Eight Negros Occidental student-writers representing five schools divisions in the province will represent the region in the National Schools Press Conference 2025 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur this summer.
They bested about 80 other regional qualifiers from among the 21 schools divisions in the region.
The eight Negrenses topped their respective individual contests during the Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference held in Iloilo City on March 29 and 30.
Only the No. 1 winner in each contest is eligible to participate in the national competition.
The NSPC qualifiers are Samantha Nicole Seva (Filipino News Writing) and Alexis Raymundo Pillora (English Sports Writing), both of Isabela National High School;
Erica Grace Tuante (English Copyreading and Headline Writing) and Resil Jane Hiponia (Filipino Science and Technology Writing), both of Himamaylan NHS;
Annie Quesia Calderon (English News Writing) of Gil Montilla National HS in Sipalay City; Kezzia Rexinne Barrientos (Filipino Sports Writing) of Bacolod City National HS;
Melody Tan (English Column Writing) of Pahilanga NHS in Hinigaran; and Cherry Lynn Cabalyar (Filipino Photojournalism) of Buenavista NHS in Escalante City.
Seva, Pillora, and Tan represented the Division of Negros Occidental while Tuante and Hiponia are from the Division of Himamaylan City.
Barrientos is from the Division of Bacolod City while Calderon and Cabalyar represented the divisions of the cities of Sipalay and Escalante, respectively.
The Division of Negros Occidental emerged the second best performing schools division behind the Province of Iloilo while Bacolod City finished fifth overall behind the Divisions of Capiz and Aklan.
Himamaylan NHS was declared best performing school while Isabela NHS was third behind Passi NHS.
Silay City’s Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial NHS placed fourth overall with Vicente Andaya Sr. NHS of Capiz as fifth placer.
In one of their best performances, editors from all over Negros Occidental posted nearly 30 Top Three finishes and over 80 Top 10 rankings. ||
