19/09/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Some journeys are measured in medals. Others are measured in the courage it takes to begin.
There were too many what-ifs. What if we did not qualify? What if something went wrong? What if all the preparation was not enough? And then came the what-nots, the unexpected detours, the doubts that quietly crept in, and the fear that perhaps, despite everything we had worked for, we would not even make it to the competition. Before the first story was written, before the first photograph was taken, before the first microphone was turned on, we were already fighting a battle of our own.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐
The sealing of equipment alone was enough to test our patience and faith. The venues for Photojournalism, Collaborative and Desktop Publishing, and Radio Broadcasting and Script Writing were different, and each event required a coach for the sealing process. No coach, no seal. In that moment, I wished I could split myself into three, but I couldn't. To make things even more nerve-racking, we were the last group whose equipment went through the sealing process. I remember thinking, โIs this a bad omen?โ
Perhaps it was simply one of those moments when uncertainty becomes louder than reason. Still, the team and I chose to remain hopeful. More importantly, we chose to remain faithful. Quietly, I offered a prayer: โLord, if this is truly for us, please give us the chance to stand on that podium.โ It was not a grand prayer. It was simply a prayer from a coach who wanted nothing more than to see these young journalists given the chance to show what they could do.
And then, the day finally came.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐
From Saint Augustineโs School to Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, we carried more than equipment. We carried the name of our school, the hopes of our coaches, parents, and the people who had supported us along the way. Most of all, our young journalists carried the courage to step into a place filled with people who had come with the same dream.
The heat was unforgiving. The pressure was real. Sleep was scarce, meals were hurried, and beneath the excitement was the quiet realization that the work we had done would now have to speak for itself. Walking among almost 3,000 people was overwhelming and, admittedly, a little frightening. Everywhere we looked were young people who had trained, prepared, written, practiced, and dreamed of the same thing. For a moment, it was easy to feel small.
But then I looked at our students. They were ready. Perhaps not perfectly ready. Perhaps not as prepared as we had hoped to be. But ready enough to try. And sometimes, courage does not look like confidence. Sometimes, courage simply looks like showing up.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Our journalists wracked their brains and searched through everything they had learned during the limited time we had for training. They wrote, photographed, edited, designed, listened, spoke, thought, created, and trusted themselves enough to continue. To tell you the truth, as the sun rose and crossed the vast sky, my own hope seemed to slowly drift with the setting sun. I worried. I wondered. I questioned whether we had done enough.
But whenever I saw how eager our journalists were, I found myself being pulled back from those doubts. Their determination reminded me to believe again. Their excitement reminded me why we came. Their courage reminded me that sometimes, the teacher becomes the learner.
I came to the competition thinking about the podium. They came thinking about doing their best. Somewhere between those two perspectives, I learned something: perhaps the value of an experience should never be measured by where we finish. Perhaps sometimes, we need to stop looking at the finish line long enough to notice what the journey is teaching us.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Twenty-seven individual and team participants carried the name of Saint Augustineโs School across different journalism events at the Division Schools Press Conference. They came from different disciplines, spoke through different mediums, and carried different responsibilities. But they shared one thing: they were Augustinian journalists.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Behind every entry were students who gave their time, energy, and courage to represent Saint Augustineโs School.
๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Atheena Marie A. Lagundino
Filipino: Alriz Zhavine T. Somera
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Vaughn Myles Alexander S. Verganio
Filipino: Rhiana Mitch Q. Andaya
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Juan Miguel B. Dauz
Filipino: Nadia Abilaine D. Agbulos
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Abigayle L. Belmonte
Filipino: Grethel Mikha D. Lardizabal
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Bryce Andro A. Escobar
Filipino: Angel Anne D. Narag
๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Charlea Khate V. Cardenas
Filipino: Rhianne Gwenn B. Macabitas
๐ฐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Iyesha Mae L. Cruz
Filipino: Camille Kate L. Lasquite
๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Doven D. Gadot
Filipino: Marie Louise Z. Corpuz
๐ท ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Ellen Dee A. Fariรฑas
Filipino: Jherryza Ybeth B. Acosta
๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
English: Nikka Edelle B. Paguio
Filipino: Chloe Chantal U. Conde
๐ป ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Graziela Jane L. Mendigoria
Alessandra Nicole L. Pineda
Ashlee Ryne S. Fernandez
Precious Rheign J. Lacanaria
Dariel Ray L. Cruz
Ivern Jairus C. Tavas
Arianne Jhayne C. Cabonias
๐๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Prince Owen S. Andaya
Rovilson Carl D. Sevillo
Jessly Raine M. Haduc
Quinn Hannah L. Bugtong
Czarina Faith F. Cuaresma
Aze Ronald Daniel C. Galut
Ray Alwyn P. Lucero
Every name carries a story of preparation, pressure, courage, and growth.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
And then, there were stories that came home with awards.
