Explained PH Turned my Last NSPC Loss into Impact and Leadership

Two years have gone by since I stood on the NSPC stage for the last time in 2023. I was an online publishing contestant, hoping to bring home another trophy for the Bicol Region, just like we did in 2019. However, things did not go the way I hoped. I failed. I was devastated and sad. But deep inside, I knew that this was not the end of my JOURNey, and Explained PH proved that.

In case you do not know, I am one of the oldest members of Explained PH. I joined the organization on July 16, 2020, starting as a humble contributor. When the pandemic hit, I found myself missing everything I used to do as a campus journalist. That longing led me to co-found “Every Boto Counts,” an organization I started with a friend to advocate for good governance and wise voting, especially as discussions on poor leadership became louder during those times. Through that initiative, I met Archie, someone who would later redefine the direction of my life. Fun fact is Every Boto Counts was soon acquired by Explained PH as its voter education leg.

Around July 2020, I discovered that Archie had founded a youth-led news and media organization called Explained PH. It was new, but it had already reached thousands of likes and followers on Facebook. I was intrigued and inspired. As someone who deeply missed the world of campus journalism, I knew I had to be part of it. I became a member on July 16, 2020, my Explained PH “birthday.”

Since then, I have witnessed many staffers come and go. They left for a variety of reasons such as academic pressure, shifting priorities, and mental health concerns. I went through those struggles too. There were many moments when I felt I could walk away, submit my resignation letter, and rest. But I stayed. Not because everything was easy, but because I believed in the advocacy. Even when I felt like I was not as good as my fellow staffers who have greater achievements and skills than me, I still wanted to contribute to the future success of the organization in any way I could.

2023, before our Division Schools Press Conference in Camarines Norte, I found out that I passed the University of the Philippines College Admission Test. I was accepted into my priority program, Bachelor of Science in Development Communication. It was the perfect combination of everything I loved such as journalism, science, and advocacy. I realized that after high school, I would finally be able to leave my province and move to Los Baños, Laguna to study at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. I would also finally meet Archie in person after years of working together virtually. 

The same year, the school press conferences returned. But after years of not competing, my skills had become rusty. The last time I joined was in 2019 because of the pandemic. So I reached out to Archie and asked him to train me to improve my knowledge and skills as the layout artist and team leader of our group. He agreed, and with his guidance, I slowly regained my confidence and skills. Our team eventually earned a spot at the National Schools Press Conference 2023 in Cagayan de Oro, my final NSPC before I graduated.

Actually, there was a time when Archie and I planned to compete against each other in the NSPC. That dream was put on hold when the pandemic struck, and by the time NSPC returned, Archie already graduated in high school. So, instead of competing, he trained me. And I became the first student he ever trained who made it to the National Schools Press Conference.

The NSPC awarding day came on July 20, just four days after I celebrated my third year as a member and editor of Explained PH. But we lost. Despite all our efforts, our team did not win. I failed to bring home another NSPC trophy for my school. I felt disappointed in myself. I also worried that my trainer and editor-in-chief was disappointed in me as well.

I messaged him, unsure of what to expect. I thought he would point out everything I had done wrong. But he did not. Instead, he comforted me. He reminded me of my purpose. He told me that setting foot on the NSPC stage once again was already a major accomplishment. And he was right.

I lost my last NSPC, but Archie and the entire Explained PH community reminded me that this was not the end of my JOURNey.

So I chose to move forward. I chose to keep the fire in my heart burning for journalism, for advocacy, and for telling stories that matter.

As I left the campus journalism scene and entered the world of development communication, I began to witness the real battle—the fight for truth alongside the masses.

When I look back and compare who I was in 2023 to the person I am today, I see a completely different version of myself. Today, I am empowering others. My skills, achievements, and capabilities are being recognized not only in my province, but also in different parts of the country. I have met new people who share the same passion and advocacy. I have built strong connections with fellow changemakers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

From a humble contributor, I was promoted as the Associate Editor of Explained PH in 2024. With every milestone and every impact the organization made in the lives of campus journalists across the Philippines, I was there. I thought I could not contribute anything significant to the success of the organization, but Explained PH and the people within it believed in me. And because of that, I learned to believe in myself too. I may have lost my last NSPC. I may have ended my campus journalism career with bittersweet memories. But I am still here, making an impact, changing lives, and continuously growing.

I even had the opportunity to represent Explained PH in the Global Media Competition: Social Reels Challenge, and I won the grand prize. That victory marked a new chapter for Explained PH as it officially became an award winning and internationally recognized youth led news and media organization.

My Explained PH family founded a campus journalism community called SPEAK UP, now the largest campus journalism community in the Philippines. What started as a simple initiative became a national movement that continues to empower student journalists across the country.

We organized Journalism Camps annually, and I had the opportunity to become a speaker in these events alongside respected media professionals such as Jacque Manabat and Cartoonist Zach. I also had the unforgettable chance to meet Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in the flesh. These moments reminded me of how far I had come, not just as a journalist, but as someone who now uplifts others.

And last but not the least, my achievements with Explained PH opened doors to receive story grants, the resources that now allow me to amplify my advocacies, especially for the marginalized sectors of our country. These are not just opportunities. They are responsibilities I now carry with purpose.

This has been Jhewen, the personified emblem of passion, resilience, and purpose. A living proof that your JOURNey does not end when you fall. It begins again every time you rise.

To all who read this piece, I want you to know that I believe in you too. Losing in a press conference is not the end of your JOURNey. It is just the beginning, a turning point into something greater. So bounce back, and remember that there is a greater battle ahead. The country needs us now more than ever.