Meet Explained PH’s eight campus journalists who told stories beyond their campuses 

Stela Marie Eve Militante and Shean Jeryza Alibin

Their story found its greatest meaning in writing stories of and for their communities. 

For almost every campus journalist in the country, reaching the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) is the ultimate goal — a dream they have tirelessly strived to achieve and desperately prayed for. 

However, the true essence of campus journalism lies not in how many medals are adorned around one’s neck, how many accolades one has received, nor in how many times one has stepped on a winner’s podium. It is when one chooses to actually step out of one’s campus and use one’s voice, no matter how little it may seem to others, to serve the masses. 

This National Campus Press Freedom Day, the fight for a freer campus press continues to stay alive with campus journalists taking their ink to write for a more informed, empowered, and transformed Philippines. Explained PH is home to these campus journalists, and here are eight of them. 

Trixelle Mae Bumatay, Region 1 – Ilocos 

Like how the Ilocos Empanada suddenly captured the hearts of many, one’s heart can unexpectedly beat in its most joyful rhythm with something one never intended to do. 

For Trixelle Mae Bumatay, a volunteer under the organization’s Opinion Desk, it was as if she was forced into this field by her adviser in the fourth grade. But perhaps it was also the will of the heavens because she soared just as high. 

“I only joined because I was told to. My heart had not yet found its place in journalism,” Trixelle shared as she recalled how the first step she took to enter the world of campus journalism was by joining the contest for copyediting and headline writing. 

Even if she did not hear her name called as one of the winners, her heart still leapt in gratitude and fulfillment, but when the pandemic happened, she forgot for quite a while how to grip a pen. Yet every Sunday night, it wasn’t just the stars that shone in the sky, but also a spark of excitement inside her as she waited for Jessica Soho’s program to air, fascinated by how she pursued stories with truth, integrity, and compassion.  

As she stepped into junior high school at Batac National High School, she participated in a training where her first editorial received praise from the trainers, but it was only the following year that she was given the chance to compete in the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) though it was for column writing. 

Maybe her ink did not leave an impactful mark on the judges because again, she lost. However, she continued cultivating the budding seed of passion in her heart, and that’s when victory finally blossomed in her life as she ranked third on her second try, finally qualifying for the regionals. 

Being appointed as their student publication’s editor-in-chief, climbing to the second spot, doing things scared of, gaining not only experiences but also valuable friendships, and heartbreakingly dealing with another loss in the regional arena — but knowing the possibility of the category she dearly loved to be removed along with other individual categories is the kind of loss she does not want to handle.  

But that became one of the reasons why she applied as a volunteer for Explained PH, refusing for her journey to end. Now writing not because she has to, but because she chose to, Trixelle looks forward to learning from experienced journalists, growing beyond her comfort zone, and using her pen for a purpose that transcends competitions; one that is rooted in the community. 

Aside from holding the pen with courage, writing with honesty, and never being afraid to tell the truth, she leaves this message for her fellow campus journalists: “Have the courage to walk through doors opening unexpectedly, because you never know where they might lead. Some doors will change your life. Some will introduce you to people you’ll cherish forever. Some will reveal strengths you never knew you had.” 

Joshua Pasion, Region 2 – Cagayan Valley

Only a few are granted the opportunity to experience NSPC, yet one passionate campus journalist wrote not only a winning article but also a rare moment in history — becoming a back-to-back champion in his individual category.

He is none other than Joshua Pasion, one of the current two content heads of the Features and Lifestyle Desk. 

As a kid who always had his eyes set on the sky, on the airplanes going through the clouds and on the birds flapping their wings, little did the young Joshua know, he was also set to spread his own and soar higher than what he used to imagine.  

First introduced to sports writing when he was a grade four student, he watched sumo wrestling competition during that year’s DSPC with eyes thinking deeply on how these writers would craft an article out of that game. 

As Joshua entered fifth grade, he opened the door of pagsulat ng lathalain because according to his teacher, ma’am Leolyn, he fits better in the said category. During days with no classes, he is at her home to hone his writing skills. 

His first victory may have been winning gold during his first try at the District Schools Press Conference, but he had an improved view of features in his last year in elementary. It wasn’t just composed of one type of lead, three paragraphs, and certainly not only travelogues. All his training paid off when he placed seventh in the DSPC held at Claveria, Cagayan. 

But this was just the beginning of his wings unfolding. 

Being accepted to The Segovian, the official student publication of Lal-lo National High School when he was an eighth grader, responsibility landed in his hands as he was appointed as the features editor. 

