The atch
U nv eiling Truths, I l l umi nat i ng Pers pect i ves
#79
PH ranks last in
BOOSTING SKILLS
2018 PISA
source: PISA
Revamped Curriculum:
pleas DepEd to make a reading subject in the curriculum.
SPJ coordinator
counsels writers to
fact-check first
Iridium
The Special Program in Journalism (SPJ)
coordinator, Jestene Delos Reyes advised
journalists to do fact-checking first before
sharing information to everyone to protect
their safety.
“As a part of campus journalism you have
the rights to inform but you also need to
verify your data, you need to make sure that
you are informing them a factual information,”
Delos Reyes stated.
She further explained that there are some
journalists who died due to red-tagging.
“I have heard the cases about the journal-
ist killing, 2 journalists were killed in Marcos
Administration and there are journalists were
assaulted dahil sa red-tagging. This means
that the protection of journalist is not strong,”
SPJ coordinator said.
The coordinator added that the govern-
ment should have a strong law to give the
journalists an enough protection.
2 3
The Offficial Publication of JournCon: Take off
Volume 1 | Issue 1 | August 2023
SPJ coordinator: Make reading a subject
Iridium
W ith the low level of reading literacy in the Philippines, Jestene Delos Reyes, Spe-
(DepEd) to
create
: Jestene
Photo by: Cesium
cial Program in Journalism
programs
Delos Reyes, SPJfor
(SPJ) coordinator urged the Department of Education
reading to improve the students’ reading ability.
coordinator
“They need to really make programs, the best way is to make subject for reading only. Iba
talaga kung may reading subject and time or reading para sa mga bata to enhanced their
reading skills” the SPJ coordinator expressed.
She shared that the DepEd should remove a subject from the curriculum and change it to
a reading subject.
“Tanggalin dapat ang ibang subject, tanggalin ang EsP na subject then palitan ito ng
DepEd ng reading subject,” the 31 years old teacher.
The SPJ coordina- tor stressed that some students have the ability to read but
cannot fully understand what they are reading.
“Yung iba marunong nga mag basa pero hindi naman
ma ka comprehend sa binabasa nila, so ano pa ang silbi ng
binabasa nila,” the grade 10 teacher stated.
Delos Reyes further explained that students have no enough
time for reading especially in English.
“Ang mga students kasi wala ng time for reading, sa 6 hours na
klase wala nang time dahil they need to discuss other lessons, tapos
pag uwi hindi rin sila nagbabasa,” she said.
According to the Program International Students Assessment (PISA)
the Philippines ranked last in the reading comprehension levels with a score
of 340.
To keep the Philippines a tourist attraction
Delos Reyes urges LGU to enact law for tourist-spots
“
Iridium
Maintaining the good state of tourist spots in
the Philippines, Jestene Delos Reyes, Special
Hindi lang mga foreigners but also
Program in Journalism (SPJ) coordinator, en- ang mga residents dapat ang mag
couraged the Local Government Units (LGU) to maintain sa kapaligiran nila.
implement an act for land marks.
Jestene Delos Reyes
“When you see the tourist, they like to visit the SPJ Coordinator
the Philippines. LGU should make an ordinance
to keep our tourist spot in our country,” Delos
Reyes explained during the Regional School
Press Conference 2023.
She further said that the people who live in
tourist places should also help to preserve the
place not only the foreigners.
“Hindi lang mga foreigners but also ang mga
residents-spot ang mag maintain sa kapaligiran
nila,” the SPJ coordinator added.
The 31 years old teacher stated that Philip-
pines has many benefits but the problem is the
people who live in the country.
“Maganda ang Pilipinas, dina-
dayo ito because of the hospitality
but ang problema is ang mga tao,
nasa airport pa lang hinarang na.
Sayang ang opportunity na ipakita
ang ating magagandang lugar,” Delos
Reyes expressed. Photo by: Cesium
According to Department of Tourism Preserving Nature: SPJ coordinator, Jestene Delos Reyes
(DOT) there are more than 2,000 tourist visits the suggested making ordinances for our tourist spots.
Philippines annually.
 The atch
Unveiling Tru th s, Illuminating Per s pectives
Editor-in-Chief:
News Writer:
Feature Writer/Photojournalist:
Sports Writer:
Cesium
Iridium
Silver
E=mc2
Editorial Cartoonist/Lay-out Artist: Vanadium
OPINION
Deprived Minds
EYE SPY
Cesium
Poverty robs’ Filipinos right to education
Education is one of the human rights everyone
should experience, however, a great population of
Filipinos are out of school. According to DepEd, 9%
or more than 3 million out of the 39 million estimated
Filipinos aged 6-24 are out of school people. I believe,
poverty is the greatest factor as to why Filipinos are
deprived of their opportunities to learn.
In a press conference with Special Program in Jour-
nalism Coordinator Jestene Delos Reyes, she said
that this phenomenon is caused by several factors
which includes poverty. According to Family Income
and Expenditure Survey (FIES), the latest poverty rate
in the Philippines is 13.2 % of families. Considering
