IN RECOGNITION of their outstanding work, Atenean student journalists earned six awards and a scholarship at the 21st Raul L. Locsin Awards and Scholarships for Student Journalism, hosted by the Ateneo Communication Department on May 7 at the Lopez Center TV Studio.

Awards Coordinator Gilbert Jacob Que, PhD shared that 69 entries across the different categories were evaluated based on journalistic standards, social impact, and other criteria specific to each category.

To select the awardees, a call for submissions was released on March 5. Students from the Higher Education Cluster were invited to submit up to three works published in 2024 under the News, Features, Opinion, Investigative, Explanatory, and Photojournalism categories.

Notably, the awards are named after Ateneo alumnus and journalist Raul L. Locsin, who received the 1999 Ramon Magsaysay Award for “his enlightened commitment to the principle that […] a newspaper is a public trust.” Currently, the awarding body is still supported by the Locsin family.

Excellence in journalism

For the News category, Isabel Candida Gonzales (3 AB Dip IR) and Ana Rufa Padua (3 AB COM) were recognized for their article, “Admin opens discussion with Ateneo community to finalize North Carpark plans,” published in The GUIDON in February 2024.

The report covered the open forum discussing the Ateneo administration’s plans for the North Carpark renovation, following the community uproar that led to the project’s temporary suspension.

Meanwhile, Aidan Bernales (4 AB COM) and Matthew Santos (1 BS LfSci) were honored for their feature article, “Kampana ng Simbahan: The homily as a political weapon,” released in The GUIDON’s November–December 2024 issue.

The article followed the routine of two priests before Mass in preparing their homilies, which incorporate socio-political themes to denounce the perpetuation of “unjust actions” in society.

On the other hand, Lourence Segovia (4 AB EC) was hailed the winner in the Opinion category for his article entitled, “A dangerous precedent,” which was included in the February–March 2024 issue of The GUIDON.

The piece critiqued the current administration’s decisions to move the EDSA People Power Revolution commemoration and not declare it a holiday, calling such actions as “an assertion of the state’s oppressive power to weaken the impact” of the historical event. It also called on Filipinos to uphold the spirit of the revolution through collective remembrance and resistance to historical distortion, in order to safeguard national democracy.

For the Investigative Journalism category, Derreck De Leon (3 BS BIO) and Ram Hebron (4 AB MEC) won with their July 2024 piece, “Blue-washing? A look into the Ateneo energy supply partnership.” Notably, this was the first article published by The GUIDON’s Science and Technology staff.

Their article examined practices in pursuing sustainability—including potential greenwashing tendencies in climate action efforts—amid the Ateneo administration’s partnership with SolX Technologies Inc. and Shell Energy Philippines.

Moreover, Alyana Fabella (2 AB COM), Sab Mercado (2 AB IS), and Nicole Anne Kelsy Sy (3 BS PSY) were honored as the winner in the Explanatory category for their article, “Of bans and band-aid solutions: Uncovering the impact of the tricycle ban in Katipunan.”

Published in The GUIDON’s April–May 2024 issue, their piece delved into the recent history of tricycle bans in Katipunan and their impact on the livelihoods of Ateneo tricycle drivers. The article was prompted by a 2024 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority regulation prohibiting tricycles from passing through key roads in Metro Manila, including Katipunan Avenue.

Furthermore, Monica Isabel Jose (4 AB DS) was named the winner of the photojournalism category for her coverage of a picket line by transport groups in January 2024.In Jose’s caption, she highlighted the transport groups’ call for a progressive, mass-oriented, at nationalistic public transportation system, particularly in the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

This year’s judges for the written categories included Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) Incoming Director Arlene Burgos, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Senior Reporter Victoria Tulad, and Rappler Senior Editor Luis Francisco de la Vega III.

Meanwhile, the photojournalism category was judged by ACFJ lecturer Vicente Jaime Villafranca, Communication Department faculty member Cherly Nasol, and Eugenio Lopez Jr. Center for Multimedia Communication Executive Director Aaron Vicencio.

Scholarship for aspiring journalist

Following the recognition of student journalists’ contributions, the awarding body presented Leanne Louise Isip (3 AB COM) the Raul L. Locsin Scholarship in Journalism, which is granted to an incoming AB Communication junior or senior.

According to Communication Department Chair Christine Anne Cox, PhD, scholarship applicants were evaluated based on their Individual Program of Study, academic performance, and involvement in extracurricular activities. They were also asked to write an essay on the role of journalists in upholding truth and democracy in the era of misinformation.

The panel of judges for selecting the scholarship recipient is composed of Cox, Ateneo Center for Asian Studies Executive Director Violet Valdez, PhD, veteran sports journalist Severino Sarmenta Jr., PhD, and ACFJ Outgoing Executive Director Luz Rimban.

In her acceptance remarks, Isip thanked the Locsin family for supporting budding journalists like herself. She added that amid the technological advances surrounding the field of journalism, the core mission of truth-telling remains unchanged.

“The continuing wave of misinformation, made worse by [artificial intelligence] and other technological advances, demands journalists to be masters of the medium they deliver the news through—to make sure it reaches those who need the information the most,” Isip remarked.

Despite noting the challenges faced by journalists over the years, Isip asserted her commitment to “uplifting narratives and continuing to make the field of journalism a [more] welcoming one.”

To bring journalistic work to ordinary citizens, she called on journalists to engage in initiatives focused on media literacy, increasing trust in the media, and citizen journalism.

Service through journalism

Highlighting the goal of the Locsin Awards, Que stated that it aims not only to recognize achievements but also to “continue the work of good journalism.” He expressed hope that students will be encouraged to study journalism, knowing that they are backed by the support and collaborative efforts of the community.

Que also hopes that the awards conferred to students from various programs will encourage them to pursue stories unique to their respective fields.

By continuing to organize the Raul L. Locsin Awards, Que ultimately expressed his hope that recognizing journalistic excellence would inspire students to not only serve as chroniclers of truth, but also to promote and stand by it.

Editor’s Note: Lourence Segovia is The GUIDON’s Editor-in-Chief. Derreck De Leon is the publication’s Science & Technology Editor, Ram Hebron is the current Beyond Loyola Editor, Ana Rufa Padua is a current News Editor, and Nicole Anne Kelsy Sy is the current Inquiry Editor. Leanne Louise Isip is a current Broadcast News staffer, Sab Mercado is a current Inquiry staffer, Monica Isabel Jose is a Photos staffer, and Isabel Candida Gonzales is a current News staffer of The GUIDON. Aidan Bernales, Alyana Fabella, and Matthew Santos are current members of the Features staff.