Joshua then navigated the skies of campus journalism not just by himself, but also with his teammates in online publishing and collaborative desktop publishing (CDP). He felt solace flying with them that he gave up his spot to join his individual category for the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC). Instead, he joined his division’s collab team and qualified for the 2023 and 2024 NSPCs, where they became the country’s fifth best CDP group. 

More surprises came to him during senior high school. Entrusted to lead Ang Segovian, the Editor-in-Chief Joshua did his best to make his staffers grow with him. After sitting long hours to read and write, many of them advanced to the division level, but this was the first time where he wasn’t selected as a member for CDP. 

Pagsulat ng Lathalain pulled Joshua back. “Wala akong ibang hiling kundi makatuntong sa podium, kahit fifth place ay tanggap ko na (I don’t have any other wish but to step on the podium, I am already okay with 5th place),” he said. But he was meant to fly into the nationals again and rest on the first place podium. 

In his last year of SHS, Joshua exerted all the effort he could pour to help his school’s CDP team to win the gold in the congressionals. Their school paper penetrated into the top five, he was named as their division’s Most Outstanding Campus Journalist (MOCJ), and became one of the people who brought into fruition Project BUKLAT to help indigenous people whose dreams are as huge as theirs. 

Joshua survived and thrived in the three rounds of Pre-RSPC, and the same story unfolded in the nationals where the gold medal had him again as its rightful owner. He was also able to reach these heights because of the people who helped him stretch his wings — ma’am Leny, kuya Rafael, sir Lorniño, ma’am Karen, ma’am Leolyn, along with other trainers, and his publication’s staffers.

Throughout the nine years of journeying in campus journalism, Joshua believes that campus journalism is not about proving that you are the best writer among the rest, but in shaping yourself to be a storyteller who has the ability to empower others. 

He emphasized, “Ang layunin ng pamamahayag ay hindi ang itaas ang iyong sarili higit sa mga taong isinusulat mo, kundi ang tumayo sa kanilang tabi at ihatid ang mga katotohanang nararapat marinig (The goal of journalism is not to uplift oneself higher than the people you are writing about, but to stand beside them and deliver the truth that must be heard).” 

Raine Mitchell Lapuz, Region 3 – Pampanga 

Just as Pampanga’s rich culinary heritage is built on heart, patience, and passion, Raine Mitchell Lapuz’s campus journalism journey was cooked up from a deep desire to make an impact. 

From a young campus journalist in fifth grade to a volunteer under the Research and Fact-Check Division in Explained PH, Raine’s skills were sharpened in the high-stakes environment of press conferences. Starting as an opinion writer under the Collaborative Desktop Publishing English category, her interest was first ignited by the childhood cartoons,  local kalyeseryes, and documentaries she watched. 

What began as curiosity quickly turned into purpose, giving her a sense of belonging every time she wrote. Far from ending in elementary school, this early spark propelled her straight into her high school journalism journey.

However, that transition was far from being seamless. When the pandemic hit, halting daily life for two years, the spark Raine once felt began to flicker. Alongside that internal confusion came judgment from closer to home. In a tense political landscape, her identity as an opinion writer demanded that she be critical, intellectual, and evidence-based, yet those around her reduced her insights down to her age.

“At home, I found myself surrounded with elders who always viewed children and teenagers as ‘too consumed with social media to form a solid opinion,'” Raine shared. “Their favorite line? ‘Bata ka pa eh. Ano bang alam mo diyan?’ (You’re still young. What do you know about those things?)“ 

It felt deeply unfair to be dismissed as part of a generation labeled as naive or indifferent to the world around them. Yet, the very frustration that threatened to hush Raine became the noise that helped her reclaim her voice. 

Through Pampangan, her school’s English student publication, she found herself surrounded by a supportive adviser, passionate co-journalists, and encouraging peers. Because of that, Raine turned those doubts into the fuel that reignited her journalistic drive.

Reclaiming her voice was only the first step; learning what to do with it defined the rest of Raine’s path. She may not have started with a burning crusade for justice, but through every trial, press conference, and triumph, she carved out a quiet, unwavering resolve.

Espencer Estiandan, Region 4B – MIMAROPA

Like the majestic Philippine Eagles soaring over Puerto Princesa, a young journalist who now stands among the best at NSPC 2026 once started as a humble hatchling. 

Espencer Estiandan, a volunteer from the Science and Technology Desk and a fourth-place winner in Pagsulat ng Agham at Teknolohiya (Secondary Level), sees himself as a young soldier navigating the vast, competitive world of journalism. Reflecting on his journey, he views himself as an eagle that not only soars to great heights, but also learns from every fall.

