LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Young journalist Bianca S. Mandapat of this capital town started her writing career right by taking hold of CAR’s Outstanding Journalist Award during the recently held Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) in Luna, Apayao last January 26-29, 2015.
The H.O.P.E. Christian Academy, Inc. grade six student won over six other contenders who came from the region’s different provinces. Each were adjudged based on the criteria that included academic standing (20 points), achievements in journalism (40 pts.), leadership in national, regional and division levels as well as in school association and position in the school publication (25 pts.), community and extension services related to journalism (10 pts.), and interview (5 pts.) which summed up to a total of 100 points.
Education Program Advicer Lucio B. Alawas said that “all seven contenders may had the same achievements in terms of academic standing, leadership in national and division levels, community extension among others except for journalism achievements, especially so that this criterion gets the highest point, in which Ms. Mandapat was in the forefront.”
It can be recalled that Ms. Mandapat was the champion for Feature Writing, English category in the DepEd National Schools Press Conference held in Subic, Pampanga last April 7-10, 2014. “Mandapat will represent the region in the upcoming DepEd National Schools Press Conference which will be held in Taguig City on April 6-10, 2015. She will be honoured along with 16 awarded outstanding journalists from all over the country” Alawas further explained.
Meanwhile, Manadapat said, “writing is hard but it is my passion so i will continue writing. I love writing poems and feature stories,” being the editor-in-chief of the H.O.P.E. Christian Academy official publication “Marturion Jr.” I will write to encourage others to do good things.”
By Bobby Vinluan