The 2024 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) witnessed a historic upset as the Davao Region (Region 11) toppled the nine-year champion CALABARZON (Region IV-A).

Photos Courtesy of Daiven Monforte/Explained PH.

But the pressure to excel, however, was undeniable. Being first runner-up in 2023 behind the dominant CALABARZON pushed Davaoeno campus journalists to strive even harder.

“Actually noong nakaraang National Schools Press Conference, first runner up po kami. So it’s a challenge for us today na makuha ang aming championship,” Mary Jane Mejorada, Department of Education Region 11's Education Program Supervisor, told Explained PH.

The Davao Region team, brimming with pride and a touch of humility, explained that their victory was not borne out of a desire to conquer a rival, but an ambition to achieve their own potential.

“CALABARZON is our idol, hindi po namin siya gi-defeat, hindi po iyon ang purpose namin,” Mejorada said. “Our purpose is to be ready para makuha namin ang championship.”

This motivation pushed them to craft a more strategic approach to the competition, revealing their unique selection process. This multi-stage selection ensured that only the most talented campus journalists represented their region at the NSPC.

“Lahat ng aming pagsisikap from DSPC (Division Schools Press Conference), from the division level, grabe na training sa mga schools. Then after RSPC (Regional Schools Press Conference), may three rounds kami pag selection ng mga the best writers among Region 11,” she said. 

They expressed their gratitude to their support system, thanking DepEd Region 11’s Regional Director Allan Farnazo, Assistant Regional Director Rebonfamil Baguio, Chief of the Curriculum & Learning Management Division Mary Jeanne Aldeguer, and the rest of the division for exhausting their resources on the intensive in-house training.

“Sila ay mga journalists, mga school paper adviser, ang heart nila ay nasa journalism talaga,” Mejorada said. 

“Para ito sa aming rehiyon (Davao Region), lahat lahat… To God be the glory."