For the first time in its history, the Schools Division of Catanduanes captured the overall title in the Regional Schools Press Conference held last Jan. 20-27, 2026 in Legazpi City.
It garnered a total of 286 points from 55 campus journalists who placed in the top five regional winners, 28 of them from the elementary level and 27 from the secondary level, as it clinched the championship in the school paper competition and 2nd runner-up in the individual and team events.
To top off the stunning win, 20 school publications from the island division (nine from elementary schools and 11 from secondary schools) will advance to the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) this April in Ormoc City in Leyte along with the champions in five (5) individual events and three (3) team events.
The division’s NSPC qualifiers at the elementary level are:
Editorial Writing (English): Marvielle Zarene M. Romero of Catanduanes State University Laboratory Schools (coach – Janice L. Icawat)
Column Writing (English): Princess Louise B. Matienzo of Virac Pilot Elementary School (coach – Paul John C. Arcilla)
News Writing (English): Sean Franco L. Realigue of Ville St. John School (coach – Shyra Mae V. Rima)
Collaborative Desktop Publishing (English): Gioluis Alistair M. Vargas, Car; Jacob M, Tabios, Kendralyn Matienzo, Celine A. Ku, Amia Louise A. Valeza, Jewel Rose T. Osorio, Jhulianna S. Presentacion, all of Juan M. Alberto Memorial Elementary School (coaches – Mary Joy M. Tabuzo and Sophie Joy M. Tabuzo)
The team’s publication was also chosen as Best in News Page, Best in Editorial-Opinion Page, Best in Features Page and Best in Sports Page, with its Layout selected as 2nd best.
The NSPC qualifiers from the secondary level are:
Photojournalism (English): Jian Franco V. Rubio of CNHS (coach – Jefferson S. Arcilla)
Sci-Tech Writing (Filipino): Joemiguel Zydrik S. Magtagnob of San Andres Vocational School (coach – Ma. Arianne B. Sarte)
Collaborative Desktop Publishing (English): Maria Erika Tablizo, Joshua Santino Rojas, Jose Joshua Ariola, Jamilla Pamela Urchella Guerrero, Lenoir Missouri Sapaula, Kit Valerie Brojan, Alyssa Marie Romano, all of CNHS (coach – Aimee O. Soquerata).
The team’s output also won Best in News Page, Best in Editorial-Opinion Page and Best in Features Page while its Sports Page ended up in 3rd place.
Radio Broadcasting & Scriptwriting (Filipino): Emmanuel John Vega of Immaculate Conception Seminary Academy, Jieshanen Matienzo of CNHS, Gabriel Angelo de Guzman of CatSU-LS, Aireen Kaye Tubale of Viga RDHS, Princess Mae Tan of Baras RDHS, Lhian Jade Tesorero of Baras RDHA, and Heart Danielle Prila of Bato RDHS (coaches – Axel James Tomes, Chocke Cabahug, Rica Marie Barrameda, Marcelino Matienzo, Princess Venue Obo, Lydel Joy Bautista).
Their performance won Best Script and 5th place for its Infomercial, along with individual awards: Best in Technical Application (Heart Prila), Best Anchor (Emmanuel Vega), 4th Best Anchor (Jieshanen Matienzo). 4th Best News Presenter (Gabriel de Guzman).
Also bound for Ormoc City are the following elementary school publications: The JMAMESIAN, Shining Star Gazette of Star Learners School, The Baptistine Gazette of Villa St. John School, The Valiant of Valencia ES, The Laboratory Image of CatSU-LS, The Owlet of Balite ES, The Star of VPES, Ang JMAMESIAN, Ang Pithaya of Tinago ES, Ang Tambuli of VSJS, Ang Labnig of Calabnigan ES, Ang Impapayaw of Palta ES and Ang Sibol of CatSU-LS.
Secondary publications qualifying for the NSPC are: The Synchronizer of CNHS, The Daystar of Viga RDHS, Angelus Domini of ICSA, The Pantograph of Supang-Datag NHS, The Livinian of Leandro I. Verceles Sr. NHS, The Helmsman of Dororian NHS, The Courier of Caramoran RDHS, The Spotlight of Bato RDHS, The Dawn of Bagamanoc RDHS, The PSAT Gear, Ang Rimora of PSAT, Ang Pitak of CatSU-LS, Ang Kampitan of CNHS and Ang Timbulog of ICSA.
The other regional placers are:
3rd Place, Copyreading & Headline Writing (Elementary-Filipino): John Liam T. Salonga of Palta ES (coach – Cyl Gellaine T. Dagohoy).
3rd Place. Sci-Tech Writing (Elementary-Filipino): Sophia Alysandra T. Nabor of VPES (coach – Joanah Imee T. Magtagnob).
2nd Place, Column Writing (Elementary-Filipino): Jozette R. Araojo of Viga RDHS (coach – Marian Claire V. Tulod).
4th Place, Sci-Tech Writing (Elementary-Filipino): Arianne Gabrielle F. del Valle of Pandan CES (coach – Alvin B. Bernardo).
5th Place, Sports Writing (Secondary English): Homer Angelo P. Chavez of CNHS (coach – Jefferson S. Arcilla).
5th Place, News Writing (Elementary English): Aira Shane V. Timbal of Bato CES (coach – Cynthia Rojas).
5th Place, News Writing (Elementary Filipino): Glaidel T. Torcuator of Tinago ES (coach – Ricky V. Tid).
4th Place, Collaborative Desktop Publishing (Elementary Filipino)/4th Best in News Page, 3rd Best in Editorial Opinion Page, 4th Best in Features Page, 4th Best in Sports Page, 4th Best in Layout: Zedekiah Kim O. Belangel, Ainna Amber T. Balin, Joanna Mae Tabuzo, Alyssa Chris S. Socito, Ma. Keira Alexi T. Molet, Cherylle M. Rodriguez and Kaven Kristof R. Panti (JMAMES and VPES). Their coaches are Glady Glaiza D. Jimenez, Princess O. Belangel and Jake Sarmiento.
5th Place Column Writing (Secondary English): Ayah Ashlyn Tating of Calatagan HS (coach – Nathalie Nicole D. Antonio.
4th Best in Features Page, 4th Best in Sports Page; Online Publishing (Secondary English): Rino Faustus Benitez, Marco Santino Gonzales, Jilliane Avril Tendenilla, Josh Nimrod Taroy, Ivan Achilles Able (CNHS), with Louie Sicio as coach
5th Best in DevCom (TV Broadcasting & Scriptwriting (Secondary Filipino): Francis Saldua, Hannah Mae Romero, Laurence Timothy Go, Jhilrose T. Nazareno, Venice Ibatuan, Danielle Lopez and Rosemarie Tresvalles (CNHS, Pandan SAT, San Miguel RDHS). Their coaches are Roselle Templonuevo, Doreena Bonifacio, John Karlo Dofredo, Rachelle Gelito and Lolit Benavidez.
5th Place Radio Broadcasting & Scriptwriting (Secondary English): Vian Voltaire Molto, Danielle Mae Luchavez, Joyce Pauline Taroy, Marthenah Gregorio, Jamilla Ross Molina, Raizza Tenoria, Nicole Rojas (CNHS, PSAT, Baras RDHS). Their coaches are Axel James Tomes, Mary Grace Quintal and Lito Iducan.