Batanes State College (BSC) etched its name in school history after two student journalists from The Builder’s Publication, Jetrick Kyle D. Gordo and Guillermo C. Bongay Jr., competed at the prestigious 19th Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference (LHEPC) held on March 19-21, 2024, at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City.

This marked the first time BSC qualified for the LHEPC, thanks to the stellar performances of Gordo and Bongay at the 20th Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC) earlier this year. Gordo dominated the artistic categories, securing 1st place in Editorial Cartooning, 3rd place in Comic Strip Drawing, and 5th place in Literary Graphic Illustration. Bongay, meanwhile, impressed the judges with his strong 3rd place finish in Sports Writing (English) at the RHEPC, securing their ticket to the LHEPC.

Despite not placing in the individual and group competitions at the LHEPC, both Gordo and Bongay expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity. “I’m incredibly grateful for the experience,” shared Bongay. “Even though we didn’t win, I learned a lot, especially about writing articles for real-world publications. I hope the next batch of student journalists from The Builders who will participate in the 21st RHEPC and hopefully will qualify for LHEPC will be even stronger.”

Gordo, a previous RHEPC qualifier, echoed this sentiment. “The whole process can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers like us,” he admitted. “But as you participate more, you learn to enjoy the event. The initial anxiety and stress are replaced by the thrill of competition and seeing how your work stacks up against others. You can sometimes learn more from your fellow competitors than from the speakers themselves.”

He added, “It’s inspiring to see the diverse styles and approaches of other publications. I hope this event encourages more BSC students to get involved in campus journalism. As seniors, we’re always happy to help and offer guidance to the next generation.”

Mr. Andrei Cordova, the publication adviser, expressed his satisfaction. “Having BSC students compete on the LHEPC stage is a significant achievement,” he said. “They represented their college and region exceptionally well, especially considering this is BSC’s first time participating. I’m truly impressed by their dedication and the valuable experience they gained. This paves the way for a bright future for our campus journalists.”

While Gordo and Bongay may not have brought home trophies this year, their participation at the LHEPC signifies a major milestone for BSC’s campus journalists. Their learnings and experiences will undoubtedly pave the way for future BSC campus journalists to achieve even greater success on the regional and national stage.

Looking ahead, the next challenge for BSC’s aspiring campus journalists is the 21st RHEPC set to be held in Cauayan City, Isabela. With their sights set even higher, they’ll strive to qualify for the 20th LHEPC, hosted by Region IV-A CALABARZON. The future of campus journalism at BSC appears bright!