Composite image of INQFocus writer Kurt Dela Peña and the article that won for INQUIRER.net its second Lasallian Scholarum Award. ED LUSTAN
MANILA, Philippines—A special report by INQUIRER.net’s INQFocus team on the teenage pregnancy crisis in the Philippines won a second Lasallian Scholarum Award for the country’s leading online news site.
The article titled “Numbers fell but teen pregnancies persist, mirror economic, learning gaps,” written by Kurt dela Peña, content researcher and writer for INQFocus, was awarded the “Outstanding Online Feature Article on Youth and Education” in this year’s Lasallian Scholarum Awards.
INQFocus is a team in INQUIRER.net dedicated to research, features, investigative, and special reports.
The article, published in January last year, examines the issue of teenage pregnancies in the country, highlighting economic and educational disparities despite a decline in numbers.
It explored the multifaceted challenges faced by young women and underscored the need for comprehensive approaches to address underlying factors beyond mere statistical decline.
AWARD. Inquirer AVP for corporate affairs Connie Kalagayan accepts the trophy that was especially designed and crafted by renowned sculptor Toym Imao for this year’s Lasallian Scholarum awarding ceremony at the De La Salle University on Wednesday, March 20. Photo courtesy of Jane Bautista/PDI
This marks Dela Peña’s second award-winning report. His article, “Zero budget for special education in 2023 makes SPED law meaningless,” received the award last year.
READ: INQUIRER.net report wins Lasallian Scholarum Award
Both winning reports were edited by news desk head Tony Bergonia and featured comprehensive visuals by INQFocus artist Ed Lustan.
This year’s award was accepted by Connie Kalagayan, INQUIRER.net’s Assistant Vice President for corporate affairs, at the ceremony held on March 20 at De La Salle University in Manila.
Each winner received a specially designed sculpture crafted by renowned sculptor Toym Imao.
The Lasallian Scholarum Awards is De La Salle University’s yearly media recognition program for outstanding youth and education stories coverage.
PDI report bags award
A report by Philippine Daily Inquirer contributor Marge Enriquez also bagged an award at the Lasallian Scholarum Awards.
The report titled “When young people conquer cancer” won the “Outstanding Published Feature Article on Youth and Education in a Nationally Circulated Publication.”
Two more articles from INQUIRER.net and the Philippine Daily Inquirer were meanwhile recognized as finalists for the “Outstanding Online Feature Article on Youth and Education.”
These were “La Salle teenager highlights rise from rookie year with championship, MVP trophies,” written by Lance Agcaoili of INQUIRER.net, and “Millenial leaders driving positive change—in schools, at sea” by Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Russel P. Loreto.
Other finalists in the category were:
- “Bakit kami mahirap?’: Fresh grad Leo Jaminola reflects on struggles as working student” by Gaby Agbulos of RepublicAsia
- “DepEd eyeing school break ‘learning camp’” by Janvic Mateo of The Philippine Star
- “Explainer: How the ‘K+10+2’ system may not address root issues, challenges that hounded K to 12” by Cristina Chi of The Philippine Star
- “Is AI the future of education? UP profs start debat” by Jericho Zafra of RepublicAsia
- “No more concept of Top 1′: DepEd memo stirs discussion on recognizing academic excellence in the Philippines” by Yoniel Acebuche of The Philippine Star
- “The working student’s plight: the choice between acads and assets” by Gaby Agbulos of RepublicAsia
- “This young Filipino inventor bags James Dyson Award for developing a portable keychain microscope” by Jessica Pag-Iwayan of Manila Bulletin
- “When classes start today, many students will need help relearning last year’s lessons” by Cristina Chi of The Philippine Star