FOR WRITING about New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmates being given a second chance through alternative learning, Inquirer Metro reporter Jovic Yee was named one of the winners in last week鈥檚 2015 Lasallian Scholarum Awards.
Yee won in the outstanding published feature article on youth and education in a nationally circulated publication category for his article titled 鈥淒epEd chief to Bilibid grads: We鈥檙e not that different.鈥�
The feature which came out in the March 15 issue of the Inquirer鈥檚 Metro section focused on the speech of Education Secretary Armin Luistro during the graduation ceremony for the NBP鈥檚 over 500 inmates who had enrolled in the Department of Education鈥檚 Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Under the ALS, the convicts, even those serving life sentences, were able to acquire livelihood skills.
In his speech, Luistro had emphasized that normal people were no different than inmates.
鈥淲e all made mistakes and not just once. The difference is that you were sent to prison while we were not caught. We cannot stand here and say 鈥榶ou are bad, we are good鈥欌��. We are all the same: The lessons in life you now know are the same lessons we should also learn,鈥� Luistro said.
For his story, Yee was recognized during the 12th Lasallian Scholarum Awards held last Monday, receiving a cash prize and a souvenir of achievement or a trophy called the 鈥淔light.鈥� An artwork designed and crafted by artist Daniel dela Cruz, it symbolizes the award-giving institution鈥檚 way of acknowledging youth and education stories which urge the public 鈥渢o change or to take flight.鈥�
JOVIC Yee takes 鈥淔light.鈥� NI脩O JESUS ORBETA
Aside from Yee, 24 other Inquirer reporters, correspondents, columnists and photographers were also named finalists in several categories.
They included photographers Lyn Rillon, Edwin Bacasmas, Mark Alvic Esplana, Joan Bondoc, Ni帽o Jesus Orbeta, reporters/correspondents Grace Shangkuan Koo, Michael B. Jaucian, Jhoanna Marie
Buenaobra, Joel Nigos, Vaughn Alviar, Ni帽a Calleja, DJ Yap, Janice Maglasang, Rene O. Durian and Annelle Tayao Juego, editors Fernando del Mundo, Linda B. Bolido and Chelo Banal-Formoso and columnists Ma. Ceres P. Doyo, Randy David, Michael L. Tan, Oscar Franklin Tan, Christopher Ryan Maboloc and Audrey Tan- Zubiri.
Sen. Sonny Angara, who headed the panel of judges, said that the awardees were able to convey stories 鈥渨hich give human experiences justice.鈥�
鈥淏y arranging details into narratives, these stories crystalize and clarify. We grasp the gravity of issues like inaccessible education, out of school youth, or poverty,鈥� he told the audience in his speech.
Angara also highlighted media鈥檚 role to curate stories and shed light on national issues to shape people鈥檚 consciousness.
鈥淲e pay tribute to them in highlighting Filipino youth and education. Recognizing stories that inspire solutions is not only welcome and appreciated but very much needed,鈥� the senator added, noting that these stories also give meaning to universal quality education, equal opportunity and social advancement.
For his part, De La Salle University president Raymundo Suplido said that he hoped the Scholarum Awards would encourage media 鈥渢o explore stories in the most unexpected places.鈥�
鈥淢edia work challenges us to think, to work individually and together to genuinely push for positive change,鈥� he added.