these families’ unfortunate situation, I doubt that they
have the capability to send their children to school.
TRUTH
SEEKER
NURTURE FUTURE
Cesium Improving students’ reading skills
As the Philippines continues to evolve in every
aspect of living, one of the issues that continues to be
invisible to our eyes is the low reading comprehension
of Filipino schoolchildren. According to the Programme
International Students Assessment reading test results
in 2018, the Philippines ranked lowest out of 79
countries. Hence, the Department of Education should
provide more reading programs and improve the
current education system of the country.
Instead of being able to cope from the devastating
score of the country from the 2018 PISA results, after
the pandemic, the issue about reading amplified.
According to World Bank, after the pandemic, reading
poverty in the Philippines rose to 90.7%. Seeing these
numbers, I believe this issue can lead to a crisis which
PRESS POWER
Protecting journalists against death threats
E very human being in this world
is granted the right to express
and to be protected; and
journalists are no exemption.
However, according to the Union
of Journalists of the Philippines,
197 journalists have been as-
sassinated since 1986. As one of
the powerful voices in the society,
journalists and the rest of the press
should be guaranteed safety and
stronger protection by the government.
During the Regional Schools Press
Conference, Special Program in
Journalism Coordinator Jestene Delos
Reyes admitted that during the Marcos
administration, assassination of jour-
nalists was very rampant. “I heard that
2 journalists were assassinated during
the Marcos administration, from the
word Marcos, there is an issue there.
Even now that BBM is the president,
there are also journalists who are
being assaulted, “said the SPJ Coordi-
nator. That being said, it can be seen
that the protection for journalists is not
strong enough and can be ineffective if
their work involves big people.
To still nurture these people’s potential and prepare
them to face the real world, DepEd has offered them
Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. This
gives them the chance to learn basic and essential
knowledge which will help them in their future endeav-
ors. Despite being robbed of their right to learn,
Although there are a lot of reasons why some Filipi-
nos are out of school, I still firmly believe that poverty
is its greatest contributor. Families under poverty
should be taught proper financing and family planning.
The government should also open job opportunities
for these people for them to be able to afford their
necessities, especially education. We can’t let them
remain deprived when their minds has everything it
takes to learn.
will greatly affect not just students but also educators.
Having these in mind, Special Program in Journal-
ism Coordinator Jestene Delos Reyes claimed that
DepEd should make reading a subject. “The best
thing to do about this issue is to make a subject for
reading,” said the SPJ coordinator. If we make this
a subject, we can implant a behavior which values
reading among learners.
Although there are programs in schools which pro-
motes reading, I believe it won’t suffice. DepEd should
make more reading programs to nurture students and
reading should be made a subject. They should really
make the curriculum better and effective. Afterall,
these are all for the students—our future.
EDITORIAL
Nevertheless, despite the threat
towards journalists’ safety, Republic
Act 7079 is what they hold onto. This
law seeks to give them opportunity
to express their ideas
in the community. Although the strong
safeguarding of journalists can’t be
assured, they still have the liberty to
use the power of their pens and be
influential.
While Republic Act 7079 is lively
existing, we can’t deny the fact that
they are still not safe in our current so-
ciety. Lawmakers of the country should
implement more laws protecting jour-
nalists and the rest of the press. We
people should also be an advocate of
not just press freedom but
also press protection.
Together, we can keep
the scorching power
of the press burning.
197
were assassinated
since 1986
source: UJP
Letter to the Editor
Good day editors! I am Karen
Daria and my only concern is, when
I’m looking for the news I get very
confused. Where can I search for
the latest news?
Yours truly,
Karen Daria
Response from the Editor
Good day Karen! Thank you
for raising this concern to us. The
editorial board says that the news is
all over the internet just search for it
and the media got it. If you don’t have
social media purchasing a newspaper
can also be where news articles are
found. Yours truly,
Editors
WALL of SENTIMENTS
Is it important to teach stu-
dents to fact check?
Yes, it is important especially
fake news nowadays are very
rampant.
- Akuiza Yu
It is really important to teach
students how to fact check so
that they can avoid spreading fake
news.
-Kerrie Faba
For me yes, because
sharing an information without
fact-checking might cause
trouble for someone.
-Hyn D. Nagh
 RUSTY MINDS
Looking for a solution in the reading illiteracy of learners Silver

