UNEP Joins 10TH Regional Tertiary Press Conference
Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Eight students from the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) joined more than a hundred delegates from 21 schools and universities in the recently concluded 10th Regional Tertiary Schools Press Conference, held at Villa Mila Garden Resort, Daet, Camarines Norte.
The occasion was spearheaded by the Bicol Association of Tertiary Press Advisers, Bicol Association of Student Campus Writers and Commission on Higher Education and was sponsored by the Bicol Association of Tertiary Press Advisers. Mabini Colleges was this year's host school for the said event.
The writing exercises highlighted the participants' unique talents and enhanced the artistic facets of their journalism skills. Writing events included news writing and competition in various categories: Sports, Editorial, Opinion, Feature, Poetry, Copy reading and Headline Writing, Photo journalism, Comics strip, literary graphics and editorial cartooning. This year's theme is: Campus journalism, Invigorating the essence of a genuine democracy."
For this year's conference, the organizer invited Professor Juan Romero Nereus Olaivar Acosta, popularly known as Neric Acosta as the keynote speaker. Acosta is a well-known politician, particularly in the province of Bukidnon where he was elected as First District Representative. He is also an academian and a political scientist in the Philippines.
He was not only looked up as a public servant but also as a great mentor for his great teaching style, which according to his students, is provoking and facilitative. He is also an academic consultant in Xavier University, University of the Philippines and the Bukidnon State College from 1992 to 1998.
Acosta's talk was one of the moving forces that inspired JAYPEE Sayson, ANA Mariz Zamora and JEZIEL JUNE Belorio to be included in the list of lucky delegates who will represent UNEP in the upcoming 9th Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference in February 8-10, 2010 at Consuelo Hotel, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Other participants from UNEP were Sheena Mariz Hinlo, Angelica Praxides , Jonald Polvorosa, Dick Alien Bernas and Jules Mairo Concepcion. Their ever supportive adviser, Dr. REGINA A. Gonzales was also with the team. Dr. Gonzales is also the moderator of FRONTLINE, the official student publication of the University of Northeastern Philippines .
UNEP President Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda congratulated the team for the job well done "It was a good start for the year, and a good boost for our students to enhance their craft and strive for more. This is one way of proving that UNEP is really determined to live up to the legacy of academic excellence."
Periodic competitions, such as press conferences is being supported by the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. Section 8 of Republic Act 7079 states that "the Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall sponsor periodic competitions, press conferences, and training seminars in which student-editors/ writers and teacher-adviser of student publications in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels shall participate."
This is also in line with the declared policy of the state to "uphold and protect the freedom of the press, even at the campus level and to promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, encouraging critical and creative thinking and developing moral character and personal discipline of the Filipino youth." (Lizel Macatangay)
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