas,” Pista added.
She emphasized that our regional expansion is anchored on strengthening the profession through shared knowledge:
“No profession becomes stronger by protecting knowledge. It becomes stronger by sharing it. That’s why we have chosen Cebu to launch our Professional Development Program — not because Manila has enough, but because Cebu deserves it just as much.”
Pista also underscored how public relations has evolved beyond basic publicity and crisis response into a core strategic management function.
“Public relations isn’t about making organizations look good. It’s about helping organizations do better. It’s about listening before speaking, building relationships before seeking attention, and earning trust—not demanding it,” she said. “Today, let’s begin something bigger than a conference. Let’s start a movement that reminds us why public relations matters, why strategic communication matters, why trust matters, and why Cebu has an important role in shaping the future of our profession.”
Our two-day engagement continues today, July 3, at Southwestern University PHINMA with the “Steward’s Edge” professional development training and our student-led PR Caravan.
These agreements reflect our ongoing commitment to building stronger cross-sector partnerships as we expand our professional development programs and advocacy initiatives nationwide.
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About the Public Relations Society of the Philippines
The Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is the country’s premier organization for public relations and communication professionals. For nearly seven decades, PRSP has championed excellence, ethics, professionalism, and nation-building through strategic communication, continuing professional education, industry collaboration, and leadership development. Through initiatives such as the PR Caravan, MAKI+FIESTA, and Steward’s Edge, PRSP continues to invest in the next generation of communication practitioners while expanding access to learning and professional development across the Philippines.