Epitome of Outstanding Campus Journalist
Maria Alanis G. Tenorio copped the 4th Place Most Outstanding Secondary Campus Journalist of the Philippines during the recently concluded 2019 National Scchools Press Conference at Lingayen, Pangasinan, January 28-February 1.
The said award is the highest distinction given to a campus journalist who has demonstrated exemplary performance in campus journalism and campus press leadership.
Moreover, Alanis bagged the 2018 Outstanding Secondary Campus Journalist of Region III (Central Luzon) having been a consistent contestant and champion in copyreading and headline writing, representing the school and even the region in the national schools press conference. She was awarded during the 2018 Regional Schools Press Conference held at Malolos, Bulacan, November 20-21, 2018.
Tale of a Sagradan Champion
With the goal of making not only the school but her parents proud, Maria Alanis G. Tenorio of Montessori De Sagrada Familia (MDSF) gave all her best in order to ace the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) 2017.
Being just a beginner journalist and a novice contestant in the category of Copyreading and Headline Writing, Tenorio realized that it doesn’t matter if you are just a beginner in your field. What matters is the willingness to learn and to love what you are doing.
She was hailed as the 1st placer in her category of CRHW after battling the odds and representing Region III in the NSPC 2017 which was held in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Tenorio started as just a member and a writer of The Sagradan Penpushers when she was in Grade 7 after being advised by her cousins to join the said organization. She was already aware of the Press Conference but she did not get the chance to join it when she was in her first year in high school.
It was only in Grade 9 that she had the chance to prove herself after being called out by her teacher turned coach, Jared Manalastas, to try out and train for copyreading. This was the start of everything.
“I remembered wanting to join the contest but I wasn’t given a chance. That’s why when Sir Jared approached me and asked if I wanted to join, I realized that I shouldn’t pass up this opportunity. I promised myself that I would learn copyreading and that I would give my best.”
Unfortunately, it was not yet her time to shine. Even though she bagged the gold medal in the EDDIS level and qualified for the DSPC, she was not able to move on to the RSPC after falling short at 9th place.
This did not diminish Tenorio’s hopes because she knows that she’s still got next year to get a shot at the NSPC. She was just beginning her journey in the field of journalism.
With her eyes set on the prize, Tenorio was ready and determined to join the PressCon. This time, she promised herself that she would not just stop at the DSPC but she would go and climb up the steps in order to qualify for the NSPC.
She underwent intensive trainings, read newspapers and looked for techniques in order to write effective headlines but despite all of that, she struggled a lot.
There were a lot of times when she failed to meet the deadlines set for her by her coach and there were also times when she did not give her full attention to her trainings. She found it hard to balance her time between her studies, her training for the PressCon and her training for the Spelling Bee. She felt pressured and she felt like she was carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders.
Through all the tears and negative thoughts, Tenorio found an answer for her to come back to the path that she started. She prayed and surrounded herself with the support coming from her family, friends, classmates and teachers.
She got past the EDDIS level, the DSPC level and gave her best in the RSPC level. She patiently waited for the results which was going to be known in the form of a memorandum. When it came in December 3, she was phoned by a friend and was told that she bagged the gold medal in the CRHW category.
“Wala akong kaalam-alam noong araw na yon. Basta ang natatandaan ko lang ay kumakain ako ng almusal hanggang sa tumawag yung kaibigan ko tapos bigla na lang niyang sinabing, ‘Congrats!’. Mga ilang minuto pa bago nag-sink in sakin yung sinabi niya hanggang sa iniyakan ko na lang siya sa phone kasi noong una hindi pa ako naniniwala.”
Making of Outstanding Campus Journalist
Tenorio has now found her way to the NSPC. With all her hardwork and efforts combined, she was hailed as the NSPC 2017 champion in the Copyreading and Headline Writing-English category.
She admitted that she did not expect winning at all. All she ever thought about was how blessed she already was for being a participant in the NSPC. The experience that she had while being in Pagadian was already a prize and she felt like she was already a winner by just being there in the NSPC.
“I was not expecting anything. Masaya na ako na natupad ko yung pangarap ko na makasali sa NSPC. Kaya nga nung tinawag na yung 2nd place, tatawagan ko na rin sana si mommy para sabihing talo na ako. Hanggang sa nagulat na lang ako na tinawag yung Division of Bulacan para doon sa 1st place.”
Tenorio said that it was one of the best moments of her life. She felt even happier after she relayed what happened to her parents and after hearing their proud words.
Even though she was not participating anymore in the Press Conferences, Tenorio shared that copyreading would always be a part of her life. She said that she was able to use copyreading when she was doing her school works. She found it really helpful especially when writing her papers for school.
When asked what her advice would be to her fellow campus journalists, she said:
“Always pray to God. This is the first thing that I do whenever I struggle in what I am doing and whenever I am joining contests. I also have to say that you should always believe in yourself. Do not let others bring you down. Be positive. If it is not your time yet, there is the following year and the year after that. You should also be responsible and dedicated to your trainings. Do not let laziness overcome you and of course, always give your best in everything that you do.”
#SoarhighSagradan #SagradanExcellence #WeAreTheChildrenOfMDSF #SoarhighMDSF #NSPC
