In their participation at the 21st Luzon-wide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC) on 17-19 March 2026 held at NGN Gran Hotel Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, White & Blue, the official student publication of Saint Louis University (SLU), earned additional medals and trophies for their excellence in campus journalism.
Bearing the theme “VOICES ABLAZE: Campus Journalists as Vigilant Truthtellers,” the 21st LHEPC was participated by 1,167 journalists, 133 universities, from Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, CAR, and Region VII, the guest region.
The press conference aimed to develop fellowship among campus journalists, enrich participants’ journalistic qualities through a series of lectures and competitions, and enhance the practice of campus journalism in higher education institutions in general.
Listed below are the awards received by White & Blue:
Tabloid Category: Eurotab Volume XXVI Issue 01
9th Place, Overall Ranking
2nd Place, Best Page Design
7th Place, Best Feature Page
10th Place, Best DevComm Page
Magazine Category: Idapuan
8th Place, Overall Ranking
3rd Place, Best Editorial Page
4th Place, Best Cover Design
7th Place, Best DevComm Page
Individual Categories
Editorial Writing (Filipino): 4th Place, Jelique Reese Serrano
Development Communication Writing (English): 8th Place, Kathleen Therese Catingub
Feature Writing (Filipino): 9th Place, Keziah Lois Sargento
Comics Strip Drawing (Traditional): 1st Place, Carlos Garcia
Literary Graphics Illustration (Traditional): 6th Place, Carlos Garcia
Editorial Cartooning (Traditional): 7th Place, John Patrick Leandado
Literary Graphics Illustration (Digital): 8th Place, Char Antonia Lagera
Editorial Cartooning (Digital): 10th Place, Rouize Pancho
Mobile Journalism: 7th Place, Hajkeem Lintao
Digital Infographics: 9th Place, Serenity Mateo
In an interview with Kent Catingub, one of the White & Blue advisers, he shared some of the issues faced by the publication prior and during the conference, and gave emphasis on the camaraderie showcased by the journalists despite them competing for individual categories.
“The publication faced some issues such as scheduling conflicts on their individual cliniqueing sessions and availability of flash drives for digital submissions, but nothing significant enough that their performance in the competition was compromised. Nonetheless, the delegates prepared themselves for any scenario and adapted quickly by communicating with each other,” Catingub stated.
Further, the Luzon Association of College Editors (LACE) announced that this will be the final edition of LHEPC, as it is set to transition into National Higher Education Press Conference (NHEPC) next year, opening participation also to delegates from Visayas and Mindanao. (Article by Penelope Dela Cruz and Keziah Mae Tingga-an | Photos by Rouize Pancho)
