MANILA, Philippines — An INQUIRER.net data journalist won the grand prize in the online category at the Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2025 for her reporting on diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease affecting Filipinos.
Cristina Eloisa Baclig won first place for work highlighting the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases in the Philippines and translating complex medical information into accessible public-interest stories.
For the 2025 edition of the awards, Baclig submitted three articles focused on the cost of heart attacks and strokes, hypertension as a “silent killer,” and diabetes as a “bitter health crisis for Filipinos.”
Her report, “Breaking Hearts and the Bank: The Cost of Heart Attack, Stroke in PH”, examined the health and economic impact of cardiovascular diseases in the Philippines. It explained how uncontrolled hypertension increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Another article, “Hypertension: What to Know About the ‘Silent Killer’”, provided readers with information on hypertension, one of the leading health threats in the country.
The report discussed how hypertension develops, the importance of accurate blood pressure monitoring, major risk factors, symptoms, complications and preventive measures.
Her third entry, “Diabetes: A Bitter Health Crisis for Filipinos”, outlined the rising number of diabetes cases among Filipinos, the disease’s long-term health effects, and strategies to improve prevention and awareness.
Launched in 2017, the Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards recognize journalists from Africa, Asia, and Latin America for coverage of critical health and social issues.
The awards honor journalism that raises awareness and promotes behavioral change on issues such as infertility stigma, diabetes, and hypertension.
This year, the Merck Foundation, together with the First Ladies of Africa, announced winners in the “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension” categories.
Dr. Rasha Kelej, an Egyptian senator and chief executive officer of the Merck Foundation, said during a virtual ceremony on May 7 that “it’s amazing to have this continuity and legacy of partnership between Merck Foundation and the media.”
“We believe the media can create cultural shifts, raise awareness, break the silence, and fight stigma surrounding many critical health and social issues,” said Kelej, who is also the president of the “More Than a Mother” campaign.
Kelej said 125 winners from 32 countries were recognized this year.
Joining Baclig in the online category were Puja Awasthi of India’s The Week, who won second place, and Disha Shetty of Health Policy Watch and David Dizon of ABS-CBN News, who both received third place.
Winners in the print category came from The Times of India, Dainik Jagran, and The Daily Observer of Bangladesh.
Last year, Cebu Daily News Digital’s Pia Piquero won first place in the online category, becoming the only Filipino journalist among 125 awardees from 36 countries to receive the top prize.
RELATED STORY: CDN Digital’s Pia Piquero earns global award for health reporting
Over the past several years, Baclig has received recognition from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards, and the Think Pink Awards.
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She is also a fellow of the Environmental Data Journalism Academy-Philippines and the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. /dm /atm
