Following a six-year hiatus, White & Blue, the official university-wide student publication of Saint Louis University (SLU), won First Runner-up for Top Best Student Publication– after securing the third spot in the group category and the first place in the individual category- during the 23rd Cordillera Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) held at Benguet State University (BSU) from 12-14 February 2025.
With the theme, “Press Play: Campus Journalists as Game Changers in the Digital Revolution,” Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR) Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) III, Director IV Atty. Septon A. Dela Cruz, represented by CHED-CAR Chief Education Program Specialist Ma. Geraldine Casipit, emphasized the journalists’ duty to seek and uphold truth with integrity and commitment to public service.
“Journalists hold the power to inform, educate, and inspire action. As campus journalists, you are entrusted with the vital role of being society’s watchdogs, amplifying unheard voices, and shaping a more informed and just world,” Casipit stated.
Furthermore, in her Word of Thanks, Tertiary Schools Press Advisers Association-Cordillera Administrative Region (TSPAA-CAR) President Karen Laking hoped the journalist-participants wouldn’t view the press conference as a competition, but be united for their shared responsibility.
“I hope you don’t see each other as competitors but as allies in your passion for journalism and in your responsibility as the voice of the student body. At the end of the day, we are just one Team CAR,” Laking said.
Carlos Garcia, the highest pointer of RHEPC and a White & Blue member, shared that his success was an unexpected yet fulfilling experience and further emphasized his gratitude toward his peers and mentors.
“Winning as the highest pointer in the 23rd RHEPC made me really happy and grateful. It reminded me of my high school days when I used to join press conference contests. Even though the competition was tiring and lasted for three straight days, us winning made all the hard work worth it,” Garcia said.
“I’m so thankful for the support ng mga kasama ko sa contest, our trainer, our heads, our adviser, and sa lahat ng bumubuo sa White & Blue student publication and also, sa last winning piece ko, na last minute decision na pagsali ko sa Comic Strip which made this win possible,” Garcia added.
Furthermore, White & Blue representatives for Ms. and Mr. RHEPC, Rohan Yzrel Ruiz and Anneth Gelaine Dante, were crowned Mr. RHEPC 2025 and Ms. RHEPC 2025 First Runner-up, respectively. Both also received minor awards, including Best in Journalism Attire for both male and female categories and Mr. Wit for Ruiz.
The Radio Broadcasting team was recognized as the Best Radio Broadcasting Team, with Angeline Fajardo and Hajkeem Lintao receiving the Best Anchor award, and Darius Roark Rasing honored as Best Technical Director.
The three-day event gathered campus journalists from various institutions in the Cordillera, including Baguio Central University (BCU), BSU, Divine Word College of Bangued (DWCB), Ifugao State University (IFSU), Kalinga State University (KSU) – Main Campus, KSU – Rizal Campus, Mountain Province State University (MPSU), SLU, St. Louis College of Bulanao (SLCB), St. Tonis College Inc., and the University of the Cordilleras (UC).
A testament to quality campus journalists
In an interview, White & Blue’s Editor-in-Chief, Villamor Dumlao, was delighted and proud that despite the six-year-long hiatus, the publication was able to showcase journalistic prowess.
“As for the awards, sobrang natuwa and very proud ako sa performance na pinakita nila… Hindi naging hadlang ‘yong six years for the experience because of the preparations,” Dumlao stated.
“Their efforts in RHEPC is a testament that White & Blue still produces quality campus journalists. Aside from the skills, it was their will that made this happen,” he added.
In line with this, Dumlao also added that the publication participants used the skills and knowledge earned to be the voice of the Louisian student body.
Moreover, Leslie Mon, the external associate editor of the publication, emphasized that despite the unforeseen circumstances, the “versatility” of its members allowed them to secure places for the Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC).
“White & Blue pulled through because of its members. There were situations that needed sudden adjustments, but our members were versatile enough to adapt. Even with categories far from their original role in the publication, they were able to secure a spot for the LHEPC,” Mon stated.
Aside from a thorough selection of representatives by the publication’s Editorial Board, White & Blue Adviser Kaye Leah Sitchon enumerated training sessions by seasoned journalists when asked about other processes the members went through.
“The processes that W&B went through included scheduled training and mentoring sessions by W&B editors and writers from previous years, as well as local veteran journalists and media professionals,” Sitchon said.
Furthermore, Dumlao thanked the different groups who were part of White & Blue’s return to RHEPC.
“I want to thank the editorial board sa pag-prepare ng mga delegates and [for] arranging paperwork, making this happen and to our advisers for providing their sincerest support for the publication, and of course, to the mentors who trained them. This wouldn’t be also possible without the support of [the] SLU administration and the students,” Dumlao stated.
The top five winners in the individual categories, the champion for Radio Scriptwriting and Broadcasting, and the top three for special categories will advance to the Luzon-wide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC) in Lucban, Quezon Province on 2 to 4 April 2025. (Article by By Ralph Ivan Aniceto, Penelope Dela Cruz, and Keziah Mae Tingga-an | Photos by Rouize Pancho)
