News Writing Exercises
News Writing Exercises
News Writing Exercises
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What: 1. government troops on the hunt for Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and the alleged
masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings clashed with a group of bandits.
2. three marines were injured after the incident
Where: in the Southern island province of Sulu
When : on Friday
Supporting details:
Around 11:30 am, troops from the 7th Marine Batallion clashed with some 40 Abu Sayaff
members. The clashed happened in Danag Village. This was in Patikul town. This was according to Caculitan.
Caculitan further said that the Abu Sayaff suffered casualties. He cannot give exact figure. He also said that He could not
easily ascertain if Janjalani and two other Jimaah Islamiya bomb experts Dulmatin and Omar Patik were with the group
that engaged with the marines.
Sulu province – has been sealed off in the hope of catching the Al Qaeda- linked militants.
The Abu Sayaff and the JI have been responsible for the worst terrorists attack in South east Asia. Al-Qaeda
militants have escaped military dragnet several times
The United States has put up ten million dollar bounty. This was for Dulmatin’s capture. One million dollar
each for the capture of Janjalani and Patek.
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Government Troops Clash with Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu; Three Marines Injured
Government troops on the hunt for Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and the alleged
masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings clashed with a group of bandits, where three soldiers were
injured after the incident in the Southern Island province of Sulu.
Lt. Col. Arnel Caculitan, Marines spokesman, the troops from the 7 th Marine Batallion clashed
with some 40 Abu Sayaff members, said the clashed happened in Danag Village, Patikul town, at
around 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Caculitan further said that the Abu Sayaff suffered casualties. He cannot give exact figure. He
also said that he could not easily ascertain if Janjalani and two other Jimaah Islamiya bomb experts
Dulmatin and Omar Patik were with the group that engaged with the marines.
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The Abu Sayaff and the JI have been responsible for the worst terrorists attack in South east
Asia. Al-Qaeda militants have escaped military dragnet several times.
The United States has put up $10 million bounty for Dulmatin’s capture and $1 million each
for the capture of Janjalani and Patek.
Sulu province has sealed off in the hope of catching the Al Qaeda linked militants.
Other details:
-- Nestor Mantaring – NBI Officer in charge.
-- He presented the counterfeiter in a press conference on Monday
afternoon.
-- Ronnie Jacobo – the counterfeiter.
-- He was a resident of 895 Quezon Boulevard, Sta Cruz, Manila.
-- Article 166 is all about forging treasury or bank notes, obligations
and securities.
-- Jacobo faces charges of violating Article 166.
-- Six to twelve years imprisonment – this will be the punishment of
Jacobo if proven guilty.
-- Marivic Jacobo – Ronnie’s wife. She is an accomplice to the crime.
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The NBI is also searching for Marivic.
-- Regional Director Ruel Lasala – head of the NBI National Capital
Region Division. He launched an investigation upon receiving
information that the suspect was engaged in the printing and
sale of fake 500 and 1,000 peso bills.
-- An NBI agent posed as a buyer and bought a fake 500 and 1,000
peso bills from Ronnie and Marivic.
-- Wilfredo Villaluz – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Supervising Agent.
According to him, the suspect did a good job.
-- Bills were complete with watermark and security thread.
-- Upon closer look one would notice that the security thread is
actually a sticker.
-- The suspect (Jacobo) admitted using Corel draw and Adobe
Photoshop basic graphic design program for his counterfeiting
activity.
-- The 500 peso bills and the 1,000 peso bills were sold at 75 each.
-- 453,000 – the amount of counterfeit bills recovered by the authorities.
3
Exercise 1
Newswriting
Write straight news based on the following facts which are given at random:
-- The attacked happened in Lucban town. This is 160 kilometers south of Manila.
-- The New Peoples Army burned down the generator set of the Globe station.
-- The communist rebels ordered Gatila at a gun point to open the gate of the station
-- Mendoza said that past noon Saturday, some 20 heavily armed rebels attacked
-- According to Mendoza, the attacked happened when the lone security guard was
-- The Globe cellular site still not operational as of Sunday, according to Mendoza.
