Colors, festive vibes highlight 2019 NSPC kickoff in Pangasinan

SEA OF COLORS. Dubbed as the “Olympics of campus journalism,” NSPC is the largest gathering of young journos coming from 18 regions in the country and is organized annually by DepEd in pursuant to Republic Act 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. Photo by Carlo Jacob Molina/INQUIRER.net

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan–Clad in their colorful regional outfits, around 5,000 campus journalists all over the Philippines marched to Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here on Monday for the kickoff of the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) 2019.

Local street dancers performed different Pangasinan’s festival dances during the opening ceremonies, welcoming campus scribes, school paper advisers, Department of Education (DepEd) delegates headed by Secretary Leonor Briones, provincial officials, and guests with a festive vibe.

In his welcoming remarks, Region 1 Director Dr. Malcolm Garma, credited the help and cooperation of national and regional DepEd officials, the provincial government of Pangasinan and other “partners in education” for the “success of this endeavour.”

“Hosting national events such as the National Schools Press Conference is always a monstrous task but DepEd- Region 1 particularly our host division, DepEd- Pangasinan 1 is indeed honored, privileged and take pride in hosting the 2019 National Schools Press Conference,” Malcolm said.

In her keynote speech, Briones urged student- journalists to always seek the truth, to differentiate real information from fake news and to distinguish journalism from propaganda.

“Una, nandoon iyan sa Journalist’s Creed…Kanina tinanong ako, ilan ba talaga ang magiging journalists sa mga sumasali sa contests nating ito, ang tingin ko. Hindi naman lahat magiging journalists pero marami silang natutunan sa ating contests. Natutunan nila, una, sinasabi ko, always seek the truth,” Briones said.

Dubbed as the “Olympics of campus journalism,” NSPC is the largest gathering of young journos coming from 18 regions in the country and is organized annually by DepEd in pursuant to Republic Act 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.

Anchored on the theme “Fostering 21st Century Skills and Character-Based Education Through Campus Journalism,” NSPC 2019 is slated from January 28 to February 1. /jpv