SunStar campus writer bags 2 journ awards
AN INCOMING Grade 7 student from Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu has earned top awards in two of the country’s prestigious campus journalism competitions organized by the Department of Education, marking a significant milestone in the elementary division.
Marieanne Vienette Borinaga Japlit, then a Grade 6 student, placed first in Feature Writing (English) at the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) in Siquijor from Feb. 24 to 28, 2025.
She then advanced to the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, from May 19 to 23, where she clinched third place, placing her among the best young writers in the Philippines.
“I was not expecting to win,” Japlit said in an interview. “I really liked writing before, but for this RSPC, I was just randomly picked by the school.”
She said the opportunity came as a surprise, feeling more like a chance encounter with destiny than something planned.
Japlit, also a contributor to SunStar’s Campus Perspective section, had her opinion piece “Artists too can make a difference in this world,” published on Feb. 23.
The article advocated for the integration of art in education, emphasizing its role in shaping emotionally aware and well-rounded learners.
While the win came unexpectedly, her interest in writing wasn’t new. She had already dabbled in journalism during Grade 5 when she competed in News Writing.
That experience, however, came with its challenges. “My main struggle back then was the language barrier,” she said. “Some of my interviewees spoke Cebuano, and I had a hard time understanding them. It was emotionally draining for me.”
Now more confident and experienced, Marieanne feels she has found her voice in Feature Writing. “I already know the drill,” she said.
Behind her achievements is the quiet but unwavering support of her mother, Grace Borinaga Japlit. “As soon as I found out we’d be traveling, I secured our tickets immediately,” she said. “I gave my all to support her. And I told her, ‘Whatever happens, win or lose, I’m proud of you.’”
She recalled the nerve-wracking moment during the NSPC awarding ceremony. “I was expecting my daughter’s name to be called. When I looked at her coach, she was already jumping — it was because our region was called!” she said. “I was just the one taking pictures of her, of them. I wasn’t the one assisting.”
She also recalled how emotional the moment was. “There were a lot of students. I didn’t know if she would get a place. When the results came, I saw many students crying because of all the time and effort they had put in. It was hard to watch. Even Marieanne felt for them.”
Marieanne recently graduated as first honors of her batch and was named Sacred Heart-Ateneo’s Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year. When asked if she plans to pursue journalism in the future, she replied with quiet hope: “I hope so.”
Irish Mae Sevilla / Junior Journo