The Philippine Online Chronicles

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The best campus journalists and school paper advisers from high schools all over the Philippines were honored last Tuesday, February 17, at the 2009 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
Clad in the regalia of their provinces, young writers and teachers from 17 regions across the country received their respective plaques, trophies, medallions, cash gifts and tokens from Region V, the 2009 NSPC host, at a small ceremony held at the Camarines Sur National High School Pavilion.

The following students were hailed as the nation's best campus journalists for 2008-2009: JC Earl Carino from Saint Francis High School in Shariff Kabunsuan (ARMM); Antonie Labasan from Saint Louis High School in Benguet (CAR); Kimberlie Sinampaga from Tabon Estrella National High School in Bislig City (CARAGA); and Arianne Orencia from New Era High School in Quezon City (NCR).

Joy Carmel Sahagun from the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades in Laoag, Nikolai Mappatao from Cagayan National High School and Melissa Ann Buco from Mariano Ponce National High School in Bulacan were named as the top school publication writers from Regions I, II and III respectively.

Hannah Chito from Quezon, Justine Jay Casas Lope from Leuteboro National High School in Oriental Mindoro and Lorenz Ray Payonga from Marcial O. Memorial School in Albay rounded out the list of winners from Luzon, representing Regions IV-A (CALABARZON), IV-B (MIMAROPA) and Bicol, respectively.

In turn, Vincent Gregory Yu from Iloilo Central Commercial School, Ronn Patrick Guingguing from Tagbilaran City Science High School and Elaine Dimayuga from Dulag National High School in Leyte emerged as the top campus journalists from the Visayas.

Mindanao's finest young writers included Mark Anthony Cabilo from the Regional Science High School in Zamboanga City and Jocell Sedigo from Gusa Regional Science High School in Cagayan de Oro. Feliz Alberca from Santa Cruz National High School in Davao del Sur and Kristoni Gonzales Go from the Notre Dame of Isulan, Inc. in Sultan Kudarat also earned trophies for Regions XI and XII.

The students bustled about the venue afterwards, celebrating and congratulating each other on their common achievement while enjoying the attention of the cameras.

"Accomplishment na talaga ito (This is really an accomplishment)," said a beaming Jocell Sedigo, the awardee from Region X, as she hugged her trophy. "I've been dreaming for this."

"It's not exactly na iba ako sa kanila because we all have the same attitudes and characteristics of journalists," said Feliz Alberca, the winner from Region XI. She explained that her award did not truly set her apart from all other campus writers, but that all student journalists should simply have more confidence in themselves to truly excel in their field.

"As long as I believe, alam ko na kaya ko, kakayanin ko (As long as I know I can do it, I will do it)," she said.

Equally joyful were the 17 mentors who took home their own trophies. The most outstanding school paper advisers from Luzon included Elenora Raroque from Alaminos National High School (Region I); Maria Luisa Agsunod from Isabela National High School (Region II); Juliana Kelly Ignitan from CAR; Noel Bacani from Natividad High School (Region III); Abner Pureza from Quezon National High School (Region IV-A); Florie Regencia from Marinduque National High School (Region IV-B); Eddie Bausa Jr. from Pilar Productivity Development High School in Sorsogon (Region V); and Ruben Velarde Jr. from Saint Paul College in Pasig (NCR).

Darwin Haro from Oton National High School-who was called on for a spontaneous awardees' response that evening-was named the best adviser from Region VI. Emily Colina-Cabusa from the Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (Region VII) and Cesar Montaño from Javier National High School in Leyte (Region VIII) also reaped honors.

The winning teachers from Mindanao were Mary Jane Omandam from Saint Columban College (Region IX), Salome Violeta from Gusa Regional Science High School (Region X), Francisca Padlan from Jose Tuason Jr. Memorial National High School (Region XI), Jonathan dela Peña (Region XII), Annabelle Tumulak (CARAGA) and Esther Laguidao from PI Agriculture School (ARMM).

Photo by Jessica Marquinez; licensed under Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA-3.0-PH.