Let There Be Light: Owls Triumph at RHEPC 2025

The Review, the official student publication of Northwestern University, showcased its journalistic prowess at the 23rd Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) held on February 19-21 at Puerto de San Juan, La Union with the theme “Press Play: Campus Journalists as Game Changers in Digital Revolution.”

In her welcome address, Dr. Maria Evelyn D. Corpuz, the Association of Regional Campus Paper Advisers (ARCPA) President, emphasized the vital role of responsible journalism in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape.

“Today, we are gathered here not only to share our knowledge and insights but also to strengthen the vital role that journalism plays in our university and society as well,” she stated.

“With the rapid exchange of information and the evolving landscape of media, the significance of responsible and ethical journalism is more critical than ever. It is your duty as aspiring journalists to uphold and strengthen the standards of accuracy, integrity, and fairness,” she added.

She further encouraged the delegates to embrace the competition not just for accolades but as an opportunity to advocate for responsible campus journalism.

“You traveled to San Juan, excited and ready, geared with our mightiest weaponry—our pens, pencils, cameras, and minds—more than ready to show our best in this competition. But as we always say, our press conference is about more than the competition, and as an addition to our treasure box of memories. It is about our advocacy to promote responsible campus journalism. And it is about our hearts to write, express, and inspire others. Journalism is not just a profession; it is a commitment to truth and a passion for storytelling. Let us be the voices for the voiceless and the champions of transparency and justice,” Dr. Corpuz concluded.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mark Teomar Bautista, keynote speaker, highlighted that journalism is about understanding the power of storytelling and capturing moments that shape lives, sparking conversations that lead to change, and ensuring that the voices of the unheard are amplified.

“Remember this: Your words can change lives. Your images can move people. Your videos can bring awareness. Your stories can shape perceptions. Your truth can define reality. And we owe it to the people to ensure that the truth we tell makes their lives better. So we must keep pressing play, keep telling stories, and keep making a difference. So good luck on your journey. Be the game changers in this digital revolution,” Mr. Bautista concluded.

Competing against 27 schools and 422 delegates, the publication secured multiple awards, further cementing its reputation for excellence in campus journalism.

The publication received multiple accolades under the leadership of Aaron Paul Urmeneta, Editor-in-Chief, and with the guidance of their advisers, Ms. Frances Ina Miguel and Prof. Joan Velasco. These awards include 7th place in the Tabloid – News Page category, 5th place in both the Editorial and Opinion, and Features and Literary categories, 9th place in the Sports Page category, and 9th place in Layout Design.

In the individual competitions, Frances Kyle Lapitan, News Editor, secured 2nd place in News Writing (Filipino), and Glyd Nicole Dongaso, Literary Editor, placed 9th in Poetry Writing (Filipino).

Meanwhile, Nash Sambo, a Cartoonist, earned 9th place in Editorial Cartooning (Traditional English), 6th in Comic Strip Drawing (Traditional Filipino), and 5th place in Literary Graphics (English). Furthermore, RayMark Vinuya, Cartoonist, triumphed in Editorial Cartooning (Digital Filipino) with a 1st place win.

James Señoran secured 2nd place in Comic Strip Drawing (Traditional English), while Justine Von Lagoc, Lead Cartoonist, dominated the Literary Graphics Illustration (Digital English) and Comic Strip (Filipino) categories, both securing 1st place. Lagoc also emerged as the 6th highest individual pointer, earning 20 points amongst the 422 delegates.

In the Radio Broadcasting category, coached by Mr. Jon Oscar Lois “Spider” Rodas, Dan Del Prado placed 9th in Technical Application. The team earned 7th place for Best Script, and the publication ranked 10th overall in Radio Scriptwriting and Broadcasting.

The following individuals have qualified for the Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC), set to take place in Lucban, Quezon, on April 2-4: Frances Kyle Lapitan for News Writing (Filipino), Raymark Vinuya for Editorial Cartooning (Digital Filipino), James David Señoran for Comic Strip Drawing (Traditional English), Nash Sambo for Literary Graphics (English), and Justine Von Lagoc for Literary Graphics Illustration (Digital English) and Comic Strip (Filipino).