CatSU welcomes 1,186 campus journos in 2025 Division Presscon opening ceremony
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (ED)With the theme “Unto the Centerfold: Shaping Stories in the Shine of Catandunganon Faith and Fortitude,” the conference highlighted the vital role of campus journalism in promoting truth and accountability. CatSU Officer-in-Charge Dr. Roberto B. Barba, Jr. warmly welcomed the student scribes and coaches and emphasized the importance of honesty and fairness in journalism. “As student journalists, your work bridges the gap between facts and understanding. The battle for truth does not end with machines; it begins and ends with us,” he said, addressing the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation. Meanwhile, for LabSchools Principal Joerandy C. Tablizo, this year’s theme reflects deeply within every Catandunganon’s heart. “As this reminds us that the stories we tell, the narrative we weave, have the power to inspire, to inform, and to uplift us,” the host school principal expressed. This 2025 DSPC keynote speaker, Bea Jerika J. Amador, content editor of Greenpeace International, shared also her journey from campus journalist to professional writer. She urged students to step out of their comfort zones, ask critical questions, and seek the truth. “To everyone here, go out of your comfort zone, ask more questions, and always seek truth. Do not stop when the information is given to you, ask questions, like the systems we have,” Amador said. “We live in a country where democracy is always challenged. You have the opportunity to challenge what is happening and make a better system for you. The world that you are building now is going to be the world you will live in,” she added. Schools Division Superintendent Cecile C. Ferro also expressed during the opening ceremony the Department of Education’s commitment in nurturing students’ potential through values and competencies that contribute to nation-building. Joining the opening ceremony were Education Program Supervisor and Division Campus Journalism In-Charge Dr. Gina B. Pantino and other key officials from DepEd-Catanduanes and CatSU. The 2025 division press conference will feature various contests, including individual writing events, group events for TV broadcasting, radio broadcasting, collaborative publishing (desktop and online), and school paper category, running until January 19, 2025.