-- Once inside, the rebels spilled gasoline on the generator set and guard house.
-- After setting the equipment and bunkhouse on fire, the terrorists hurriedly escaped,”
4
Exercise 2
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:
- two men died in the said incident. Another was seriously wounded.
- A service crew of a fast food chain named Sonny Cagaoan was declared dead
- Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree in front of a
house along Panday Pira Street. Here, the suspects in a dark blue Mitsubishi
- Danilo Fajardo- the companion of the two.He is 19 years old and is under
observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for gunshot wounds
- Chief Inspector Alberto Peco – head of the Homicide Section of the Manila Police
District. Accoding to him, revenge could be the motive for the attack.
- Another who also succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head is Mar Jerkin Tan.
Tan is 24 years old and a maintenance crew of the Ninoy Aquino Int’l Airport.
- the suspects were backed up by unidentified men on board another sports utility
- Police are verifying the identities of the owners of the vehicles used in the shooting.
- Peco said his follow-up team failed to find Quan and the rest of his gang at their
residences.
- Peco gathered from the witnesses that several days ago, Tan and his group figured
in a fight with five residents of the nearby Dandan Street resulting in injuries.
the injured here are the cousins Francis Quan and Edward Basilio.
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6
Exercise 3
Exercise 3
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random
- Ferdinand Paglinawan – Police Officer 2 of the QC Traffic Sector 2. He was the one
- the incident happened in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City yesterday morning.
- Michael Franca- He was killed while 14 others were injured. It happened when a
speeding bus rammed a Manila Electric Co. post. Franca is 32 years old. He lives on
- according to the investigator, the victim was apparently hit by the bus. Afterwards he
was dragged and pinned between the bus and the wall of the building. The building
- Joel Bacus – name of the driver. He is 37 years old. According to Paglinawan, Bacus
claimed that the bus lost its brakes and he could no longer control the steering wheel.
- the bus is on its way to Baclaran from Bulacan when the incident happened. Around
9 a.m.
- the driver will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property
- thirteen passengers of the bus sustained bruises and abrasions. They were brought to
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- Franca was reportedly crossing Don Mariano Marcos Avenue when a Rubino Elena
- The driver sustained wounds in his foot. He was also brought to the hospital even as
he was placed under the custody of the Quezon City Traffic Sector 2.
- ‘the victim’s death was brutal’– said by Paglinawan to The Star in an interview.
8
Exercise 4
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.
Roxana Saberi – US –Iranian journalist. She was sentenced to eight years in jail by an Iranian
revolutionary court. This was according to Saberi’s lawyer.
Saberi was charged because of spying for the United States.
Saberi is 31 years old. She has been detained in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison
since January.
The verdict was the harshest sentence ever meted out to a dual national on security charges.
Abdulsamad Koramshahi – Saberi’s lawyer. According to him, Saberi has been
sentence to eight years in jail, and he’s going to appeal, because according to
Saberi’s father was greeted with shock and said that her daughter had been
“tricked” into confessing. She was initially reported to have been detained
Saberi went on trial behind closed doors on Monday accused of spying for the US.
The case against Saberi has raised deep concerns in Washington and among the right groups.
According to ISNA news agency, as it quote unnamed judiciary source- a
revolutionary court had sentenced Saberi for espionage – a charge that could
Hillary R. Clinton- US Secretary of State.She was deeply disappointed over the sentence. She also said
that Washington would “vigorously raise” its concerns
with Tehran. No date yet has given to the verdict.
9
Exercise 5
Other details:
afternoon.
and securities.
-- An NBI agent posed as a buyer and bought a fake 500 and 1,000
-- Upon closer look one would notice that the security thread is
actually a sticker.
activity.
-- The 500 peso bills and the 1,000 peso bills were sold at 75 each.
11
Exercise 7
Newswriting 5
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:
It happened after police raided their hide out. A house in Bgy. Palina West
> The bodies of the suspects were found sprawled in diff. rooms of the house according
to Castil.
> Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr.–Urdaneta Police Chief. He said in an interview that
Rodriguez was found inside a room with one of the dead suspects in an unfinished
-Army T/Sgt. Dionisio Obillo ------ he was the alleged gang leader
>Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan – Ilocos region Police Commander. He said the
after they kidnapped Rodriguez (April 15) then they brought him to a safe house in
Urdaneta City.
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Exercise 8
Newswriting 1
Write news articles based on the following facts which are given at random
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-Kuen Chua – He is 46 years old. He was rescued by the operatives of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency
Response (PACER) yesterday morning.
-The rescue took place at 11:30 a.m. This happened after 17 days of captivity.
-The rescue happened following an encounter with members of the kidnap gang at Belen Street in Barangay
Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City
-The police rescued unharmed the Filipino-Chinese businessman from his kidnappers.in Quezon City.
-Immediately following Chua’s rescue, PACER operatives went to various locations to arrest the remaining
members of the kidnap-for-ransom gang.
-Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina – PACER Chief. According to him a still unidentified member of the
kidnap gang was killed while another suspect, identified as Christopher Nanson. He is 35 years old, and was
arrested.
-A certain Adriano Ventulla of Antipolo City – He is the alleged owner of the safehouse. where Chua was kept.
He will be invited for questioning.
-Chua was kidnapped last Sept. 10 by four armed men wearing t-shirts that bore the word “police.” The
kidnappers initially demanded P30 million for Chua’s release.
-Espina described Nanson as a native of Camalig, Albay. He is a resident of Castro street, which is in Sta. Lucia
in Novaliches, Quezon City.
===============================================================
Newswriting 2
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.
More details:-
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- Gilbert Cruz- Makati Police Chief Senior Superintendent.
- Supt, Cruz said that the project was initiated to protect night shift employees such as
call center agents.
- He said that 5 such zones were identified in the city’s business district-the intersections
of Ayala and Gil Puyat Avenue, Pasong Tamo and Gil Puyat, the 6750 building along
Ayala Avenue.
- Makati has a total of 146 international and local business outsourcing companies and
72 call centers in its business district.
How is it done:
-Supt. Cruz further said that a team of two DPS personnel will patrol the area.
-They will do it round the clock. A police car will be on standby. They will also check
on commuters who may be victims of robbers or snatchers.
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Exercise 9
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random
- Ferdinand Paglinawan – Police Officer 2 of the QC Traffic Sector 2. He was the one
- the incident happened in Barangay North Fairview, Quezon City yesterday morning.
- Michael Franca- He was killed while 14 others were injured. It happened when a
speeding bus rammed a Manila Electric Co. post. Franca is 32 years old. He lives on
- according to the investigator, the victim was apparently hit by the bus. Afterwards he
was dragged and pinned between the bus and the wall of the building. The building
- Joel Bacus – name of the driver. He is 37 years old. According to Paglinawan, Bacus
claimed that the bus lost its brakes and he could no longer control the steering wheel.
- the bus is on its way to Baclaran from Bulacan when the incident happened. Around
9 a.m.
- the driver will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property
- thirteen passengers of the bus sustained bruises and abrasions. They were brought to
- Franca was reportedly crossing Don Mariano Marcos Avenue when a Rubino Elena
16
bus struck him. The bus has a plate number PWZ-900.
- The driver sustained wounds in his foot. He was also brought to the hospital even as
he was placed under the custody of the Quezon City Traffic Sector 2.
- ‘the victim’s death was brutal’– said by Paglinawan to The Star in an interview.
17
Exercise 10
Newswriting
Write straight news based on the following facts which are given at random:
-- The attacked happened in Lucban town. This is 160 kilometers south of Manila.
-- The New Peoples Army burned down the generator set of the Globe station.
-- The communist rebels ordered Gatila at a gun point to open the gate of the station
-- Mendoza said that past noon Saturday, some 20 heavily armed rebels attacked
-- According to Mendoza, the attacked happened when the lone security guard was
-- The Globe cellular site still not operational as of Sunday, according to Mendoza.
