Hey there, fellow Hivers! Thanks for stopping by. I was as busy as a bee today. I want to share with you all my journey as a supportive mother to my fifth-grade daughter. She joined a competition in Journalism at the elementary level. I will walk you through our journey today at the Division Schools Press Conference 2025, held at La Filipina National High School, Tagum City, Philippines.
It was her first time to join this kind of competition at school. She was really nervous because she was new to studying Journalism. That put a lot of pressure on her. But I can see her determination to learn in this field. They went through a lot of training and coaching from their teachers. They went to school early and went home late. They started their training last year in November, and it ended yesterday. Her event was Copyreading and Headline Writing, which is quite hard to learn. There were many students who were good, and for her as a first timer it’s a quite pressure. It would be a bonus if she made it into the top 3. If she does, she will compete at the Regional level of the competition. If not, we're still thankful for the experience. Not all students in the school get that opportunity. They went through many eliminations to select the school’s representative for the competition. For me, as a mother, she’s already a winner. I see her persistence in learning this field.
Before the official opening of the competition, they had a short program. They were going to have a School Yell competition, and they really did great with their yells. In the photos, we can see a lot of participants for that event. You can see how prepared they were for this day. A big salute to all the teachers who are always ready and supportive of the kids. I saw teachers carrying printers, a ream of bond paper, and their personal belongings.
Cousins by blood, friends by choice.
Meet her cousin, she’s on the left side, my daughter, and their friend on the right side. They are classmates and friends. Their goal is to make it to the top spot in their respective events. They’re all nervous at this moment. Good luck, girls!
The Copyreading participants and their Coach
Ready, Set, Go—Let the Best Win!
The designated time has arrived. The Division head is ready to announce the start of the competition. After she bangs the Agong (a traditional Filipino instrument), that will signal the official start of the contest.
This is the assigned classroom for the copyreaders and headline writers. I always follow my daughter because I want her to feel my full support on her journey. Before she went in, I told her, “Just relax, do your very best, I’ll stay outside and wait for you.” It started at 11:15 in the morning and ended at 12:15. When she came out, I could see sadness in her eyes because she wasn’t confident about her answers. The news they worked on was very difficult. She said, with teary eyes, “Mama, I’m sorry if I can’t make it, but I really did my best.” I hugged her and said, “No worries, dear. This is just the beginning. You can do better next time, and we’re always here to support you.” Those words made her feel relieved.
It's Time to Go
After we had lunch, we walked down the path to the gate. While watching her walk, I realized how lucky I am to have her. Even though we didn’t know the result yet because it would be announced tomorrow, win or lose, I’m still grateful for the opportunity she had.
Before I end this blog, I just want to share my two cents on how important these kinds of school events are for our young learners. They help hone their knowledge and skills while they’re still young. Not only for their minds but also the sportsmanship they can learn from this competition. They are our future journalists or even leaders, and that’s why it’s important to train them while they’re young. As parents, let’s give our full support to them.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Until my next blog!