A s the sun rises,

the morning
breeze engulfs them
the reading poverty rate in the
Philippines has increased since
2019 to 2022 from 65.9 percent to
pa ng maraming programa ang schools
for reading,” Delos Reyes commands
hoping for a change.
into a warm embrace, 90.7 percent. This is agitating to hear Long before the Philippines was
students arrive in school after because the Philippines has always hailed like a king for its immense ex-
the tremendous quarantine. been praised in the field of reading. cellence in reading, now what we have
After three years of hellish “I think this problem is caused by left are the rusty minds of our learners.
lockdown, students the Philippines poverty, not being Let us be more open in reinforcing pro-
have long fallen able to provide learners with grams that can be the soul saving grace
into the knowl- sufficient materials,” Jestene B. to this reading crisis.
edge sucking Delos Reyes SPJ coordinator
traps of the explained feeling blue about
pandemic. this situation.
According Reading is an essential

90.7%

FEATURE
to World value every student needs
Bank, to master. Designing the
hope of our future,
every child must
never neglect the
magical fun of
books. Solving this
reading misery,
Reading poverty rate
the educational in the Philippines
system must find
ways to bring back
Photo by: Cesium the colorful bliss of source: World Bank
RESILIENT MINDS: After the pandemic, students of F. Bangoy NHS educational pages.
practice frequent reading. “Dapat gumawa

Rules of journalism
DIVINE COMMITMENT Silver
Molding the future of truth-seekers As a journalist, do you know the do’s and dont’s of
Silver your career?
Being the information carrier of the media means
being extra careful with the news you report and pub-
Molding the best is a difficult task. lish. To be a journalist requires the power of knowl-
edge and a fearless voice for the many. Here are the
must followed rules of every journalist.
Jestene Delos Reyes
SPJ Coordinator

As the competition day crawls near, campus journalist representatives trains from day

1
to night, one woman looks over their work lending them her knowledge about the field of Use the power of your pen
journalism. As a journalist you have the
She is Jestene B. Delos Reyes, one of the school paper advisers of F. Bangoy National High freedom of sharing absolutely
School. anything, just put it into good
“I have been handling this pub- use.
lication since 2017, so almost
six years na,” Delos Reyes Check your facts

2
dictates counting the years of Facts are in fact the strong
her teaching. fundamental foundation of every
Having a history of nine article, however, journalism does
years teaching, two years in not spread fake news. Always
private and seven years in pub- verify your facts.
lic, she has seen every student
and trained many journalists.

