THC hosts RPW Year 3; Ignites Passion and Purpose in Young Journalists By Iris Anne Oliveron
ABUYOG, LEYTE — Pens blazed and minds sparked as The Honeycomb (THC), official campus media of Abuyog Community College proudly staged its third installment of the “Ready. Press. Write (RPW) Year 3: Intensive Campus Journalism Workshop” on May 2-3, 2025, gathering aspiring journalists from Abuyog Community College and nearby elementary and secondary schools under one powerful theme: “Youth Ink, Nation Think: The Campus Press in Times of Political Unrest.”
The two-day workshop transformed the ACC campus into a vibrant hub of journalistic energy, with over 103 participants composed of second year BSEd English students taking Campus Journalism, THC staffers, and budding writers from local schools (elementary and secondary).
Highlighting the opening program was the welcome message by the Office of the Student Affairs Director, Prof. Christopher Gallos, who reminded participants that campus journalism goes beyond reporting—it is a powerful act of courage and responsibility.
“With the theme, “𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘜𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵,” this year’s event calls on young writers to stand for truth, challenge injustice, and lead with integrity. Let this seminar ignite your passion to write with purpose and make an impact.”, Prof. Gallos said.
Moreover, in the presentation of the event rationale, THC coordinator Prof. Alvin Advincula highlighted Ready. Press. Write. Year 3 as more than just a workshop—it is a call to action. He also emphasized the role of student journalists as truth-tellers and catalysts for change in a time when facts are threatened, and silence is dangerous.
In his heartfelt inspirational message, College President, Dr. Clemelle L. Montallana reminded campus journalists of the inevitable challenges that come with the path of truth-telling. “When you are a journalist, marami kang kaibigan, pero mas marami kang kalaban.” Dr. Montallana encouraged student writers to remain steadfast in their purpose, even when the stakes are high and the opposition louder.
Subsequently, in his keynote speech, Administrative Officer V of the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office VIII, Mr. Ariem Cinco challenged campus journalists to confront the “dangerous illusion of neutrality,” emphasizing that in an era where lies are often disguised as facts, silence is complicity.
Mr. Cinco asserted that the most potent weapon in politics today is not the vote, the protest, or even the law—but the story. Cinco urged students to see themselves not merely as consumers but as creators of truth, capable of shaping narratives that hold power accountable. “You don’t need a degree or a press pass to be a defender of truth,” Cinco declared, reminding everyone that journalism is not about fame, but about using one’s voice to illuminate injustice. In times when truth is often contested, his message served as a call to integrity—urging young journalists to write not for approval, but for accountability, and to always stay true to the stories that matter.
In his session during the first day of RPW, “Truth at the Top: Writing News in the Age of Unrest through the Inverted Pyramid,”, News Writer of Sunstar, Mr. Ronald Reyes underscored that writing news doesn’t have to be difficult if you start with solid data. “By simply asking the right people the right questions, you can gather what, where, when, why, who, and how equipping you to write with accuracy, clarity, and purpose.”, Reyes stated.
With breakout sessions on the first day which includes, copyreading and headline writing facilitated by The Honeybuzz adviser, Prof. Romulo Reas, cinematography and video editing by THC Creative Director, Mr. Jasper Jay Ferrera, and on sports writing, K5 News FM anchorman, Mr, Kevin Siosana, aimed at honing both technical skills and critical thinking in an era of political noise and misinformation.
The momentum continued into the afternoon with plenary talk on “From Script to Sound: Empowering Student Voices on Air” delivered by Mr. Kevin Siosana, News Director and Anchorman of K5 News FM. With passion and precision, Siosana inspired aspiring broadcasters to find their voice and own the airwaves, emphasizing the power of storytelling, vocal control, and ethical reporting in the world of radio journalism.
Following the insightful plenary, the energy shifted to the much-awaited Radio Broadcasting Simulation. Three neophyte teams namely, The Compass News, An Kahayag and THC’s Radyo Alisto, though visibly anxious, stepped up to the mic and delivered their first-ever simulated live broadcasts. With scripts in hand and hearts pounding, they brought news, public service announcements, and commentary to life—showing raw potential and courage.
The first day culminated in a critiquing and feedbacking session, where each team’s performance was evaluated by Mr. Kevin Siosana. He reminded young journalists that their first duty is to the audience—every story should inform, engage, and make an impact, not just reflect the writer’s ego.