THE Manila Times Chairman Emeritus Dante A. Ang and President and Chief Executive Officer Dante 'Klink' Ang II assured the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) of a continued partnership to provide free legal service to even the remotest communities across the country.

Speaking before over 2,500 public attorneys during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys held from August 12 to 17 at the Philippine International Convention Center, CEO Ang recognized the huge contribution of PAO under the leadership of its chief, Persida Rueda-Acosta, in extending legal services, especially to marginalized and vulnerable sectors.

"That is why The Manila Times will remain to be your partner; we will continue to cooperate with you in order for you to effectively carry out your mission of helping the people," he told the public defenders.

He thanked Rueda-Acosta for her daily "Dear PAO" column in The Times.

"It should be us who must be thankful to you, Chief Persida Acosta, because through your regular columns and, of course, the PAO's public attorneys, The Manila Times has become more popular," he said.

Acknowledging the importance of the chief public attorney's legal advice in her column, he vowed to give the entire public attorneys easy access to her Dear PAO column.

By doing so, he said, he believed the public defenders could get more ideas that they could apply in their work.

Introducing him as an educator, environmentalist and philanthropist, the PAO chief said Ang, whom it awarded during the event as an "Outstanding Publisher," was honored as the Most Empowered Executive at the inaugural Gawad Dangal Filipino Awards Philippines Men and Women of Integrity and Honor in 2022.

The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante 'Klink' Ang 2nd (fourth from left) receives the 'Outstanding Publisher' award during the 8th Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys at the Philippine National Convention Center in Pasay City, on Aug. 17, 2024. Public Attorney's Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (third from left) handed out the plaque and trophy together with Regional Director Howard B. Areza, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Ana Liza Soriano, Deputy Chief Public Attorney Erwin Erfe and Regional Director Marlon Buan.  Other awardees included The Manila Times' PrimeTimes host, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, for 'Outstanding Anchor' and The Manila Times senior reporter, Arlie Calalo, for 'Outstanding Reporter.' PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO

He was also named Best Media Outlet Chairman and CEO for 2022 by an international online magazine, PAO said.

Aside from the Angs, Lia Badillo-Crisostomo, host of "PrimeTimes with Atty. Lia," a news and public affairs program at The Manila Times website, and Arlie O. Calalo were cited as "Outstanding Broadcaster" and "Outstanding Reporter," respectively.