The Philippine Online Chronicles

The best campus journalists and school paper advisers in the Philippines were heralded on Tuesday, 23 February 2010, during the second day of the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Tagum City. Fewer people arrived than expected, said Department of Education officials, but the people who did made the most of the chance to cheer for their respective regions.

Being proclaimed the best in their respective regions is a rare honor – thus, the awardees arrived garbed in their formal best, with some donning their regional costumes.

A long-lived passion, a lifetime commitment

For school paper adviser Bradford Villamar of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), teaching Journalism to a group of elementary students is a tough, but very rewarding job.

"When I see my pupils apply what I have taught them, when it reflects in the way they write... it becomes the best reward for me. Better even than this award," Villamar said pointing at the 'Most Outstanding School Paper Adviser' trophy he clutched with one hand.

As a journalism adviser for many years, Villamar said he couldn't picture himself doing anything else, "This has become a way of life for me... a calling, a passion. i would probably be doing this until the time I retire."

A self-confessed frustrated journalist, Villamar said he has made it his personal mission to get as many of his students interested in writing as possible. "I want my pupils to be inspired to venture into journalism later on. It will be my legacy to them," he said.

Amiel Cruto, Grade-6 pupil from F. Benitez Elementary School in Makati City said he joined the NSPC because he believes that it would be a good training ground for a future career in journalism.

"I really want to be a journalist. I want to make a change for my fellow Filipinos... Especially our brothers in Mindanao [who] are having [peace] problems," the young writer said in an interview.

12-year-old Cruto is no neophyte when it comes to writing competitions. Beyond the small frame is a big achiever. He placed 1st in this year's Editorial Writing contest in the Division Press Conference. He won 5th place last year in the same category which qualified him to the regionals and ultimately to the NSPC.

Already an eloquent speaker, Cruto said he will still pursue writing for newspapers even if many people have warned him that it could be dangerous.

"Aren't you scared?" we asked him after the ceremony.

"No, I am not," was his bold reply.

According to Region XI (Davao) high school awardee Nelson Lorenzo Cuevas, student campus journalists around the country – not just those who made it to the NSPC – are expected to “someday make a difference using their talents in journalism.” Thus, faith in God is important to handle anything life would throw at them.

National Capital Region (NCR) high school honoree Geraldine Baniqued meanwhile said that helping the world is a difficult task – a superhero deal – and so campus journalists should open eyes and provoke passion in their readers. Everyone is a superhero, the student from St. Paul College in Pasig City mused, but the power of one person isn't enough to change the world. “We have to combine the powers of many,” she said in her speech during the event.

NCR Best Newspaper Adviser for the secondary level, Moises Tarrobal, meanwhile said that it isn't easy being an adviser. "Tunay itong pakikibaka (This is truly an advocacy)," he said, as one of the worst difficulties teachers face is the lack of funding for their school organs, one of the worst problems that campus papers could have. "Pero dapat nating gampanan [ang ating tungkulin bilang tagapayo] para sa paaralan, at sa bayan (But we should do our duties as advisers for the benefit of our schools and our country)."

Best Campus Journalists and School Paper Advisers

Elementary

Region I - Ilocos

Josiah Lance B. Bautista (Best Campus Journalist)

Orlando A. Pascua (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region II – Cagayan Valley

Jedidah A. Baquiran (Best Campus Journalist)

Octavio Cabasag Ph.D. (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region III – Central Luzon

Alayssa Danielle K. Navarro (Best Campus Journalist)

Ma. Editha R. Caparas (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IV-A – CALABARZON

Darlene Leira E. Panganiban (Best Campus Journalist)

Monaliza Dinglasan Loayon (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IV-B – MIMAROPA

King Laurence Masilungan (Best Campus Journalist)

Ma. Numeriana Aquino (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region V – Bicol

Peter Joshua Ortega (Best Campus Journalist)

Sixlo Orzales (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region VI – Western Visayas

Angelica Marie Dedase (Best Campus Journalist)

Salvacion Malencolon (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region VII – Central Visayas

Lilian Ancheta (Best School Paper Adviser)*

Region VIII – Eastern Visayas

Maria Chero Andrino (Best Campus Journalist)

Baldwin Norombaba (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula

Revy Hrizon Marata (Best Campus Journalist)

Marilyn Mayol-Sarceno (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region X – Northern Minanao

Laura Monique Exile Sapanta (Best Campus Journalist)

Maria Theresa Mercedes Absin Ph.D. (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XI – Davao

Hannah Faye S. Nardo (Best Campus Journalist)

Reynaldo O. Gerado (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN

Joshua Kyle Nino Oliveros (Best Campus Journalist)

Elsie S. Yson (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XIII – CARAGA

Peter Paul Recabo (Best Campus Journalist)

Lorenzo M. Caballes Jr. (Best School Paper Adviser)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Lhianne Mae V. Tamondong (Best Campus Journalist)

Bradford Villamar (Best School Paper Adviser)

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Princess Mairasna Dalao (Best Campus Journalist)

Elnora D. Natino (Best School Paper Adviser)

National Capital Region (NCR)

Amiel I. Cruto (Best Campus Journalist)

Romeo Sta. Maria Egot (Best School Paper Adviser)

High School

Region I - Ilocos

Niño P. Emocling (Best Campus Journalist)

Jeannete Dials (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region II – Cagayan Valley

Marlon Javee T. Allam (Best Campus Journalist)

Racquel A. Beltran (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region III – Central Luzon

Rogerson Villanueva Villangca (Best Campus Journalist)

Nelson S. Nahil (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IV-A – CALABARZON

Romel D. Yecla (Best Campus Journalist)

Maria Cleofas P. Castillo (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IV-B – MIMAROPA

Zyreen Kate Cataquiz (Best Campus Journalist)

Adalia M. Pastrana (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region V – Bicol

Kier Nato Obang (Best Campus Journalist)

Monica B. Llorin (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region VI – Western Visayas

Genesa A. Buenafe (Best Campus Journalist)

Eugenio L. Mallorca (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region VII – Central Visayas

Jessica Simporios (Best Campus Journalist)

Edward Omana (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region VIII – Eastern Visayas

Rachel D. Chua (Best Campus Journalist)

Norberto O. Erandio (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region IX – Zamboanga Peninsula

Jason Jay P. Aniban (Best Campus Journalist)

Francisco Grifil (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region X – Northern Minanao

John Angelou M. Batoon (Best Campus Journalist)

Mark A. Palad (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XI – Davao

Nelson Lorenzo D. Cuevas (Best Campus Journalist)

Romulo N. Peralta (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XII – SOCCSKSARGEN

Jennifer Clarize Braña (Best Campus Journalist)

Alicia C. Villanueva (Best School Paper Adviser)

Region XIII – CARAGA

Dean Lazarie (Best Campus Journalist)

Lucita G. Besonia (Best School Paper Adviser)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

Jovylle Yvone A. Chu (Best Campus Journalist)

Alvin Cecil C. Micu (Best School Paper Adviser)

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Cyd Marielle G. Saavedra (Best Campus Journalist)

Irene P. Casada (Best School Paper Adviser)

National Capital Region (NCR)

Geraldine L. Baniqued (Best Campus Journalist)

Moises L. Tarrobal (Best School Paper Adviser)

Photo by Karen Lucero. Some rights reserved.

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