LAGAWE, IFUGAO — Ifugao’s young and promising journalists are testing their mettle a notch higher in Tabuk City on December 6.
The province’s youthful campus journalists are to compete in the forthcoming Cordillera Administrative Region Schools Press Conference. They are up against the so-called “cream of the crop” competitors from Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province as well as Baguio City and host Tabuk City.
The Ifugao delegation represents the winners of the just-concluded Ifugao division-level competition in Lagawe. The delegation is out to contest various categories in individual and team or group events.
Winners of the regional competition are slated to compete in the prestigious National Schools Press Conference.
The schools press conference serves as a rich training ground of the country’s bustling media industry.
Officer-in-charge Ifugao Schools Division Superintendent Felipe Ballitoc urged the Tabuk City-bound scribes of the province to do their best and elevate the standards of excellence and camaraderie among themselves and their counterparts in the region.
“The destiny of the Filipino people and that of our province is in your hands! So good luck and God bless all of you,” he said.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Ballitoc mentioned the initiatives of the Department of Education are so important to promote campus journalism and “the Ifugao Schools Division Office has acted in this spirit, compelling even principals, teachers and school paper advisers to work very hard in teaching and guiding young journalists in their schools to pursue the cherished dream of becoming a journalist in the future.”
Ifugao failed to perform satisfactorily in the last regional schools press conference.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong competency in easily required in this kind of competition.
The schools press conference likewise strengthens the Department of Education’s resolve to continue providing the Filipino youth, most especially those in marginalized and far-flung villages, quality instruction in the journalism field.
Up for grabs are top qualifying slots for the national level in news writing, editorial cartooning, editorial writing, feature writing, science and technology, copy reading and headline writing, photojournalism, sports writing, radio broadcasting and collaborative publishing. Contests are in English and Filipino languages. Contenders are from elementary and secondary levels. The province’s hopefuls came from the ranks of public and private elementary and high schools.
Heading the delegation are first, second and third ranked contestants. Officially, schools division officials listed five contestants.
They include Kendalle Himoldang of Alfonso Lista Central School, Janue Jomari Nanglihan of Banaue Central School and Klineth de la Cruz of Good News Christian Academy of Ifuago in News Writing (English); Madeleine Remorosa of Lawag Elementary School, Sheila Boligon of Kiangan Central School and Jerielyn Toribio of Alfonso Lista Central School in News Writing (Filipino).
Jemima Nicole Salvador of Lagawe Central School, Kaizen Jay Cumilang of Lamut Central School and Samantha Quindo of Kiangan Central School in Editorial Cartooning (English); Laurence Gian Vinluan of Lamut Central School, Jai Riccy Tayaban of Kiangan Central School and Deborah Cumti of Alfonso Lista Central School in Editorial Cartooning (Filipino).
Sheryah Mae Tegui-in of Westville Hristian Academy of Ifugao, Hailey Owen Lopez of Lagawe Central School and Tanya Nadine Namujhe of Kiangan Central School in Editorial Writing (English); Ellaine Diomeda of Sanafe Elementary School, Kim Ashia Dumayo of Hapid Elementary School and Fritzle Gail Santiago of Potia Elementary School in Editorial Writing (Filipino).
Dorothy Tagubasi of Good News Christian Academy, Niel Kelly Nappadao of Banaue Central School and Norgelynne Hampuy of Lamut Central School in Feature Writing (English); Jean Marie Buclay of Ifugao SPED Center, Zyanne Rizz Binwag of Alupapan Integrated and Koarex Yahann Bulahao of Kiangan Central School in Feature Writing (Filipino).
Dov Loren Bustarde of Lagawe Central School, Reign Kianny Daleja of Potia Elementary School and Annie Claire Buccahan of Asipulo Central School in Sports Writing (English); Sarah Maye Masqueda of Potia Elementary School, Camile Piggangay of Asipulo Central School and Aldrin Chigway of Nayon Elementary School in Sports Writing (Filipino).
Guia Celine Cacanindin of Ifugao SPED Cente, Divine Grace Valdez of Hapid Elementary School and Katherine Zoe Kimayong of Westville Christian Academy of Ifugao in Science and Technology (English); Vira Florraine Bunnol of Ifugao SPED Center, Leahn Erika Guimpatan of Kiangan Central School and Nea Dayne Valdez of AlfonsoLista Central School in Science and Technology (Flipino).
