Unravelling the Unstoppable

By: Joanna Wayne Horneja and Pauline Marie Arada

Different faces seen in the perfectly white conference room. Different people that
convey their mastery of art in their own fields. Different schools from diverse places.
Amidst the crowd, seated at the very right corner was a group of students with utmost
pride held on their faces. Just by the sound of their footsteps echoed the room, with
the name of their institution that adds fear to the audience. They are the bearers of
truth; rising above mediocrity—the USA Publications.
It is in the truism of journalism to search for and discover the truth, to verify the factual
events to adhere the opinion-making to the publicity. Aside from its eccentric beauty of
collecting truth, it also comes with phases of a long, and painful journey. Versatility and
patience is always a must to attain the success of practice in the profession of
journalism.
2019 was the year where the University of San Agustin Publications raised their banner
once more on numerous milestones both in the regional and national scale. It continued
to live by its legacy during the Philippine Information Agency 6’s Regional College Press
Conference Awards and 2019 The Manila Times National Campus Press Awards.
ARTISTRY OF A SOLE PEN
Amongst hundreds of campus journalists from various publications in the region,
soaring high with their talented individualities are the staffers from the USA Publications
as they continue to prove the valor a pen holds during the on-the-spot writing
competitions of the PIA 6 Regional College Press Conference Awards last November 29
at the Iloilo Grand Hotel.
Showcasing their journalistic prowess in the individual writing competitions were Emy
Rose Gallego, Managing Editor, who snatched the third spot on the News Writing -
Filipino and fourth place in Copyreading and Headline Writing - Filipino Categories
through responsive, developmental, and research-based information while staff writer,
Pauline Marie Arada told the untold stories of the pride of her hometown and grabbed
the second spot on the Feature Writing - English Category.
Meanwhile, it was a battle of knowledge and competence for Xena Hyacinth Estiñoso
and Jerico Severino on the Mr.and Ms. COPRE Competition wherein both were awarded
as Best in Formal Wear while Estiñoso hailed as the second runner-up for Ms. COPRE.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
With over 61 publication entries in Western Visayas, the USA Publications stays golden
after bringing home 10 minor and 2 major awards on the group publication contests of
COPRE 2019.
On its fourth consecutive year at the top spot, Dingding ni Gusting emerge undefeated
as the region’s Best Wall Newspaper for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, earning
a four-peat title with its developmental communication news and stories. Irong-irong,
its official literary folio, seizes fourth place showcasing masterpieces written up in the
skies above in the Best Literary Folio Category.
On the other hand, The Augustinian bags the fifth place as both the region’s Best
Newsletter and Best Online Newsletter while it was given a major recognition as the
third Best Tabloid/Newspaper in Western Visayas. Along with these were its minor
awards that included 1st Place Best Newspaper Layout, 1st Place Best Sports Page, 4th
Place Best Editorial Page, and 5th Place Best News Page.
The Augustinian Mirror, the official student magazine, were recognized as the 3rd Place
Best Magazine as it unearthed human interest stories that captivated its readers. It was
also awarded with the 3rd Place Magazine Layout and 2nd Place in Magazine Cover
Design.
TRANSCENDING THE TIMES
On its 92nd year of establishment, the USA Publications remains steadfast in keeping
their legacy as one of the leading student publications not only in Western Visayas, but
also in the country. Besting out over 675 journalistic outputs from 60 school
publications across the Philippines, The Manila Times recognized its works during the
awarding ceremony of the 2019 National Campus Press Awards held at Savoy Hotel,
Manila, February 18.
Defending the tiltle for the second time, The Augustinian Mirror was hauled as the
nation’s Best Student Magazine. Moreover, The Augustinian Newspaper was also
awarded as the Best Student Newspaper with its Editorial and Editorial Cartoon entitled
“You’ve Been [Red] Tagged!” also garnering recognitions as the Best Editorial and Best
Editorial Cartoon.
The literary entry of Philip Robert Alaban, the publication’s former Program
Management Director, entitled “Tell Alls of a Tell-tale Heartache” which spoke about the
different phases of heartbreaks in Irong-irong 14 also emerged as Best Literary Piece.
In the face of endless journeys and mindful perspectives, journalists should always
possess a powerful opportunity to master their crafts. Hence, journalism can never be
bound in silence: It is its virtue to speak the wonders and its art could be put into
words to make the cynical, a believer of truth.