3
Inform
“The power of journalism
When you see a story worth
holds so much. Being a jour-
publishing, take the opportunity
nalist, you must be accurate,”
and share it, but report it wisely.
Jestene advised highlighting
the responsibilities she learned
over the years.
Braving the hurdles of her
As a journalist you have so much power
life, she was patient in her cho-
within the words you share, nevertheless
sen job. Creating responsible
Photo by: Silver always obey the rules of journalism and take
and smart students isn’t easy,
it to heart.
but with her divine commitment JOURNO MAKER: SPJ Coordinator Jestene Delos Reyes shares her experi-
she got to where she is today. ences in molding campus journalists during the RSPC.
 The
Un v e ilin g Tr ut hs , I l l um i n at i n g P e r s p e c t i v e s
The Offficial Publication of JournCon: Take off
Volume 1 | Issue 1 | August 2023
COMMENTARY
TIRED MIND
Ogtip’s exhaustion causing her
defeat against Rafael
E=mc2
Hannah Ogtip was too weary to win
the Badminton Exhibition Game on
June 6, 2023.
Hannah Kristina Ogtip focused
primarily on hitting the shuttlecock
in the angle of the wind’s path while
gaining 25 hits and 14 violation points
resulting to 39 points in total.
Ogtip showed impressive skills
during the match, however, she
succumbed to her weak immune
system, therefore losing on the rest
of the sets. The 14-year-old couldn’t
keep jumping and dashing throughout
game as her stamina and endurance
would drop.
Ogtip could have improved her
performance if she had only budgeted
her strength to buy more time to fight
and have a greater chance of winning
against her opponent.
Nonetheless, Hannah Kristina
Ogtip lost ever since her exhaustion
set in.
14
violation
points
Photo by: Silver
DEFEATED SOUL: 14-year-old, defeated
Hannah Ogtip gives her best strikes during
the RSPC Exhibition Game.
atch
EPIC COMEBACK
Rafael crushes Ogtip, wins Badminton Exhibition Game
E=mc2
RAFAEL OGTIP
set 1 10 15
set 2 15 13
set 3 15 11
X evier Rafael decimates Hannah
Kristina Ogtip with heavy strikes
at the Badminton Exhibition Game at
F. Bangoy National High School on
June 6,2023.
Xevier M. Rafael finally won after
dealing the enemy with power-
ful blows, gaining 28 hits and 12
violation points resulting to 40 total
points.
“Pakusgon jud nako ang tira para
ma akoa gihapon ang points kung
dili niya masalo,” the 14-years-old
replied.
By the start of the game, Ogtip
reigned supreme and sends unstop-
pable hits to her enemy, 10-15.
However, Rafael gained his
momentum in the second round and
delivered a comeback blow, ending
INSPIRATION FROM THE PAST
The Revelations of Hannah Ogtip
A girl was walking along the road
until she passed a court, it was a court
looking like a volleyball field with a green
floor and some markings. And then she
heard some soft hits and a ricochet
of a triangular ball they call a shuttle-
cock; her excitement increases while
witnessing this mystery of a game and
so she learned unknowingly that this
game would turn into one of her greatest
achievements.
The girl was Hannah Kristina Ogtip,
now a campus journalist of F. Bangoy
NHS. Her talent in badminton was
discovered ever since she was a kid and
her development towards this sport is
improving day by day.
“Since elementary pako naga dula ug
badminton, past time nako ni siya,” the
14-year-old claims.
She once played a Badminton Dou-
bles Competition in their place and won
the first place.
“Sa among lugar, nadaog mi first
place sa doubles,” the 5ft expressed
SPORTS
Photo by: Silver
“
WINNING SMASH: Xevier Rafael wins Badminton Exhibition game held at F.
Bangoy National High School after pouring powerful hits to his opponent.
the set in his favor, 15-13.
In the heat of the third set,
players started to exchange
heavy hits until Rafael ultimately
Pakusgon won after a successful winning
point strike, ending the game,
jud nako ang 15-11.
Regardless of her defeat,
tira para ma Ogtip laughed it off and thanked
the opponent for inspiring her to
akoa gihapon improve more towards her weak-
ang points nesses and strategy.
“Haw’d siya, wala siya’y
kung dili niya technique pero maka inspire
masalo.
iyahang way sa pag dula,” Ogtip
expressed happily.
Xavier Rafael
Xevier M. Rafael is now the
winner for the Badminton Exhibi-
tion Game.
Badminton Player
“
E=mc2
happily.
Due to her first-place victory,
Ogtip was sent to Cagayan De Oro
City to participate a Badminton
Meet, she then left with the 2nd
Kung passion place because of the injury she
attained during the first set.
jud na ninyo ang “Nasabak mi sa Cagayan tungod
sa among pagkadaog sa among
badminton edi e lugar, na second place lang ko kay
wala natarong ang dula tungod sa
keep jud na ninyo akong injury sa tiil,” Ogtip replied.
The player advised the rest of
ug dula hantod the badminton players to improve
their skills to become the best
mahimo namo’ng badminton player.
“Kung passion jud na ninyo ang
elite badminton badminton edi e keep jud na ninyo
ug dula hantod mahimo namo’ng
player elite badminton player,” said Ogtip.
Hannah Kristina Ogtip continues
to play badminton but as a past
Hannah Ogtip time as she now focuses to be the
Badminton Player best on her journalism field.