JOURNQUEST AJOURNED: Explained PH empowers campus journos via free caravan

Mary Sophia Angela Buenavidez, Mitz Julianne Gabutan 

After a series of immersive journalism sessions, campus journalists took center stage through Explained PH’s JournQuest: A Free Campus Journalism Caravan, bringing together journalists from the country’s biggest cities Manila, Davao, and Cebu last July 25 & 26, Aug. 1, respectively.

First trip in Manila

LAPIS KO Founder and 2025 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) Editorial Cartooning Champion Vincent Japson served as one of the forum speakers of the caravan during the Manila leg at the Valenzuela Mathematics and Science High School, Valenzuela City.

He delivered a talk on “How to Build Personal Branding” in which he emphasized maintaining humility while unraveling one’s journalism journey. 

Meanwhile, Jedidiah Caputero, also an invited speaker for Editorial Cartooning, stressed using one’s talent to express on behalf of the masses’ voices.

“Maging matapang ka and use your talent to illustrate the voices of the masses, the oppressed, and those who can’t use their own,” he said.

Next venture in Davao

The following day, the JournQuest initiative continued at Davao City National High School.

Invited speakers John Cris Ulysses Balante and Mohaimen Malawani both highlighted the importance of journalism beyond competitions and recognition. The two further encouraged journalists to use their platform to help the masses comprehend stories while maintaining audience accessibility to people with different backgrounds.

Yazmine Abo, Explained PH’s Davao Bureau Chief, also explained that unverified information may lead to poor decisions and weakened public trust in her lecture on Fact Checking. 

Another guest speaker Isabelle Ardaniel described a well-written article in sports as one that “provides evidence that supports a story being told”.

Last stop in Cebu

The Cebu leg marked the culmination of the three-legged caravan at the University of San Jose-Recoletos – Basak Campus.

In her Partnerships talk, Explained PH’s Associate Editor Prashanti Clarabelle Padayao emphasized that forming connections is essential for a community to happen, with willingness and participation needed to be present.

Zachary Borromeo, widely known as Cartoonist Zach, also shared his tips on Editorial Cartooning during his lecture as an invited speaker. 

He urged participants to exercise creativity with a purpose, adding that visual elements should reflect their significance in the cartoon while ensuring that such artistic choices are intentional. 

Shekinah Jedidiah Alima, Explained PH’s Editor-in-Chief, underscored the importance of extending the organization’s mission beyond the digital space through community-based initiatives.

“We believe it is time for us to get out of the comfort of virtual training and actually help campus journalists across the country who lack access to resource materials, and are not privileged enough to afford quality training sessions,” she explained in an interview.

“Explained PH will be here to support them, one JournQuest at a time.”

The program featured forums such as community journalism, fact checking, partnerships, and training and development, with breakout sessions later on for contest-journalism categories, delivered by Explained PH’s staffers and editors, along with invited speakers.

JournQuest was created to translate Explained PH’s advocacy by providing accessible, high-quality journalism training to campus journalists who face limited educational resources and financial constraints, amplifying regional journalism initiatives and strengthening the campus journalism community.