Inquirer feature story wins at 14th Lasallian Scholarum Awards

The winners of the 14th Lasallian Scholarum Awards (Photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Philippine Daily Inquirer bagged the award for Outstanding Published Feature Article on Youth and Education in a nationally circulated publication in the 14th Lasallian Scholarum Awards ceremony held at De La Salle University (DLSU) on Monday.

The winning story, “Where Vivaldi soars above the noise of dump trucks” by Inquirer Metro reporter Jhesset Enano, was published one year ago on Oct. 23, 2016.

Enano’s piece won out of 11 nominated articles from national dailies.

Her story featured efforts of community workers in teaching values and developing the music skills of children in a slum area in Payatas, Quezon City, through a music center called Sparrow Music Philippines.

“I was really surprised. The award was for a story that really meant a lot to me. I thank Inquirer and Metro editor Volt Contreras for the opportunity to work on the feature article,” Enano said.

“I hope that this award will encourage journalists to contribute to the nation through writing stories unheard and underreported,” she added.

Following are the other nominees for this published feature category:

• “A journey from 7 kilometers to the finish line” by The Philippine Star
• “What moms of children with autism wish people knew” by Loraine Balita-Centeno of Manila Bulletin
• “Volunteerism and the millennial” by Alfredo N. Mendoza of Philippine Panorama
• “Reaching the top” by Mary Angela Barlongay and Cessa Gatmaytan of Manila Bulletin
• “Youth urged to continue narrative of Martial Law history” by Jaymee Gamil of The Philippine Daily Inquirer
• “Greater good incorporated” by Neal P. Corpus of The Philippine Star
• “Pinoy perfect: Scholar aces 4 years in Toronto University” by Jovic Yee of The Philippine Daily Inquirer
• “Sweet victory” by Dylan Andre Afuang of Manila Bulletin
• “Raising the bar” by Karl Angelica Ocampo of The Philippine Daily Inquirer
• Kidpreneur goes beyond profit motive” by Bernadette Nicolas of The Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Inquirer was also nominated in other categories:

Published column article on youth and education

• “Province-based law schools strut their stuff” by Joel Ruiz Butuyan
• “A book in every student’s hand, please” by Neni Sta. Romana Cruz

Published Feature story on DLSU

• “Coffee museum: New fix gives PH beans fresh jolt” by Jocelyn R. Uy
• “DLSU inaugurates law campus in Bonifacio Global City” by Jovic Yee

Published photograph on youth and education for newspaper

• “Rojan Luther Senen, with ‘SAF 44’ shaved into the back of his head and wearing a shirt bearing the image of his fallen father” by Krizjohn Rosales
• “Manobo children” by Chris Panganiban
• “Learning behind bars” by Niño Jesus Orbeta
• “Fresh wings of hope” by Marianne Bermudez
• “Old school fun” by Richard Reyes
• “Writing on the wall” by Marianne Bermudez
• “Flying with fire” by Lyn Rillon

The grand prize winner for Outstanding Feature Story on De La Salle University is “DLSU grad student developing iSteth, a smart lung sound alert system” by Business Mirror’s Stephanie Tumampos.

Following are the winners in other categories of this year’s awards:

• Outstanding Televised Feature Story on Youth and Education: “Walang maiiwan” by GMA’s “i-Witness”
• Outstanding Published Photograph on Youth and Education: “Tokhang with children” by Manila Bulletin’s Jansen Romero
• Online Feature Story on Youth and Education: “What filmmaking did for children of war in Zamboanga” by CNN Philippines’ Regine Cabato
• Outstanding Published Column Article on Youth and Education in a Nationally Circulated Publication: “When little girls grow up to be women” by the Manila Bulletin’s Lapus
• Outstanding Published Feature Article on Youth and Education in a School Organ: “Patingkarin ang kulay ng ating mga katutubong wika” by The Varsitarian’s Bernadette A. Pamintuan

DLSU president Br. Raymundo Suplido said that the awards were a recognition of the efforts of storytellers taking the challenge of portraying the realities of our country’s youth and state of education.

Lasallian Scholarum Awards aims to promote and develop the country’s youth and education sectors. It contracted an independent media-monitoring agency for the screening of news and features.

This year’s judges included Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, Knowledge Channel Foundation’s Raissa Hechanova-Posadas, DLSU student government president Mikee de Vega, Yellow Boat of Hope co-founder Jay Jaboneta and Al Jazeera English Senior Correspondent Margarita Ortigas. /atm