Maryknollers join division-wide press conference

STO. TOMAS, Davao del Norte—More than 50 campus journalists from Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas will compete in Davao del Norte’s Division-wide Secondary and Elementary Schools Press Conference which will be held on November 7-8, 2013 at Carmen Municipal Gymnasium, a school paper adviser said.

Gloria Madulara, School paper adviser, said Wednesday that her students are intensively preparing for the various writing competitions in the much awaited writing tilt, saying that they have been preparing since June this year just to hone the writing and critical thinking skills of student-journalists.

“Preparedness is our key to win in the competition just like what I have always done in the past. We could not produce best campus writers if they lacked regular and comprehensive trainings in lieu of their chosen event in the competition,” Madulara said.

Campus journalists from Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas will compete for the following events. In individual: news writing, editorial cartooning, feature writing, sports writing, copy reading, headline writing, photojournalism, lay-outing; while in group events: radio broadcasting, script writing, editorial and feature page, literary page, news page and sports page.

“They must be able to write well and develop the ability to discern and understand what and who they write for. It is their role also to present the status quo of the system which requires their in-depth analysis and contextualizing the system to the reality,” the school paper adviser said.

Meanwhile, Sr. Ma. Evelyn M. Oqueza, OP, Principal of Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas, has also expressed her full sup- port to the campus journalists, reminding the student-journalists of their role to be a “catalyst of change.”

“All of you must be purveyors of truth. Each one of you must shed light on the pressing issues we are facing everyday. You must help open the minds of your co-students to the situation not only on campus level but also in society as a whole. “Oquiza said.

The Sunrise and Ang Pagsikat issued in both English and Filipino are the two official school publications of Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas.