INQUIRER.net docu ‘Bahay, Eskwela’ finalist in 20th Lasallian Scholarum Awards

MANILA, Philippines — A documentary produced by INQUIRER.net about the plight of students who have to trek the mountains of Benguet to get to school was chosen as a finalist in the 20th Lasallian Scholarum Awards.

The documentary “Bahay, Eskwela” under INQUIRER.net’s Look Through video series is a finalist under the award-giving body’s “Outstanding video feature story on youth and education” category.

The awarding ceremony will be held on March 13 at the De La Salle University Manila Campus, with the winners receiving a Toym De Leon Imao sculpture.

The documentary, hosted and written by news anchor Neil Mercado, tells the stories of students of Bokod National High School. The school is on top of a mountain and the three students live in a small community called Sitio Simbonan, on a different mountain.

To get to school, the students start their hike down the mountain before sunrise and carefully navigate the steep trails in the dark.

Some students even camp out in the classrooms when they need to stay longer for activities

In the absence of a dormitory, classrooms become pseudo-bedrooms and kitchens at night when it’s too late for students to hike their way back home.

In 2023, another INQUIRER.net documentary, “Sinking Island”, was selected as a finalist at the Lasallian Scholarum Awards.