-- Once inside, the rebels spilled gasoline on the generator set and guard house.
-- After setting the equipment and bunkhouse on fire, the terrorists hurriedly escaped,”
Exercise 11
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random:
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- unidentified men sprayed the casualties with bullets.
- two men died in the said incident. Another was seriously wounded.
- A service crew of a fast food chain named Sonny Cagaoan was declared dead
- Investigation showed that the victims were having a drinking spree in front of a
house along Panday Pira Street. Here, the suspects in a dark blue Mitsubishi
- Danilo Fajardo- the companion of the two.He is 19 years old and is under
observation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for gunshot wounds
- Chief Inspector Alberto Peco – head of the Homicide Section of the Manila Police
District. Accoding to him, revenge could be the motive for the attack.
- Another who also succumbed to gunshot wounds in the head is Mar Jerkin Tan.
Tan is 24 years old and a maintenance crew of the Ninoy Aquino Int’l Airport.
- the suspects were backed up by unidentified men on board another sports utility
- Police are verifying the identities of the owners of the vehicles used in the shooting.
- Peco said his follow-up team failed to find Quan and the rest of his gang at their
residences.
- Peco gathered from the witnesses that several days ago, Tan and his group figured
in a fight with five residents of the nearby Dandan Street resulting in injuries.
the injured here are the cousins Francis Quan and Edward Basilio.
19
Exercise 12
Newswriting 2009
Write a news article based on the following facts which are given at random.
Roxana Saberi – US –Iranian journalist. She was sentenced to eight years in jail by an Iranian
revolutionary court. This was according to Saberi’s lawyer.
Saberi was charged because of spying for the United States.
Saberi is 31 years old. She has been detained in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison
since January.
The verdict was the harshest sentence ever meted out to a dual national on security charges.
Abdulsamad Koramshahi – Saberi’s lawyer. According to him, Saberi has been
sentence to eight years in jail, and he’s going to appeal, because according to
Saberi’s father was greeted with shock and said that her daughter had been
“tricked” into confessing. She was initially reported to have been detained
Saberi went on trial behind closed doors on Monday accused of spying for the US.
The case against Saberi has raised deep concerns in Washington and among the right groups.
According to ISNA news agency, as it quote unnamed judiciary source- a
revolutionary court had sentenced Saberi for espionage – a charge that could
Hillary R. Clinton- US Secretary of State.She was deeply disappointed over the sentence. She also said
that Washington would “vigorously raise” its concerns
with Tehran. No date yet has given to the verdict.
20
Exercise 13
Newswriting 1
Senior Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Geres- is a member of the the Gubat town police.
He was shot dead early Sunday morning. This was according to Chief Inspector Ayn Natuel who is the
Spokesperson of the Bicol police. Natuel relayed the news of the killing in a text message Sunday.
The killing took place in Gubat town which is in Sorsogon. Responding town police operatives collared
one of the gunmen. Thus happened when the said gunman was hiding near the scene of the crime. A
Philippine National Police officer said this.
Robinson Huete – name of the gunman. A resident of Barangay Bulacao, in Gubat. He was arrested
by police operatives and was tagged as one of the gunmen that shot Geres.
2:30 a.m. Sunday – the shooting took place. This happened when Geres was about to board his tricycle
along Manotok street-in Gubat town.
Natuel could not say if the crime was related to insurgency or ordinary crime.
The arrested suspect has been detained at the town jail.
He is also undergoing interrogation.
Several armed men fired Geres at close range. He was killed instantly.
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Exercise 15
Newswriting 1
Senior Police Officer 1 Ferdinand Geres- is a member of the the Gubat town police.
He was shot dead early Sunday morning. This was according to Chief Inspector Ayn Natuel who is the
Spokesperson of the Bicol police. Natuel relayed the news of the killing in a text message Sunday.
The killing took place in Gubat town which is in Sorsogon. Responding town police operatives collared
one of the gunmen. Thus happened when the said gunman was hiding near the scene of the crime. A
Philippine National Police officer said this.