Hanna Mae Agayan of Good News Christian Academy, Irene Donglawen of Banaue Central School and Kiera Martin of Kiangan Central School in Copy reading and Headline Writing (English); Jea Venice Ananayo of Lagawe Central School, Jerimiah Chumalan Mayoyao Central School and Aurillw Arianne Narvarte of Nayon Elementary School in Copy reading and Headline Writing (Filipino).
Ron Adrian Godoy of Lagawe Central School, Denis Malanta Jr. of Hapid Central School and Jamaica Dullape of Banaue Central School in Photojournalism (English); Kianie Bahatan of Banaue Central School, Kyla Ruth Mae Changanan of Chumang Elementary School and Rhynzyle Fukasan of Mayoyao Central School.
Hanna Marie Buyacco of Hapid National High School-Main, Bivien Kikigue of Don Bosco High School and Inah Cassandra Bascos of Ifugao Provincial Science High School in News Writing (English); Shuhui Dimanling of Lagawe National High School-Main, Khryziel Acoban of Eastern Potia National High School and Jhesslyn Soriano of Alupapan Integrated School in News Writing (Filipino).
Jeremiah Clyde Colnog of Sta. Maria National High School-Main, KInhart Kino-ol of Southern Hingyon National High School and Azarel Lex Cuyong of Bangbang National High School in Editorial Cartooning (English); JImmig Malingan of Ifugao Provincial Science High school, Jasper Laya of Immaculate Conception School and Erika Lopae of San Francisco High School in Editorial Cartooning (Filipino).
Mark Nalunne of Don Bosco High School, Emmarie Dolcora of Hapid National High School and Frizza Bless Binwag of Lagawe National High School in Editorial Writing (English); Erika Aguinaldo of Namillangan National High School, Mary Ann Agustin of KIangan National High School and Erica Dug-a of Mongilit National High School in Editorial Writing (Filipino).
Psalms Bayachan of Don Bosco High School, Cza Reena Jaravata of Banaue National High School and Florabelle Taguiling of Ifugao Provincial Science High School in Feature Writing (English); Irish Kate Umanhan of Ifugao Provincial Science High School, Visien Manuel of Lawig National High School-Main and Desterlyn Gatik of Immaculate Conception School in Feature Writing (Filipino).
Ulidieay Gallardo of Caragasan National High School, Bulkman Smith Manzano of Lawig National High School and Aidan Cuyop of Don Bosco High School in Sports Writing (English); Aljo Kimayong of Sta. Maria National High School-Extension, Joanna Erica Pakid of Kiangan National High School and Airah Jean Liwayan of Southern Hingyon National High School in Sports Writing (Filipino).
Cara Loren Baguilat of Don Bosco High School, Jones Liwan of Asipulo National High School and Ryan Tumapang Jr. of Ifugao Provincial Science High School in Science and Technology (English); Kyla Shayne Segundoof Sta, Maria National High School, Josiah Bumahit of Ifugao Provincial Science High School and Kaye April Kimmayong of San Francisco High School in Science and Technology (Filipino).
Guina May Mammag of Immaculate Conception School, Myra Aiza Kiarrah Namuvo of Ifugao Provincial Science High School and John Oliver Rosario of Rufino Chungalao Science High School in Copy Reading and Headline Writing (English); Demrie Poligon of Hapid NationalHigh School, Precious Pinkihan of Asipulo National High School and Isha Santillan of Lawig National High School-Main in Copy Reading and Headline Writing (Filipino).
Rod James Palattao of Namilangan National High School, Luis Maeghan of Lawig National High School-Main and Kylee Chrizle Guinid of Don Bosco High School in Photojournalism (English); Keana Rica Balajo of Lawig National High School, Jasper Buminaang of Sta. Maria National High School and Owen Habbiling of Hungduan National High School in Photojournalism (Filipino).
Alfonso Lista Central School is Ifugao’s entry in Collaborative Publishing (English). Potia Elementary School is the entry of the same category in Filipino. In the secondary level, Ifugao Provincial Science High School is Ifugao’s bet in this category in English. In the Filipino side of said category, the honor belongs to Ifugao Science High School.
Concentrating on Ifugao’s elite and best young journalists is the best shot for a better finish in Tabuk City, admitting that the bigger challenge for the province is working on a limited budget through an equally short training and preparation period for the contestants. For short, focus on the so-called Very Best of the best and hone their journalistic skills through clinics under the tutelage of journalists in the private sector whose expertise is second to none. Allocate whatever scarce resources on the conduct of exercises both written and oral instead on junket trips. Sending a lean but mean delegation is just right. **By Anthony A. Araos
