It is heart-warming to see local government officials commending and recognizing student publications for their outstanding performance.
While recognition and even incentives have long been presented to athletes for their medal performances in the Department of Education’s Palaro, top performers in other major activities have seemingly been relegated to the background.
Along with the Palarong Pambansa are two major schoolyear-end activities – the National Schools Press Conference, which has apparently existed longer than the national school-based sports competition, and the more recent National Festival of Talents.
Last month, the Sangguniang Bayan of Cauayan, with Vice Mayor Anna Liza Soriano as presiding officer, passed a resolution which recognized publications schools in the town for the outstanding performances of their student editors in the Division of Negros Occidental Schools Press Conference held Jan. 30 in Pontevedra town.
Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2026-77, which was facilitated by Kagawad Ernie Magbanua and put into motion by Education Committee Chair Romulo Mombay, cited the publication editors and advisers for their achievements which reflected “not only in their dedication and hard work but also the commitment of their respective schools in promoting excellence in campus journalism.”
The recognition also acknowledged the students and advisers’ exemplary performance which serves “as inspiration to the youth of Cauayan.”
The resolution was certified as correct by lawyer Rachel Gregas, secretary to the Sanggunian.
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The school papers recognized were ABÀ KA of Guiljungan National High School – Abaca Extension, The SEA URCHIN of Tuyom NHS and SIBOL of Talacdan NHS.
The winning publications were led by ABÀ KA, which placed third in the school publication contest and won the Best in Development Journalism Award presented by the NOHS Special Program in Journalism.
The publication of the school, under Teacher-in-Charge Milrose Rubi, also placed third in Filipino News Writing (Jo Ann Gordon).
Abaca Extension also placed first in Sports Page, second in Features and Science and Technology Pages, third in News Page.
It was third runner-up in Online News Page.
Tuyom NHS, under school head Leah InvGon Piansay, had four Top 10 finishes – Filipino Column Writing (John Romer Villafolid, third), English Photojournalism (John Lloyd Morales, third), Filipino Photojournalism (Carlyle Claro, fifth) and Filipino Features (Khey Escobar, 10th).
Talacdan NHS, under school head Jurinie Tejares, won second in Filipino Editorial Writing through Jude Bangcaya.
Also placing in the Top 10 of individual writing contests were two students of Talacdan Elementary School under Dr. Roldan Grandia – Nathalia Aying (English Editorial, third) and Harold Sainga (Filipino Editorial Cartooning, seventh).
The Sanggunian resolution also cited school paper advisers Reynamer Grace Caceres (GNHS-Abaca), Wilvah Rapha Necesito (Tuyom NHS) and Noel Talaman (Talacdan NHS). Roxan Nulaba is the adviser of Ang BALANGAW of Talacdan ES.
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Like other LGUs that have annually demonstrated their support for their school editors, Cauayan has taken the move to acknowledge the contributions of its young people, through the school publication “in promoting truth, critical thinking and responsible communication,” as the Sanggunian resolution underscored.
We trust that more LGUs will follow suit.
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We join environment lovers in the celebration of International Mother Earth Day, which is annually observed “to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.”
International Mother Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 in at least 175 countries.
It marks the coming of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
The theme of the observance this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.” Promoters of the event say the theme focuses on accelerating the global transition to renewable energy while highlighting the collective agency of individuals and communities to demand climate action and create sustainable.
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How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news (Isaiah 52:7) | NWI
