Jaypee S. Sayson, a BS Architecture student of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) bagged the top prize in Literary Graphics, English category during the recently concluded 9th Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference held from February 8-10 at Lingayen, Pangasinan.
The press conference spearheaded by the Association of Regional Campus paper advisers of Higher Education Institutions, Inc. (ARCPA HEI Inc.) and the Association of Luzonwide tertiary Press Advisers (ALTPA), is an annual academic exercise for all bonafide college students and members of the school publication. This year, the activity was materialized thru the cooperation of the Commission on Higher Education, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the City Government of Laoag City.
It endeavors to "provide an effective medium in the development and promotion of campus journalism, imbibe consciousness among the campus writers on understanding responsible expression and appreciation of the many contributions the school paper gives to the school, community and the nation as well."
Sayson was among the six hundred nineteen (619) participants who qualified for the annual press conference with other UNEP journ students who made it during the 9th Regional V Tertiary Schools Press Conference held this January at the Twin Rock Beach resort in Igang, Virac, Catanduanes; Ana Mariz D. Zamora and Jeziel June Belovo.
Contested categories in both Filipino and English includes Editorial writing, sports writing, editorial cartooning , photo journalism, feature writing, poetry writing, comic strip drawing, copyreading/headline writing, news writing, column/opinion writing and literary graphics illustration.
Out of the 100 schools coming from Regions I, II, III, IV-A, V, CAR, Region IV-B and Central Visayas, Bicol Region ranked 4th runner up in the conference' over-all standing. This year's conference theme was "Campus Journalism: Invigorating the essence of genuine democracy."
Dr. Regina Gonzales, adviser of FRONTLINE, the university's official publication congratulated the team for bringing another honor to the university. She had been constantly and untiringly training UNEP's academic writers and has molded them into one of the finest journalism students in the region.
Campus journalism is being pushed by schools, universities and colleges to serve as a venue for the development of students' capability to write and express themselves through literary arts. Press Conferences are just one of these avenues. Campus journalism is also widely supported by Republic Act No. 7079, otherwise known as Campus Journalism Act of 1991.