Owls prevail, bag Awards in 21st RHEPC
The Review editors and staff of Northwestern University competed in the 21st Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) centered with the theme “Recalibrate: Championing Principled Journalism in Battling Infoxification – The Campus Press Journey” at Puerto de San Juan, San Juan, La Union on January 26-28, 2023.
The event was organized by the Association of Regional Campus Paper Advisers (ARCPA) of Higher Education Institution Inc. and Association of College Editors (ACE), in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education Region 1 (CHEDRO1) , making its comeback after almost three years since the last RHEPC before the pandemic.
Pamela V. Tadeja, Dyan Rae G. Rapacon, Aaron Paul C. Urmeneta, Sophia Louisse C. Ang, Brittany Lei B. Maquiraya, David Jonathan L. Hernandez, Clark Justine A. Galiza, Russel L. Joy Pascua, John Reygie A. Sison, Alvin R. Bartolome, Shaika B. Lamar, and Christian Jan A. Ragasa represented the university accompanied by Mr. John Eiell Domingo, college instructor and former Editor-in-Chief of the Review.
During the three-day competition, the student journalists showcased their skills in different contested events of journalism. Securing a total of 15 awards, the editors and staff proved that they are qualified to compete and establish tickets to the Luzon-wide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC).
The student artists who secured their spots were Russel Joy Pascua, Lead Cartoonist, who was hailed as the 3rd Highest Individual Pointer, champion for Editorial Cartooning-English, 4th placer in Comics Strip Drawing-English, and 8th placer in Literary Graphics- English; Clark Justine Galiza, Lead Graphic Artist obtained the gold in Photojournalism- English, and the 9th Place – Layouting English ; Alvin Bartolome, Cartoonist, also raked the top spot in Development Communication-Filipino, 7th place in Literary Graphics Filipino, and 10th place in the Comics Strip Drawing Filipino; and Christian Jan Ragasa, cartoonist, snatched the 8th place in Editorial Cartooning- Filipino.
On the other hand, the student writers, Dyan Rae Rapacon, Managing Editor bagged the 5th in Poetry Writing English and 7th place in News Writing Filipino ; Aaron Paul Urmeneta , News Editor, grabbed the 5th place in News Writing English, and 9th place in Editorial Writing Filipino and David Jonathan Hernandez, Sports Editor seized the 4th place in Sports Writing English.
Moreover, Russel Joy Pascua, LHEPC qualifier, expressed her joy and gratitude for winning the top spot in her category. “I am so much honored and blessed at the same time! Representing The Review publication in Regionals was already a big achievement for me. Having been a journalist since elementary school, this has actually been my dream to get into the Luzon-wide for Nationals. And now I am so proud that I am living with my dream,” she said.
Clark Justine Galiza, also one of the LHEPC qualifiers, shared how he was able to snatch his place as the champion in his category.
“Honestly speaking, it is my first time to participate in this press conference and I accepted it as a challenge knowing that we are competing against top-tier journalists in the region. With that, I don’t have the proper training and practice to enter RHEPC. All I have is myself with constant dedication to my passion, confidence, courage, and always the believer,” he stated.“
God is really amazing, I asked for 5th place but he gave me 1st place in Photojournalism-English. In preparation for the coming LHEPC, I will still ignite the flame in me to make Northwestern University proud,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Alvin Bartolome, one of the LHEPC qualifiers, rendered that the results made surprised him for being awarded as 1st place in his category.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect these small wins, and I can’t even say this idiom that what you reap is what you sow because I joined RHEPC to enjoy La Union and have fun with my co-journalists to count as memories for my last year’s journey of being a journalist in an institution,” the young cartoonist stated.
“I’m in this position right now because of The Review, that first believed in me, in my capabilities, pushed me to ignite the fire with no limits,” he added.
Furthermore, Pascua, Bartolome, Galiza, Rapacon, Urmeneta, and Hernandez are set to compete and qualified to join the Luzon-wide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC) to be held in Bicol Region.