โ๏ธ Rhiana Mitch Q. Andaya
4th Place โ Editorial Writing, Filipino
Coach: Maria Carmen Crissa D. Bagano
๐ฐ Iyesha Mae L. Cruz
4th Place โ Feature Writing, English
Coach: Maria Carmen Crissa D. Bagano
๐ท Jherryza Ybeth B. Acosta
5th Place โ Photojournalism, Filipino
Coach: Raymund A. Lapitan
๐ท Ellen Dee A. Fariรฑas
3rd Place โ Photojournalism, English
Coach: Raymund A. Lapitan
๐ฑ Chloe Chantal U. Conde
2nd Place โ Mobile Journalism, Filipino
Coach: Andre Philip C. Tacderas
๐ป COLLABORATIVE AND DESKTOP PUBLISHING โ ENGLISH
3rd Place out of 7 schools
Arianne Jhayne C. Cabonias
Dariel Ray L. Cruz
Alessandra Nicole L. Pineda
Ivern Jairus C. Tavas
Ashlee Ryne S. Fernandez
Precious Rheign J. Lacanaria
Graziela Jane L. Mendigoria
Coach: Andre Philip C. Tacderas
๐๏ธ RADIO BROADCASTING AND SCRIPT WRITING โ ENGLISH
4th Place out of 11 schools
Prince Owen S. Andaya
Rovilson Carl D. Sevillo
Jessly Raine M. Haduc
Quinn Hannah L. Bugtong
Aze Ronald Daniel C. Galut
Czarina Faith F. Cuaresma
Ray Alwyn P. Lucero
Coach: Maria Carmen Crissa D. Bagano
The certificates were handed out. The placements were recorded. The photographs were taken. And for a moment, we celebrated. We should. Achievements deserve to be celebrated because behind every placement are hours of effort, courage, sacrifice, and commitment.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
But when the noise of the competition slowly faded, I found myself returning to the question I had been carrying from the very beginning: What did we really bring home?
The answer, I realized, was not simply found on a certificate. It was found in the students who became more confident after stepping into an unfamiliar environment, in the friendships formed between competitors, in the laughter between stressful moments, in the lessons learned from mistakes, and in the courage to submit a story even when we were unsure of it. It was found in the willingness to listen, adjust, collaborate, and try again.
Awards may eventually fade. Certificates may eventually find their way into folders and drawers. Placements may eventually become numbers we barely remember. But the lessons? Those stay.
Because at the end of the day, success is not simply about how many awards we manage to bring home. It is also about what kind of person we become while pursuing them.
Did we become braver? Did we learn to listen? Did we learn to accept criticism? Did we learn to work with others? Did we learn to tell the truth even when the truth is difficult? Did we learn that our voices can be used not merely to be heard, but to help others be heard?
If we did, then perhaps we brought home something more valuable than a medal.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
To our young journalists, remember this: your voice is a gift, but it is also a responsibility. Use your voice to help others, not to bring others down. Use your ears to listen, not to judge. Use your eyes to see beyond what is immediately visible. Use your mind wisely, and above all, carry a compassionate heart.
Journalism is not merely about writing stories, taking photographs, creating pages, delivering reports, or speaking into a microphone. It is about people. It is about truth. It is about responsibility. It is about service. Behind every story is a person whose life, dignity, and truth deserve to be respected.
So, let every award become a catalyst for something greater. Let every accomplishment challenge you to learn more. Let every mistake make you wiser. Let every story teach you to become more sensitive to the world around you. And let every opportunity to speak remind you that a journalist's greatest responsibility is not simply to have a voice, but to use that voice well.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
No journey like this is ever made alone. To our Sisters, parents, coaches, and the entire Augustinian community, thank you for standing beside us and believing in our young journalists. Thank you for every prayer, every message of encouragement, and every form of support, whether seen or unseen.
To our coaches, thank you for sharing not only your knowledge and skills, but also your patience and time. And to our young journalists, thank you. Thank you for showing up, for trusting the process, and for giving your best even when the preparation felt insufficient. Thank you for reminding me that sometimes, the students we teach have lessons to teach us, too.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
I began this journey with a simple prayer: โLord, if this is truly for us, please give us the chance to stand on that podium.โ
Looking back, perhaps the answer was not exactly what I imagined.
Yes, some of our journalists stood on the podium. But perhaps the Lord was also giving us something beyond the physical podium. He gave our students the courage to step into a room filled with uncertainty. He gave them the strength to continue when preparation felt lacking. He gave them people to meet, lessons to learn, and memories to make.
And perhaps He reminded me that sometimes, we ask for one thing while He quietly gives us something we did not know we needed.
Not everyone stood on a physical podium. But every one of our journalists stood somewhere that mattered: in the face of uncertainty, in the middle of pressure, and in a place where courage was required. And that, too, is worth celebrating.
Because sometimes, the greatest achievement is not being called to the podium. Sometimes, it is having the courage to step onto the stage, give your best, learn from the experience, and walk home a little wiser, a little braver, and a little more prepared to use what you have learned for something greater than yourself.
The stories we wrote may eventually become part of an archive. The awards may eventually become part of a record. But the lessons we carried will become part of who we are.
And perhaps that is the story worth telling. Not simply the story of where we placed, but the story of who we became along the way.
To our young Augustinian journalists, congratulations. You showed up, stood your ground, gave what you could, learned, grew, and carried our school's name with you. For that, and for so much more, I will always be proud of you.
Keep writing with courage. Keep speaking with truth. Keep listening with empathy. Keep using your gifts in the service of others. And wherever your stories take you next, may you always remember that the most meaningful stories are not merely the ones we write.
๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐.
โ๐๐ถ๐จ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ๐ด: ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ต, ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ช๐ด ๐๐ช๐ด๐ด๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ, ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆโ
