About 300 student-journalists from more than 70 collegiate publications around the country convened during the 75th National Student Press Convention held last May 14-18 at Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
With the theme, “Panagtitignay: Fortifying unities for greater victories against corruption and social injustice,” the annual NSPC was spearheaded by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), the only existing alliance of tertiary student publications in the Asia-Pacific region, to educate the participants on the present state of the country and their role in social change.
The five-day convention provided lectures and workshops which tackled several socio-political issues highlighting concerns affecting the masses. Also, journalism skills training were conducted with workshops on various literary genres. The basic mass integration was divided into different sectors including workers, peasant, women, indigenous people, urban poor, and environmental situation.
“Bukod sa journalism skills training at sociopolitical discussions, dito rin natin binubuo yung iba’t ibang unities pagdating sa campaign at sa organizing ng CEGP para lalo pa siyang mapatatag,” CEGP National President Marc Lino Abila said in an interview.
One of the highlights of the event was the cultural night where delegates from different regions performed varied socio-cultural presentations. During the cultural night, student publications were also given the 16th Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez Jr. awards and the 11th Gawad Benjaline “Beng” Hernandez award.
The results of the awards are as follows:
16th Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez, Jr.
The Gawad Ernesto Rodriguez Jr. is named after CEGP President Emeritus Ernesto Rodriguez, Jr. It acknowledges outstanding quality of college publications as part of CEGP’s objective to raise the standard of campus journalism and develop conscious and patriotic student writers. It takes into account the technical excellence and content of articles in a publication.
Major Category
Tabloid
1st Place
Atenews, Ateneo de Davao University
2nd Place
The Pillars, Ateneo de Naga University
3rd Place
Mountain Collegian, Benguet State University
The Spark, Southern Luzon State University
Philippine Collegian, University of the Philippines- Diliman
Broadsheet
2nd Place
The Pioneer, Pangasinan State University – Main
3rd Place
Genre, Wesleyan University – Main
Magazine
1st Place
The Torch (Ang Sulo), Philippine Normal University – Manila
Minor Category
Website
1st Place
Atenews, Ateneo de Davao University
Alternative Form
1st Place
The Pillars, Ateneo de Naga University
2nd Place
Atenews (Diwanag), Ateneo de Davao University
The Torch Publications, Philippine Normal University – Manila
3rd Place
The Spark, Southern Luzon State University
Today’s Carolinian, University of San Carlos
Literary Folio
1st Place
The Spark (Paleta), Southern Luzon State University
2nd Place
The Torch (Aklas), Philippine Normal University – Manila
Special Citation
Atenews (Banaag Diwa), Ateneo de Davao University
The Journey, Palawan State University
10th Gawad Beng Hernandez
The Gawad Benjaline “Beng” Hernandez is made to honor former CEGP Vice President for Mindanao and Atenews Features Editor Benjaline Hernandez who was shot at close range by members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) while conducting a fact-finding mission at Arakan Valley, Cotabato on April 5, 2002. This award is given to a publication having an exemplary program on human rights.
Special Citation
The Norsunian, Negros Oriental State University
CEGP President Marc Abila expressed that this year’s NSPC was very successful, for it was attended by a larger number of delegates compared to the past NSPCs.
“Sa mga campus journalists natin sa buong Pilipinas, patuloy nating paghusayan yung ating mga kakayahan at panulat at, syempre, magsikap at gumawa ng mga makabuluhang balita at storya para sa paglilingkod sa sambayanan,” Abila said.