NEWS | DSJC: Advocating fearless truth-telling, empowering aspiring campus journalists
By Sean Gere Pascual
The Alpha Pi Beta Fraternity — University of the Philippines College of Law has successfully held the second installment of the Ditto Sarmiento Journalism Cup (DSJC), which ended on October 31, 2021. The two-month long event aims to recognize the best young journalists in the country as well as inspire them to promote the advocacies and values that Ditto Sarmiento and student journalists stood up for during the Marcos dictatorship.
Distinguished personalities in journalism and young journalists from different high schools and universities took part in the event. The event featured a series of lectures and keynote sessions tackling fact-checking, journalism ethics, news writing, feature writing, editorial writing, and advocacy writing.
Remembering Ditto
The annual DSJC was held in honor of Abraham “Ditto” P. Sarmiento, a former editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian (PhKule) and an Alphan martyr. His editorial articles remain a symbolic press freedom legacy with its iconic words, “Kung hindi tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?”
According to Sen. Joey Lina Jr., one of the guest speakers in the event, Sarmiento bravely wrote editorials that criticize the injustice of the Marcos dictatorship. His writings disclosed what truly happened in the Philippines during Martial Law and opened the eyes of the Filipinos despite the dangers that awaited him. This caused Sarmiento to be a political detainee during Martial Law, spending seven years and seven months in jail.
Lina added that Sarmiento’s life is worth emulating and that his work as a student journalist is truly worth placing on a pedestal.
The event held two press conferences for the search for the Ten Outstanding Young Journalists (TOYJ) on their opening day last October 10, 2021. This was led by Mikhail Lawrence Ramrod B. Llorca, contact tracing head of the Pasay City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, and Atty. Justin Caesar Anthony D. Batocabe, director of the National Household Targeting Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In addition, a lecture series that tackled various topics and promoted the values of free, responsible, and critical journalism was also held.
Subsequently, competitions in editorial cartooning, photojournalism, editorial writing, news writing, feature writing, copy editing, and headline writing took place.
To culminate the two-month journalism cup, six honorable speakers were invited on its closing program last October 31. The speakers include Jamela Aisha Alindogan, multimedia journalist and correspondent for Al Jazeera English; Joey Lina, Former senator, columnist and radio host; Salvador “Bong” Belaro Jr., former 1-Ang Edukasyon partylist representative; Alex Lacson, author of best-selling patriotic books; Kabataan Partylist representative Hon. Sarah Elago; and multidisciplinary documentarist Atom Araullo.
Invaluable role of journalists
The invited speakers for the culminating activity shared their experiences in journalism as well lessons they have learned in the field. The role of journalism, the characteristics of a good writer, and the power of pens were highlighted in their speeches.
Alindogan, a 14-year veteran, asserted that the purpose and essence of journalists are to feel, to commiserate, to have empathy, and to have moral outrage. She reminded the participants to never look away when faced with injustice.
“So speak, even when we are afraid, and even sometimes at the risk of immense personal cost. It’s not easy because we live at a time of fear but all of our voices are needed,” she said.
Furthermore, Elago highlighted how Sarmiento’s words inspired the youth to act and speak out against tyranny, abuse of power, and injustice then and now. She reiterated the valuable contributions of campus publications and mentioned how it served as alternative press after the entire Philippines was placed under Martial Law. During the said period, the state imposed censorship and ordered the closure of major daily television, radio stations, and local community papers.
Elago emphasized that despite being challenged with different forms of repressive attacks, relying on unity is one of the most important tasks of campus journalists.
“Sa kabila ng iba’t ibang porma ng panggigipit, higit kailanman kailangan sumalalay sa pagkakaisa. Pagkakaisa para sa paglaban sa mga atake [ang] isa [sa] mahalagang tungkulin ng mga mamamahayag. Pagkakaisa para singilin ang paglabag sa karaptang pantao at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan. Pagkakaisa para ihayag ang panawagan ng mga estudyante, at sambayanang pilipino para sa ayuda, ligtas na balik paaralan at trabaho, kabuhayan, at pagtatanggol sa soberanya ng ating bayan,” Elago stressed.
Meanwhile, Araullo stressed the importance of active listening in giving the marginalized a genuine voice to rise above the colony of disinformation.
“Activism begins with actively listening and it is when we truly listen to whom we have left behind. When we understand their pain and frustrations that we can know what is true and it is only then that we could hope to defend democracy,” Araullo stated.
Francis Masiglat, Lord Chancellor of Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity closed the event by stressing the essence of actively partaking in the continuous campaign for fearless truth-telling.
“Hangga’t ang kabataan natin ay may paninindigan sa kalayaang hatid ay katotohanan, tayo ay patuloy na kikilos, patuloy na kikibo, hindi mamaya, hindi bukas, kundi ngayon. Sana sa pagtatapos ng programa, marami pa ang sumama sa ating laban at kampanya para sa katotohanan,” Masiglat concluded.
DSJC Winners
The top three winners of the prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Journalists (TOYJ) award were John Anton Benedict G. Garcia from Philippine Science High School — Central Luzon Campus; Emil Jan I. Llagas from Philippine Science High School — CALABARZON Region Campus; and Vinzen Josh L. Borja from Quezon National High School.
Other TOYJ recipients include Bjorn Del B. Deade, Gwyneth Jemima P. Morales, Elijah Max M. Salazar, Bianca Marie C. Lim, Ashley M. Pino, Francis Paul J. Nicdao, and Julia Mikaela M. Uy.
Meanwhile, Ysabella Maria G. Calvario and Jose Mari Israita took first place in the Editorial Cartooning contest and Photojournalism contest respectively.
