GOVPH

One of the qualifiers in the recently concluded National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) has joined the Science Journo Ako seminar-workshop organized by the Department of Science and Technology- Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) recently in Kalibo, Aklan.

The Grade-12 student Labelle I. Mandal, from Wadeford School in Kalibo, has won 2^nd place in the Copyreading and Headline Writing category in the 2024 NSPC, held at Carcar City, Cebu on 8-12 July 2024.

Before the NSPC, Mandal has also bagged 4^th place in the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) and 1^st place in the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) for the same category.

“Nag-start po ako when I was in grade 6, sa Golden Pen. During the awarding, wala po akong nakuha kasi parang wala pa talaga sa akin ang maging journalist. I don’t know how to write a good sentence. Hindi po ako marunong mag-form ng good paragraph. Pero there is this one teacher na parang nakita niya yung potential ko. I didn’t believe her. But she still trained me in my previous school,” Mandal said in an interview.

(I started when I was in Grade-6 in Golden Pen. I didn’t get any recognition because being it seems like being a journalist is not for me yet. I don’t know how to form a good paragraph. But there is this one teacher who saw my potential. I didn’t believe her. But she still trained me in my previous school.)

Despite her victory, Mandal said she has also gone through a humble moment when she doubted if journalism was really for her due to several losses. However, she still tried joining even without awards.

“I know that life is short and wala namang mawawala if I try. Ibinigay ko lahat. Binuhos ko po lahat ng determination ko, my efforts. Nakakaabot po ako ng midnight just to memorize the units and symbols. Then nanonood po ako ng balita, babasahin ko po lahat ng dyaryo for a day,” she said.

(I know that life is short and there is nothing to lose if I try. I gave everything. I poured all my determination, my efforts. I even reach until midnight just to memorize the units and symbols. Then I watch the news, I will read all the newspapers for a day).

According to Mandal, seeing her colleagues do their best not just for the sake of awards is what inspired her to give her best in the competition.

“They really have the goal to serve the country, to seek the truth and that’s what pushed me more to pursue being a journalist,” Mandal said.

The DOST-STII brought the program to Kalibo, Aklan to capacitate more students in science writing, photojournalism, content creation, and basic principles of design and layout.

Thirty-three students from nine schools namely Aklan National High School for Arts and Trades, Lezo Integrated School, Philippine Science High School - Western Visayas Campus, Regional Science High School for Region VI, Linabunan National High School, Toledo National High School, Wadeford School, Father Julian C. Rago Memorial National High School, and Northwestern Visayan College participated in the two-day activity.

“Iyong SJA kasi nagbibigay siya ng more specific detail in photojournalism and about science writing. Very beneficial siya for sci-tech writers, photojournalists, and even copyreaders kasi just like kanina po, kini-criticize nila yung mga gawa ng school, that’s the technical side. Magagamit rin po siya for future competitions specially when you take notes,” Mandal added.

(The SJA gives more specific details about photojournalism and science writing. It is very beneficial for sci-tech writers, photojournalists, and even copyreaders because just like earlier, they criticize the works of the school, that's the technical side. It can also be used for future competitions especially when you take notes).

Although Mandal has proved herself in the field of journalism, she will be taking a different path in her tertiary year to fulfill her dream in the medical field. (By Claire Bernadette A. Mondares, DOST-STII)