A winner just by being there

(Two alumnae of the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) recall their participation in the journalism competition that has become an institution in the Department of Education. Their meets happened 45 years apart, but the feelings evoked by their recollections are the same—the thrill of meeting active journalists, the excitement of competing, the pleasure in making new friends, the joy of winning. As for the recently concluded NSPC, we will feature photos and winners next Tuesday.— Editor)

NCR DELEGATES to the 2012 NSPC: Edward Tyrel, the author, Vincent Bryan Velez, Inalyn Lapating and Joanne Pauline Baao

In journalism, it is not enough to have the talent to write. Your heart and mind should also be engaged to give substance to what you write.

This was the advice my journalism teacher Marian Manoloto gave me. It seemed only yesterday.

The words served as my inspiration to write passionately and as my pass to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in April 2012 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

I was one of the National Capital Region’s delegates. I competed in Pagsulat ng Editoryal (Editorial Writing) and was the opinion section editor in the event’s first Collaborative Publishing Contest.

For all of us delegates, the five-day long competition made   great memories that I am sure will last us a lifetime.

On the first day of the NSPC, delegates from all over the country participated in a grand parade. It was awesome to meet hundreds of aspiring young journalists, with their trainers, wearing their respective regions’ distinctive costumes and providing the opening rites a multicolor backdrop.

Most of us experienced a mix of emotions. We were exhilarated but also intimidated by the idea of competing against many talented students from both public and private schools.

The next day, as I waited to leave Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School, where we were staying, to go to the contest venue, my hand was shaking and my heart was pounding.

WITH ISABELITA Giron, her principal at Jose P. Laurel High School (Manila)

I was so nervous as I thought about what I had to do—write an editorial piece that should catch the attention of the judges.

I was in the room minutes before the start of the competition. I looked outside the window and, captivated by the majestic view of the wide, calm sea, I relaxed as I realized that I was already a winner just by being in Puerto Princesa for the NSPC and being among outstanding student writers.

When the contest began, we were asked to write an editorial on that year’s NSPC theme, “Promoting Digital Literacy through Campus Journalism.”

Historic

Day 2 was historic for the NSPC as a new category, Collaborative Publishing, was launched.

Every region had teams for English and Filipino, in the elementary and secondary levels, composed of the best seven delegates in every category: editorial, feature, sports and news writing, copy reading and headline writing, photojournalism and editorial cartooning.

The competition, as specified in the Department of Education Memorandum No. 49, Series of 2012, was designed to encourage teamwork among campus journalists and simulate the editorial room in a newspaper. Each team had to come up with a four-page tabloid paper within a given time.

Collaborative Publishing challenged not just our writing skills under time pressure and limited technical resources but also our work attitude and ability to work as a team, especially when faced with difficulties.

In the end, our confidence in each other’s skills and abilities enabled us to come up with a winning output.

Awarding ceremonies

When “judgment day” came, I saw anxiety on the contestants’ faces as the names of the winners were being announced.

As in other competitions, there were winners and losers at the NSPC.

I did not win in the individual category but our team in Collaborative Publishing in Filipino placed fourth overall.

The happiness we felt when our team was called was priceless. It made up for every sacrifice, sleepless night of brainstorming before the contest, and absence from school to train. We were not the champions but we would go home feeling proud and fulfilled.

When it was time to leave, I was reluctant to say goodbye to Palawan. I really enjoyed our stay in that paradise. The memories I shared with my new friends were precious.

With the NSPC, I did not just learn how to write. I learned lessons that classroom discussions could not offer.

The friendships I forged, the new experiences I had and the passion I developed for writing gave me happiness and satisfaction no words could describe.