PDI columnist wins accolades anew

Ruben V. Nepales STHANLEE B. MIRADOR

Our man in Hollywood, Ruben V. Nepales, is the recipient of different awards, recently given by US-based organizations.

Nepales, who writes the Inquirer Entertainment column Only IN Hollywood thrice a week, was honored for outstanding achievement in journalism at The Outstanding Pilipinos (Top) Awards held last Sunday, in Whittier, California.

He received a trophy from the awards committee, and certificates of recognition from the California Legislature Assembly and the City of Los Angeles.

The Top Awards, according to an official Facebook invitation, honors “carefully selected Pilipinos for their outstanding achievement and leadership excellence in their fields of expertise.”

Nepales also placed third, behind publications Variety and LA Weekly, in the 10th National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, which was presented by the Los Angeles Press Club last month.

His column published on March 3, 2017, “What it was like at Oscars backstage, after-party amid envelope mix-up,” won third prize in the category, “hard or breaking news on any issue related to the arts and entertainment industry.”

(First place went to Variety’s story, “How Hollywood got hacked,” while second placer LA Weekly won for “How the music industry uses a pervasive secret weapon to keep bands from freely touring.”)

“Belated thanks for the honor from the Los Angeles Press Club’s National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, which I missed due to out-of-town interviews,” Nepales wrote on Facebook early this month.

He also served as the managing editor of the new book, “Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History (75 Years of the Golden Globe Awards),” which was distributed to guest attendees at the recent Golden Globes. Nepales collaborated with Variety senior vice president Tim Gray, who contributed as editor.