Just like many campus journalists who start in elementary school, Espencer carried his growing passion into seventh grade. On the secondary level, he found himself among the youngest in the lineup. He then auditioned for his high school’s publication. 

“Buti na nga lang ay nakapasa ako sa audition bilang manunulat ng lathalain, ngunit pamalit lamang kung sakaling mayroong kakalas na seniors. Sinubukan din akong ilagay sa CDP, ngunit masyado nga raw ‘maganda’ ang aking sulat upang ilagay rito (Good thing I passed the audition and got accepted as a feature writer, but only as an alternate in case any seniors dropped out. They also tried placing me in CDP, but they said my handwriting was supposedly ‘too good’ to be placed there),”  he recalled. 

For him, it stung a bit to feel sidelined and questioned where he truly belonged. He found himself asking if he wasn’t meant for these categories, then for what is he really meant for. 

Eventually, Espencer found his place in Pagsulat ng Agham at Teknolohiya, a category chosen by his school paper adviser (SPA) because of his background as a Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) student. At first, he admitted the category was daunting, especially as a first-time science writer. Yet, after months of rigorous training, he clinched second place on his very first attempt — earning his spot to the RSPC. 

Espencer quickly realized that RSPC was a completely different arena: a battle not just among the best, but among the mightiest. The competition spanned four rounds: three online elimination phases, followed by a final face-to-face round where only the top five contenders would compete for the championship. Securing a spot in the top five reignited his fire. For Espencer, this journey was no longer just about representing his school; it was about honoring the sixth-grade version of himself and the mentor who first believed in his potential.

Time moved agonizingly slow on RSPC’s awarding day, where a winning spot was his only ticket to NSPC. After a tense buildup during the announcement of winners, Espencer — then only in seventh grade — clinched first place. Hearing his name resonate throughout the entire venue became an unforgettable milestone.

This victory gave him a renewed sense of purpose. He committed to longer training sessions, continuous writing, and facing constant feedback. Though draining, his dedication to the craft proved stronger than the fatigue, compelling him to keep reaching for greater heights.

April 2026 marked the end of Espencer’s journey for that school year as he stepped onto the national stage at NSPC in Ormoc. From navigating the intense atmosphere of the competition room to clinging tightly to his pen with unwavering resolve, he proved that age is no barrier to excellence. Finishing as the 4th placer nationwide, he held the distinction of being the youngest podium finisher from DSPC all the way to NSPC. 

Looking back on his trajectory, Espencer reminds us that medals are simply symbols of excellence, while the real triumph is serving the truth and the nation. As he sets his sights on new horizons, his journey serves as a reminder that regardless of age, an eagle will continue to soar above the storm.

Ciara Jane Colinares, Region 10 – Northern Mindanao

As diverse as the beauty of Northern Mindanao, Ciara Jane Colinares found herself on different adventures of campus journalism. 

The grade 10 Ciara who was just once offered to join a coverage team for the UAAP Basketball games from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), can now take part in other meaningful coverages as she was accepted as a Community Division volunteer. 

Beginning when she was a graduating elementary student, she  was able to get a taste of photojournalism, news writing, feature writing, and eventually sports writing. She had already tried and trained for different categories yet she still has not competed in a press conference. 

Ciara only got to do so when she was in eleventh grade where in the following year, she served as their publication’s Editor-in-Chief. She juggled it with accomplishing academic tasks and being their school’s Youth for Environment in Schools-Organization (YES-O) President and a floor director. 

Another responsibility fell on her shoulders, when she was tapped to become the floor director, camerawoman, and technical applicator of an NSPC 4th placer TV Broadcasting team.  

She wrote for Daily Bebob, an Instagram-based platform dedicated to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, she also received offers from De La Salle University (DLSU), University of Santo Tomas (UST), University of the East (UE), and University of the Philippines (UP). She was eyed as a sports writer, a sports head, or even part of their website staff. 

However, she still wants to serve her school. “That is what journalism taught me the most. That success is not just grabbing every opportunity that comes your way but also choosing the place and people that shape you quietly behind the scenes before the world finally sees your worth,” Ciara stated. 

As she is now a volunteer for Explained PH, an organization she would always hear about from her co-journalists which felt a little out of reach, she hopes to continue being close to people while still being a journalist — a girl who has pushed herself to demonstrate a profound manner of deciding before saying yes to opportunities, even if the world makes her feel like trailing behind.  

