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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Manila Bulletin-Tempo columnist Nestor Cuartero receives UST's 'Parangal Hagbong'

Manila Bulletin-Tempo columnist Nestor Cuartero receives UST's 'Parangal Hagbong'

Urges young journalists to take entertainment beat seriously

Published Mar 31, 2026 01:06 pm

The Varsitarian, the 98-year-old official student newspaper of the University of Santo Tomas, awarded veteran journalist and Manila Bulletin-Tempo columnist Nestor Cuartero the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award (Parangal Hagbong) at the Buenventura Garcia Auditorium, P. Alumni Center at UST’s main campus on Espana, Manila, on March 27.

Manila Bulletin-Tempo columnist Nestor Cuartero (2nd from left) and his family. (Images courtesy of Facebook)
Manila Bulletin-Tempo columnist Nestor Cuartero (2nd from left) and his family. (Images courtesy of Facebook)

The award was presented as a highlight of the 41st USTETIKA Literary Awards, an annual derby that honors student writers who excel in various categories, including fiction, essay, poetry, and one-act play.

The Lifetime Achievement Award Parangal Hagbong is named after an old Tagalog word from Quezon province that translates to "laureate" in English. It has been awarded yearly since 1997 to outstanding Thomasian writers who have made a remarkable contribution to the arts, literature, and entertainment journalism.

The award comes with a molave-cast ivory carving depicting a balancing act by noted artist Romeo Forbes, along with a citation.

Cuartero, former Journalism coordinator at the Department of Media Studies, said he felt both humbled and supremely honored to receive the award. Previous honorees include National Artists Nick Joaquin and Rolando Tinio, as well as his other writing idols like Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo and Carmelo ‘Vim’ Nadera.

Mr. Nestor Cuartero
Mr. Nestor Cuartero

In his acceptance speech, Cuartero thanked The Varsitarian and the Faculty of Arts and Letters, which he said laid the foundation for a firm, holistic view of the world and of himself, “putting me on solid ground in a Christian, humanistic perspective, one steeped in prayer and thanksgiving.”

He advised future journalists to develop a strong foundation in news, especially when covering lifestyle and entertainment beats. Cuartero said, “I believe entertainment journalism is a craft in itself, not unlike any other field of media, and far beyond the level of gossip and trash commonly associated with it. 

"Journalists pounding the beat are encouraged to develop seriousness of purpose and a sense of balance, imbued with historical perspective, and sheer responsibility without robbing the stories of their natural grasp, look, and feel of the beautiful, the exciting, the vibrant, and of course, the entertaining," he said.

Cuartero received the Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award (TOTAL), the highest alumni award given by the Office of the Rector in 2024.

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