CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – This city welcomed over 5,000 delegates in this year’s National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) and National Festival of Talents (NFOT) here from July 17 to 20. Various journalism and talent competitions started on Monday, after the competition’s grandiose opening program, where the 17 participating regions in the country were given the chance to showcase their short "chant" as they were introduced. The series of competitions set on Monday were conducted at the different schools in this city.
DELEGATES of the National Schools Press Conference 2023 recite the Journalist’s Creed during the opening program at Limketkai Atrium, Cagayan de Oro City, on Monday, July 17. (Franck Dick Rosete) Anna Faye Rogales, a campus journalist at Estancia National High School from Western Visayas, said she was excited for NSPC this year after her dream of competing in the event was cancelled because of the pandemic. "We are really preparing for the NSPC since we have been waiting for this. This time, we prepare ourselves in order to have a good result from this competition," Rogales said in an interview on Monday. Department of Education Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching Gina Gonong said face-to-face competitions return for this year’s NSPC and NFOT. The annual NSPC was not conducted for the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is also the first time that two big events were joined in one grand opening to jumpstart week-long activities in journalism and the festival of talents. "Both NSPC and NFOT give a chance for our learners to showcase their talents. This also allows us to assess what we are doing to improve the learning outcome of our students," Gonong said as she read the message of Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte who was unable to attend the opening program. The State, under the law, shall promote the development and growth of campus journalism as a means of strengthening ethical values, as stated in Republic Act No. 7079, or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. Section 8 states that "The Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (now DepEd) shall sponsor periodic competitions, press conferences, and training seminars in which student-editors/writers and teacher-adviser of student publications in the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels shall participate." “For this year’s NSPC, only the top regional winner per medium will compete in the individual categories and only one team, composed of five members, per medium in the group categories. Moreover, a campus journalist can participate only in one event, either an individual or group category," DepEd had earlier said. Jocelyn Andaya, director of the DepEd-Bureau of Curriculum Development, who provided the rationale and objectives of this year’s NSPC and NFOT, said the NSPC serves as a platform for aspiring journalists to demonstrate their understanding of journalism using different types of media. On the other hand, NFOT aims to give opportunities to students in different DepEd programs, such as the Alternative Learning System, Indigenous People’s Education, Special Needs Education Program, and Madrasa Education Program, to showcase their talents. "Let us give this momentous event our all. Para sa bansang makabata at batang makabansa (for a youthful country and the country’s youth)," Andaya said in her message. Arturo Bayocot, director of DepEd-Northern Mindanao, said that they really prepared for this year’s NSPC and NFOT since they had been informed since last year, citing the outcome of the event’s grand opening. Mayor Rolando Uy here, in his video message, thanked DepEd, especially Duterte for choosing this city, and said the people are honored to become hosts for the two prestigious events. Uy has issued Executive Order No. 169-2023 directing the city government and participating barangays to provide necessary support during DepEd’s NSPC and NFOT. "I want to ensure that the health, safety, and security of all delegates are the top priorities of every local official.”