She explained, “There will be moments when you feel like everyone else is moving forward while you’re stuck in the same place, repeating the same roles, facing the same doubts, and waiting for a chance that never seems to come. There will be losses that will make you question if you’re really meant for this, and there will be opportunities that will tempt you to leave before the story of who you are even unfolds.”

Nyvelle Leanna Brillantes, Region 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN

The best dreams are weaved not by hands, but by heart. 

Like other campus journalists, Nyvelle Leanna Brillantes only saw that what they are doing is just for the sake of slaying competitions.  

A staffer under the Copyediting Desk, she nabbed the silver medal during her first DSPC, with high hopes of being able to get on an airplane and see sights she can’t find in her hometown.  

When the pandemic made everything feel smaller, Nyvelle believed that the world grew larger. Along with the conversations and debates surrounding the 2022 Philippine elections, a war broke out in Russia and Ukraine with its effects felt in different parts of the world — shaping lives of the most ordinary people. 

“I had never stood in Kyiv or the Crimean Peninsula, yet the stories unfolding there reached my home all the same. For the first time, I understood that distance does not diminish the power of a story,” she noted as curiosity bloomed inside her mind even more, not with the desire to travel to new places, but to understand different realities.

She joined their school’s UNESCO Student Organization and Pisay Pluma, their student publication. This began the shift in threads as the pen became heavier to carry as she wanted more people to not only understand excruciating situations in underserved communities, but move them to care and seek change. 

Volunteering to teach Filipino literacy and heat safety and distributing medicines in Sultan Kudarat, she witnessed firsthand how facilities especially in healthcare and education are scarce in that place she never knew was existing. 

Nyvelle then lent her hand to volunteer across South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Lake Sebu. “Only then did I understand that the greatest privilege of campus journalism is the freedom to step outside the box and return with stories that refuse to let overlooked realities remain unseen. I wanted to write stories that would make another curious Grade 6 student like I once was realize that the world extends far beyond the edges of their own world,” she shared.

For three consecutive years, from 2024-2026, she qualified for NSPC where she was later recognized as one of the country’s MOCJs. Her dream of getting on an airplane came true, but for her, the greatest place journalism has brought her was back to her own home.   

“Looking back, I realized that in order to write, I first had to do everything but write. I had to listen before I tell, ask before I could answer, and leave the familiar long enough to see it with new eyes,” Nyvelle concluded. 

Marky Brylle Cortes, Region 13 – Caraga 

Before he ever stood on the NSPC stage as a 4th placer in Pagwawasto ng Sipi at Pag-uulo ng Balita, Marky Brylle Cortes was simply a fifth grader with a free, curious spirit who just fell in love with the art of copyediting and writing. 

Before going up on the podium, he is just a young campus journalist unaware of the pressure from the competition, medals, and trophies. Competing in press conferences was purely an avenue for exploration, and the chase for medals was the farthest thing from his mind. 

But as time went on and he advanced to high school, Brylle’s passion began to fade into the background when the pandemic brought daily life to a standstill. Yet, as he entered Madrid National High School (MNHS), that familiar spark began to glow again. 

Brylle passed the school’s journalism screening and resumed training — only to be left disappointed on his first try. A senior writer had long been trained as the school’s representative to press conferences, leaving Brylle in the shadows of someone else’s victories. Still, he patiently cheered for others while waiting for his own turn, quietly believing his time would come. And he was right.

When his time finally came, Brylle represented MNHS in the Municipal Schools Press Conference (MSPC), securing 2nd place in Pagwawasto ng Sipi at Pag-uulo ng Balita. That victory served as his ticket to the DSPC. He poured everything he had into preparing for the next level. 

“There were countless nights when we survived on only four or five hours of sleep. Every evening became a cycle of writing, correcting, rewriting, analyzing, praying, and beginning again,” Brylle recalled. Whenever exhaustion tempted him to give up, his faith grounded him and reminded him of his purpose.

When the DSPC results were announced, he was crowned champion — a moment that instantly made every sacrifice, tear, and sleepless night worth it. That win carried him to the RSPC, where he struck gold once again. With momentum and faith on his side, Brylle earned the privilege to advance his craft all the way to the stage of the NSPC.

Standing on the national stage, Brylle realized that his story was never truly about the medals or trophies; it was a testament to patience, faith, and purpose. Looking back, he sees that every headline written, every sleepless night, and every answered prayer pointed back to a perfect timeline. 

Sobaidah Gubat, BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)

Sometimes, the bravest thing a person can do is step into the unknown despite the fears along the way.

That was precisely the mindset of Sobaidah Macalaba Gubat, an NSPC 2026 qualifier and volunteer under Explained PH’s Training and Development Division, at the beginning of her campus journalism journey. 

