PGMG to Hold Induction of Officers & Gala Night

On its third year as an active press organization, the Philippine Global Media Group (PGMG) will hold its Induction of Officers and Gala Night on August 8 (Saturday) at 6:00 PM at the Crystal Ballroom of the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel at 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos.

This was announced by incoming president Dan Estabillo Nino and Val G. Abelgas, president and board chairman respectively of PGMG, a City of Cerritos-based public benefit 501 C-3 nonprofit corporation.

Mr. Nino, a lifelong journalist, will succeed Mr. Abelgas, also a seasoned journalist, who will serve as chairman of the board. Nino began his media career in Manila in 1973. He freelances for Philippine News Today, Asian Journal, Balikbayan Magazine, Weekend Balita, and the Philippine Post, and was recently conferred the 2026 TOP (The Outstanding Pilipino) Award for Journalism.

Val Abelgas, founding president of PGMG, is publisher and editor-in-chief of Philippine Post. A professional journalist for 54 years, he was the first TOP Awardee for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism in 2018 and the first FAPCCA Journalist of the Year in 2016.

Other officers to be sworn in by Philippine Consul General to Los Angeles Adelio Angelito S. Cruz include vice presidents Lydia V. Solis, Nimfa U. Rueda, Jannelle So-Perkins; Donna Gatdula-Arevalo (secretary); Meg Ilagan (treasurer); Rick Gavino (Auditor); Ellen Rodriguez-Swing and Joe T. Cobilla, Jr. (PROs); and 14 board members.

PGMG was founded in November 2023 by Manny Ilagan, Val Abelgas, Lydia Solis, and Nimfa Rueda to unite media practitioners and uplift journalistic standards in Southern California, with a vision to expand to the global Filipino diaspora.

Among its accomplishments: book launch of "California: A Philippine Territory Almost" by Alfred G. Gabot; supporting the renaming of Echo Park Library to Carlos Bulusan Library; covering community events across Southern California; and awarding a scholarship to a college-bound Filipino-American student.

"We invite our various publics to share our mission of serving our community the way we know best — helping inform our readers and viewers of latest developments in the community and in the homeland."
Dan E. Nino & Val G. Abelgas

January 9, 2026  ·  Page 13

PGMG: A Night of Fun, Food and Camaraderie

The Philippine Post featured PGMG's holiday celebration — a five-hour evening of community spirit, Filipino food, raffles, and karaoke. Members and guests gathered for an evening of kwentuhan, kainan, kantahan at katuwaan.

The group also shared plans for an upcoming scholarship fund-raiser for Filipino journalism and mass communication students.