Robinson Huete – name of the gunman. A resident of Barangay Bulacao, in Gubat. He was arrested
by police operatives and was tagged as one of the gunmen that shot Geres.
2:30 a.m. Sunday – the shooting took place. This happened when Geres was about to board his tricycle
along Manotok street-in Gubat town.
Natuel could not say if the crime was related to insurgency or ordinary crime.
The arrested suspect has been detained at the town jail.
He is also undergoing interrogation.
Several armed men fired Geres at close range. He was killed instantly.
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QCSSPC 2
Newswriting: Write a news article based on the following facts which are given
at random.
- A woman was rescued Monday from the sea off the southern Philippines
- She’s alive .she was rescued by airforce para-jumpers. This was announced by
- The rescue happened more than 24 hours after a passenger ferry she was on sank,
- The Super Ferry 9 sank off the coast of Zamboanga peninsula early Sunday.
- Lita Casunglon – the identity of the woman. She was believed to be one of two
- The rescue leaves only one of the 958 passengers and crew unaccounted for.
Monday.
- Still to be identified are the bodies of one male and four female victims,according
to NDCC
They are: James Patrick Gallego, he is two years old; Ferdinand Apolinario, he
is 21 years old, Carina Ampere, 23 years old and Ferdinand Estrada, 45 years old.
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- Passengers and crew were able to abandon ship before the SuperFerry 9.
- Captain Jose Yap – skippered Super Ferry 9 bound for Ilo-Ilo City. The ship departed
- The ship completely submerged at 9:10 a.m. Sunday, NDCC said. Before the ship
Submerged some had thrown out babies overboard and jumped off the ship
in panic.
-Captain Yap gave out a distress call at 3:30 a.m. Sunday saying that the ship was
Was listing on its starboard side 9.5 nautical miles west of Banga Point in Siocon,
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QCSSPC 3 Newswriting: Write a composite news based on the following facts which are given
at random.
- The fatalities were killed in separate road accidents along Maharlika Highway.
type jeep went wayward. The jeep also sideswiped a parked dump truck and later
- Leah- Comienzo’s mother – she was injured, also Arnulfo Subayba. Both of them
- Highway Patrol Group investigators said four other people were killed in similar road
- Joel Oflaria – a student. He was 14 years old. He was not wearing a safety helmet.
He was killed when his motorcycle smashed into two other motorcycles parked
on the road side. This happened also in Maharlika Highway, in Plaridel town.
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QCSSPC 4
Newswriting: Write a news article based on the following facts which are given
at random.
Batara said one of the passengers of the ill-fated watercraft who was identified
as certain Sinnag Arkan is still missing as of press time.
the pump boat hired by the said persons capsized due to rough sea conditions.
They were en route to Pata Island to attend a fiesta and to avail of free medical
service.
Hatib Sakan Arkan, sixty years old Elein Parson, eight years old
Salip Aprson Jaynal, 40 years old Benhor Junior Taub, four months old
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The 23rd Marine Company immediately coordinated the launch of a search and rescue operation with
the help of local residents and local divers in the area with 10 pump boats,” he said.
One of the pump boat operators was able to swim toward a nearby island and
asked for help.
The incident was brought to the attention of the commanding officer of 23rd
Marine Company.
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TAPAT 1
NEWSWRITING
Direction: Write a news article based on the following facts given at random.
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He’s a lawyer. He was found slumped unconscious with a gunshot wound in the chest.
James Jimenez – Comelec spokesman. He confirmed that Dalaig was killed but failed to elaborate on the
motive of the attack.
Words of Jimenez:
“I’m here confrming it was Attorney Dalaig who was killed. Right now, members of his family and the Comelec
family are waiting for autopsy results.”
Filomena – name of Dalaig’s wife. She claimed that her huisband had been receiving death threats lately.
Jimenez further said that they would leave it up to the police to investigate the motive behind Dalaig’s killing.
