CALABARZON ushered in a new era of campus journalism at the opening of the Reconfigured Regional Schools Press Conference (RRSPC) 2026 in Antipolo City, Rizal last February 22.
Keynote speaker and news anchor Jester Delos Santos challenged the over 6,000 student journalists who participated in the event to become the “first responders of truth” and rise above the digital noise dominating today’s media landscape."
He urged campus journalists to rise above the chaos of social media feeds filled with influencers and vloggers who are primarily motivated by profit.
"As campus journalists in the digital age, you have the means to rise above the noise and amplify the truth," he told the young journos.
He also exhorted them to bravely write about "quiet injustices that online algorithms have not yet learned to value."
Delos Santos stressed the importance of presenting stories based on facts in a time when there is so much false information and emotional manipulation.
“Journalism should infuse your mind with facts, context, and clarity," he stated. "You need to harden not just your hands for when you write or type and not just your brain for when you try to make sense of your stories, but more importantly your heart, for you're about to enter the most chaotic newsroom in history, a warzone in fact, and that is your social media feed.”
The speaker called young journos the "first responders" of truth and talked about how important it is for them to report on genuine problems that affect schools and communities.
"You are the first ones to know why there aren't enough chairs in classrooms, or why students need better mental health support, or why teachers need better benefits and support."
Meanwhile, Governor Nina Ynares told campus journalists in a letter that they should strive to be honest, brave, and kind.
"Your words are powerful. Use this with honesty, courage, and care. Journalism isn't just about winning awards. It's about telling stories that matter and making sure that voices that need to be heard are heard," Ynares said in her message.
RRSPC 2026 puts CALABARZON in the vanguard of the country's student journalism revolution by giving a new generation of storytellers the tools they need to shape the future of Philippine media.
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