Scribes flex might in District, Division tilts

STORY BY ERICA ALEXIS BOLAMBAO AND ALYSON MATA

THREE staffers of the The Graceans and Ang Patnubay bagged awards in the 2023 Quezon City Division Secondary Schools Press Conference last Feb. 18, 25, and March 4 at San Francisco High School.

Managing editor Julia Sofia Castillo of 10-Amethyst was hailed as champion in sportswriting, while associate editor King David Manghi of 11-Marx copped 5th place in Pagsulat ng Balitang Pampalakasan.

Senior high school Editor-in-Chief Francesca Alexis Amor Luya of 12-Euclid also placed 10th place in feature writing in the return of face-toface campus journalism confabs participated in by around 50 public and private schools in QC.

Castillo is set to compete in this year’s Regional Schools Press Conference on June 6 at Rizal High School in Pasig.

A total of 25 winners— 18 in the individual contests and seven in group categories, emerged victorious in the District Secondary Schools Press Conference hosted by DGS last December 10 and January 7.

“The whole world is facing a dilemma because of the pandemic. Sadly, some schools closed, but thankfully we are getting back to normal. COVID is slowly fading away, but the spread of fake news is something we can’t fade,” DGS

Principal Waldy Canalita said in her welcome remarks.

“We don’t know what is true and what is not true. There is a lot of fake news around, but “bilang pag-asa ng bayan,” mag-research before mag-share and siyempre bago basahin at ikalat, dapat facts, because being a journalist is making your own voice.”

The winners in the district meet were: Sportswriting: Castillo (1st place), Pagsulat ng Balitang Pampalakasan, Manghi (4th place) and Athea Keisha Geocallo (9th place), Mobile Journalism (English): Mikaela Lorraine Weerakoon (5th place) and Kaitlin Joyce Dionisio (10th place), Newswriting: Christine Althea Labandia (3rd place), Pagsulat ng Balita: Georgie Dominguez (9th place), Pagsulat ng Editoryal: Manghi (4th place), Pagsulat ng Lathalain: Janna Althea Encarnacion (4th place) and Erica Alexis B. Bolambao (9th place), Feature Writing: Francesca Alexis Amor Luya (9th place), Pagsulat ng Agham: Althesa Jennifer Tariga (5th place), Science Writing: Don Aaron Dave Ardenio (6th place), Photojournalism: Xela Andrea Ehong (10th place), Pagkuha ng Larawan: Lindsay Arellano

(7th place) and Erika Frechel Mhae Peña (10th place), Copy Reading and Headline Writing: Justin Cody Serrano (10th place), Individual Highest Pointer in Filipino: Manghi (3rd place); Radio Broadcasting (English): 2nd place Overall, Best in Infomercial, 3rd place, Best in Script, Weerakoon: 1st place, Best Anchor, Irene Arroyo: 1st place in Technical Application, Precious Jana Molleda: 2nd place, Best News Presenter, Radio Broadcasting (Filipino): Rianne Corpin: 2nd place, Best Technical Application, and Collaborative Desktop Publishing (English): and Luya: 3rd place, Best Features Page. DGS also ranked 4th place in Top 10 performing schools in Filipino Journalism, 6th place in Top 10 performing schools in English Journalism, and 6th place in overall Top 10 performing schools.

Roa said a lot could be done to attract students to visit the library.

“Teachers should implement different activities and performance tasks na sa library lang mahahanap, for example specific books na sa library lang available, or mga fun and enjoyable activities na sa library lang accessible,” he said.

“Una, dapat i-transfer iyong library sa mas accessible area na mapapansin talaga ng mga students. Pangalawa, dapat i-promote din nila iyong library and magbigay ng mga activities or programs para mas maengganyo ang mga students na bumisita and gamitin ang library.”