DAVAO CITY — Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Efren Elbanbuena has revived a media group called Hermes Club to become one of the major factors in the dissemination of information in the Davao Region.

Elbanbuena, who is also the club's president, said the reinstitution of the club is intended to address the need for wider source of information in the region.

He noted that for 15 years, with Waterfront Insular Hotel as hotel partner, the club became a major factor in the dissemination of information. It had featured some of the country's high-ranking officials and department heads who were then considered "newsmakers."

He said that barely 10 years after it became inactive, Hermes Club has been revived, but with a different host and partner hotel, the Pearl Farm Beach Resort at the Island Garden City of Samal. Selected members of the media from Davao Region were invited to the relaunching at Malipano Island.

Elbanbuena is optimistic that such partnership will be mutually beneficial.

On the other hand, Alfredo Roca, managing director of Fuego Resorts/Hotels that manages the operations of Pearl Farm, and Benjamin Vanzon, the Pearl Farm's general manager, hailed the club in choosing the resort/hotel as its official partner.

Roca said the partnership will be a good opportunity for the resort/hotel to reach out to the community by supporting the local media in their quest for truth.

"We love to support people who are speaking for the truth," Roca told reporters, citing media's role in community building.

Members of the club will meet once a month at Pearl Farm Marina office in Lanang, Davao City. (PNA)

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