Unlike many campus journalists who start in elementary school, Sobaidah only explored journalism in 11th grade. She recalled how her school’s principal and SPA gathered a select group of students to build something entirely new: a student publication. Without any background knowledge of how publications worked, Sobaidah was entrusted with the role of Associate Editor. She accepted the responsibility because she trusted that her SPA and Editor-in-Chief saw potential in her that she had yet to discover herself.

Sobaidah reflected on the challenges their newly established publication faced as they learned to write articles, cover events, take photos, interview sources, and master the basics step by step. At the time, every staffer was a complete beginner. Yet, despite their lack of experience, they shared one driving goal: to build a legacy their school could be proud of.

When Sobaidah competed in Pagwawasto ng Sipi at Pag-uulo ng Balita at the DSPC, her primary asset was simply her natural attention to grammar. Without formal workshops or expensive review materials, she and her team prepared using YouTube videos, Google searches, and downloadable reviewers — relying on each other to figure things out as they went.

Even though she entered the competition room filled with doubt, Sobaidah finished as the first runner-up. That victory served as her springboard to hone her craft further, encouraging her to join more writing competitions — including the 2nd I Am Mindanao Creative Nonfiction Essay Writing Competition. It was through this experience that she realized journalism extends far beyond winning awards; it is a powerful instrument to amplify a community’s culture, identity, and lived realities. From then on, Sobaidah developed a deep passion for researching and documenting the history and stories of the Bangsamoro region, determined to look past the negative headlines often attached to BARMM.

“For the first time, I realized that journalism wasn’t only about writing well or winning competitions. It was about telling stories that deserve to be heard. It was about representing people whose voices are often overlooked. And as a Bangsamoro youth, parang doon ko rin unang naramdaman na (that was when I first felt that) maybe this is one way I can serve my community — not by speaking the loudest, but by making sure our stories are told truthfully,” Sobaidah shared.

It was also during this competition that she met her future mentor, Abdul Hafiz Malawani, the Editor-in-Chief of Mindanao Varsitarian, the official student publication of Mindanao State University.

By the 12th grade, Sobaidah was appointed as her school’s EIC. Stepping into the role, she felt immense pressure to guide and mentor her juniors. Driven to elevate their publication, she spent countless self-directed hours watching Canva tutorials to improve their publication material design, reading articles from established news outlets, studying layouts, and mastering graphic design techniques. No one asked her to do it — she simply wanted to ensure that the younger staffers inherited a publication that was stronger than the one she started with.

Wanting to do even more for her team, Sobaidah reached out to Hafiz to ask if he knew of any ongoing journalism workshops or training programs. He introduced her to Explained PH’s JournCamp+: National Campus Press Summit, a decision that would open the next big chapter in her journalism journey.

Despite her eagerness to learn, Sobaidah initially hesitated to join JournCamp+ due to the registration fee. However, knowing how much the training could benefit her publication, she pushed past her doubts and enrolled. The camp exceeded her expectations — not only did she gain invaluable insights from Explained PH’s speakers, but she also built lasting connections with fellow student journalists from across the country. Equipped with these resources, Sobaidah brought everything back to her team, using the camp’s lecture videos to lead their intensive preparation for the DSPC. 

That collective effort led to a historic triumph. A publication built from scratch, without professional coaches or expensive training, swept the DSPC by winning 29 medals overall: 11 champions, 13 first runner-ups, and five second runner-ups. The landslide victory sent 10 of their staffers to the RSPC. Sobaidah continued her streak all the way to NSPC 2026. Though she did not place at the national level, simply standing on the country’s biggest journalism stage validated how far she and her team had come.

Now transitioning into college as a high school graduate, Sobaidah’s passion for storytelling remains as strong as ever. Driven by a desire to keep giving back and refining her craft, she came full circle by joining Explained PH — the very organization that once guided her — where she now serves as a volunteer writer, helping amplify stories that deserve to be heard.

Beyond the pen and the podium 

Trixelle, Joshua, Raine, Espencer, Ciara, Nyvelle, Brylle, and Sobaidah are among those campus journalists who proved that the finish line does not end with just the pen and the podium. The real work begins long after the competition ends — extending far beyond contest halls to amplify the voices of the community and the Filipino people.

Although they bring different stories and experiences to the NSPC stage, these eight campus journalists share a single, enduring mission: to tell truth to power and serve as catalysts for change. Explained PH proudly features their journeys as a reminder that true journalism is not about the medals won, but the lives moved and the truths brought to light.