Bringing back its legacy after a six-year absence, the official student publication organ of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) – Main Campus, The Industrial Wheel, marked its return to the 2025 National Training and Workshop on Campus Journalism, organized by the Organization of Student’s Services Educators (OSSEI), by winning multiple awards during the awarding ceremony on September 27 at the Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City.
The three-day national convention gathered student journalists from 24 schools and universities nationwide to tackle lectures on digital reporting, investigative journalism in the age of artificial intelligence, page layout and design, and editorial writing and cartooning.
Workshops in various fields of campus journalism also highlighted the event, where The Industrial Wheel delegates showcased their skills and brought honor to the publication.
Editor-in-Chief Alrey John Lacaba secured the first place award in editorial writing with his piece “Tinig na Binubura,” while Managing Editor Brent Jovi Despe earned an Honorable Mention for his editorial article “Unblinking Moral Compass.”
Moreover, Head of the Arts Department Matthew Franklin Isaac Lagrosa clinched first place title in editorial cartooning in digital category, while Creatives’ Head Zean Clifford Dellera bagged third place in page layout and design.
Meanwhile, Lacaba felt overwhelmed after clinching first place in Editorial Writing, noting it was his first time joining the national convention with “zero knowledge regarding OSSEI’s updated standards.
“Honestly, it feels overwhelming and humbling at the same time. Coming into the competition for the first time, I didn’t really know what to expect, lalo na since our publication had ‘zero knowledge’ about OSSEI’s updated standards after 2019. So there was that uncertainty talaga. But I think what made the experience fulfilling was the fact that I was able to rely on the fundamentals of good journalism, plus the support of our mentors and co-Wheelers. Winning nationally despite those limitations proved to me that perseverance, critical thinking, and trust in your craft can really take you far,” he expressed.
Alumna of the publication Ms. Christianne Faith Mahinay, who accompanied the delegates during the workshops, called the batch a “record-breaker” after securing two championship titles—the first in the publication’s history of joining the national gathering.
“The IW has always placed in the Top 5 in certain categories for the past years until 2019, but it was only this year that the IW has earned two championship titles in the same edition, and it was really a ‘pasabog’ comeback in the OSSEI conference after 6 years,” Mahinay said.
She also lauded the new generation of the university’s student-journalist for taking bold steps and bringing the publication further through their courage, creativity, and passion.
“I have always felt hopeful and excited for the new breed of Wheelers since I graduated in 2019. This generation is different from ours before. This current generation is full of energy, passion and extra creative in their own ways, so no doubt in winning both regional and national competitions. I am grateful to these kids for bringing the IW this far and for taking big steps out of the norm and of their comforts. I can’t wait to see more of their courage, hear their loud voices and rally the truth,” she added.
The convention drew 131 student-journalists from various schools and universities across the country, underscoring the continued relevance of campus press in shaping responsible and critical voices in wider society.
Article by James Magayon