Mandaue City Celebrates Excellence in Campus Journalism with 2025 Division Schools Press Conference Awards
In a vibrant ceremony held on January 27, 2026, at Basak Elementary School, approximately 600 campus journalists, school paper advisers, and coaches from elementary and secondary schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Mandaue City were honored for their outstanding achievements. The event marked the awarding ceremony of the 2025 Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC), which carried the inspiring theme "Empowering Filipino Youth: Unleashing Potentials in Journalism and Creative Industries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence."
Recognizing Top Performers and Future Regional Representatives
The ceremony highlighted individuals, groups, and schools that excelled in the 2025 DSPC, with winners set to represent the Mandaue City division at the upcoming 2026 Regional Schools Press Conference scheduled for March 2, 2026, in Danao City. This recognition underscores the commitment to fostering journalistic skills and creativity among young students in the region.
Elementary School Achievements in English and Filipino Categories
In the Elementary English individual category, first-place winners showcased their talents across various disciplines:
- Krysh Olrick Georpe triumphed in copy reading and headline writing.
- Charlotte Emily Palma excelled in science and technology writing.
- Cheska Erandio secured top honors in feature writing.
- Eula Gabrielle Lapid was recognized for editorial writing.
- Seth Angelo Rallos won in column writing.
- Bernice Catipay achieved first place in news writing.
- Shanaia Katelyn Gemida dominated sports writing.
- Khaleesi Daenerys Mioza earned accolades for editorial cartooning.
- Dhandeo Senining was awarded for photojournalism.
Similarly, the Elementary Filipino individual category saw top performers from schools such as Cabancalan, Tabok, Labogon, Opao, and SHS–Ateneo de Cebu, who took first-place honors in writing, cartooning, and photojournalism events.
Group Competitions and School Paper Awards
Group competitions were fiercely contested, with Mandaue City School for the Arts, Subangdaku Elementary School, and SHS–Ateneo de Cebu leading the way in categories like radio scriptwriting and broadcasting, collaborative desktop publishing, and infomercials in both English and Filipino. Special awards were also presented for anchoring, news presentation, and technical application, highlighting the diverse skills of participants.
In the school paper contest, The Truth Seekers, The Seeds Publication, The Echoes, and Glimpse received top awards for Elementary English publications. For Elementary Filipino, Ugong was named Best School Paper, while Lakas Pluma and Pakakak led other section awards. The top five performing elementary schools were:
- Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu
- Mandaue City School for the Arts
- Canduman Elementary School
- Subangdaku Elementary School
- Tabok Elementary School I
Secondary School Highlights and Overall Top Performers
The awarding for secondary schools revealed Mandaue City Science National High School as the overall top-performing school, with its campus journalists dominating individual, group, broadcasting, online publishing, and collaborative desktop publishing categories in both English and Filipino. Other notable secondary schools included Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School, Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu, Canduman National High School, and St. Louise College–Cebu.
Insights from a Winner and the Importance of Campus Journalism
Jashaira Lovei Heyrosa, first-place winner in Filipino sports writing, shared her thoughts on the experience. She emphasized that dedication and trust in one's skills were crucial to her success. "I didn't expect to win because of tough competition, but I'm thankful," she said, adding that following her coach's guidance and believing in herself helped secure the top spot.
The DSPC is conducted in accordance with Republic Act No. 7079, also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. This legislation promotes and protects campus journalism to strengthen ethical values and critical thinking among students. The 2025 DSPC was held on December 3–4, 2025, and was hosted by Basak Elementary School, Cabancalan I Elementary School, and Jagobiao National High School, with contributions from Nice B. Briol of Labogon National High School.