We were very shocked. I could not believe it when people started calling me about it. He is a big loss for the
Comelec.
SPO4 Alfredo Dela Rosa – He led the investigation. According to him there were no witnesses so far to
describe how Dalaig was shot.
According to Dela Rosa Dalaig was carrying P300,000 cash but ruled robbery out as possible motive. Dalaig’s
money and personal belongings were intact following the attack.
Dalaig was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ospital ng Maynila, this was according to officials.
Dalaig was found unconscious in front of the Hyatt Hotel at the corner of M.H. Del Pilar and Pedro Gil streets
in Ermita, Manla.
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TAPAT 2
NEWSWRITING
Direction: Write a news article based on the following facts given at random.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Esteban Conejos Jr. –Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs. He said that the nine
Pinoy seamen were scheduled to leave at 11:20 p.m., Port Louis in Mauritius. That was 11:20 Mauritius time.
Nine Filipino seafarers will arrive home tonight. They mutinied and took over a fishing
vessel in the Indian Ocean. This was according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Names of the nine seamen: Roderick Sumang, Dexter Alday, Dennis Tolentino, Edwin Lee,Cirilo Moraleja,
Jesus Baniqued, Socrates Silar, Jose Mempin, and Noel Cusi.
Bernadette Mendoza –Vice Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. In her
report to Vice President Noli De Castro, she said that the representative of the vessel’s
The captain will not file criminal actions against the nine seamen – This was based on
the agreement reflected in the police report. The captain will pay for the airfare costing
$720 each, and shoulder their food and lodging while everything is being processed for their repatriation.
Jui-yin Huang – the captain of the ship. The Filipinos agreed that they would just take
the airfare
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According to Mendoza, the captain made it clear that he would not pay the salaries of the nine seamen that
could reach $150 - $200 each per month
The nine seamen are set to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, 10:30 p.m. from Dubai.
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Strive for Excellence - Dr. Fuentes
This was the challenge posed by Dr. Victoria Q. Fuentes, Quezon City Schools Division
Superintendent to the participating young writers during the Opening Program of the 27 th Quezon
City Division Young Writers Contest which is now being held at Bago Bantay Elementary School, Bago
Bantay, Quezon City.
“For the last five years, the performance of Quezon City in Campus Journalism is so far
unbeatable, as it has been champion always,” Dr. Fuentes stressed.
She further noted that such performance is simply because, young writers in our division always
have trainings in the different areas of campus paper writing.
“Another reason is the fact that teachers do their jobs and always aim for excellence , Dr.
Fuentes added.
“You need to really work hard, and give your best in whatever endeavour you’ll undertake. You
should double your efforts and rewards will be yours at the end,” she said.
With the theme, “Promoting a Culture of Peace Through Responsible Journalism,” the contest
aims to train budding writers in the different categories of Campus Journalism and to prepare them
for the coming Metro Manila Young Writers Contest.
_____ public and private schools participated in this annual gathering of student writers.
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“Pagsikapan Ninyong Makamit ang Minimithing Tagumpay”
- Dr. Fuentes
“Bilang mga batang mamamahayag, marapat marahil na pagsikapan ninyong makamit ang
minimithing tagumpay,”
Ito ang hamon ni Dr. Victoria Q. Fuentes, Tagapamanihala, Kagawaran ng Edukasyon, Lungsod
Quezon, sa mga kalahok na batang manunulat, sa Pambukas na palatuntunan ng Pandibisyong
Paligsahan na kasalukuyang ginaganap sa Bago Bantay Elementary School, Lungsod Quezon.
“Sa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang ikapagtatagumpay ng ating mithiin. Gawin ninyo ang
inyong buong makakaya at magtiwala sa sarili, higit sa lahat, magtiwala sa Diyos,” dagdag pa niya.
“Walang imposible, basta ginagawa ninyo ang buong makakaya. Nawa’y pagsikapan ninyong
makamit ang inyong minimithi,” pagdidiin pa ni Dr. Fuentes sa pagtatapos ng kaniyang mensahe.
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