Graphics by John Carl Acosta
The Industrial Wheel, the official student publication of Eastern Visayas State University – Main Campus, bagged seven awards in the recently-concluded 2026 Organization of Student’s Services Educators (OSSEI) National Training and Workshop on Campus Journalism, Saturday, September 27, at the Crown Legacy Hotel Function Hall in Baguio City.
The winning entries were drawn from the publication’s nominated works published in its magazine, newsletter, and tabloid during Academic Year 2025-2026.
Ellie Cabalhin, a junior staff writer of the publication, clinched first place in the Best Published Feature Story, with his feature article entitled, “A Dream Without an Expiration Date.”
Further, Managing Editor James Magayon’s “Truth or Threat” column article secured second place in Best Published Opinion Article, while his article, “After the Gunfire: Tacloban school shooting opens wider discussion on school violence in PH,” placed fifth in Best Published News Report.
Additionally, Circulation Manager Jonas Mansal placed fourth in Best Published Photo News, while the former Arts Head Matthew Lagrosa secured second place in Best Published Editorial Cartoon.
The publication also placed second in Best Web/Online Publication and fifth in Best Tabloid/Semi-Broadsheet.
In an interview, Cabalhin shared that 41 year-old Marlon Manaog, who continues his studies while working as a freelance therapist, inspired him to write the piece as a testament to pursuing dreams despite life’s challenges.
“At 41 years old, as a first-year college student, and while working as a freelance reflexology and massage therapist, he continues to choose education despite the challenges. And because of his determination, I was really inspired to write ‘A Dream Without an Expiration Date’ because I wanted his story to remind others that age, work, school, or difficult circumstances should not stop anyone from chasing what they truly want,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Editor-in-Chief, Alrey John Lacaba highlighted that the staff’s “willingness” in learning and exploring diverse forms of journalism as one of The Industrial Wheel’s key strengths.
“I also think one of our strengths is the willingness of our staff to learn and experiment with different forms of journalism. Hindi lang kami naka-focus sa isang section or isang type of story. We have staff who are willing to write, take photos, create illustrations, and explore different platforms, and I think that helped us in this year’s participation,” Lacaba explained.
He also stressed that the publication should remain anchored on its purpose as a campus publication, emphasizing that awards should not become its primary motivation.
“I want The Industrial Wheel to remain focused on its mission and purpose as a campus publication. Awards are something that we appreciate, but they shouldn’t be the reason why we do journalism. We do this because we have a responsibility to tell stories, to give students a voice, and to serve the university community through responsible and meaningful journalism,” he added.
The three-day training and workshop gathered student-journalists from 22 participating schools and universities nationwide for sessions on news, feature and opinion writing, photo essays, media ethics, page design, and editorial cartooning, equipping them with practical knowledge in producing and managing student publications.
Article by Carl Dotingco