Bataan hosts RSPC 2016

CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan – With the theme, “Strengthening Freedom of Information through

Campus Journalism”, the Province of Bataan, thru the Schools Division of Bataan under Mr. Jesse Ferrer and the Schools Division Office (SDO), City of Balanga under Dr. Carolina Violeta, hosted this year’s Regional Schools Press Conference with the opening ceremonies held at the Bataan People’s Center at the Capitol compound, this City.

Festive and heart-warming program welcomed the guests, school heads, school paper advisers, and students (elementary and high school levels) from all over the region, who will compete in different categories of Campus Journalism.

Education Program Supervisor for Filipino, SDO City of Balanga, Elena V. Almario introduced the delegates thru a lively and energetic roll call representing their respective home provinces. City Councilor Vic Baluyot expressed his gratitude to the RSPC officials for choosing the city and the province to host this competition, participated in by the cream-of- the-crop students from all over the Central Luzon.

To break the ice, the Special Program for the Arts students of Bataan National High School (BNHS) rendered a colorful cultural dance presentation taking back the participants to the beauty of the past.

Dr. Boyet Castañeda who represented 1^st District Congresswoman Geraldine B. Roman, related himself to the parents of the students being once a parent of a campus journalist, and vowed to support the event as much as he supported his children in the competition before.

Bataan 2^nd District Congressman Jose Enrique S. Garcia III assured the delegates of a great stay in the province ensuring their safety while enjoying the different places, food and activities. He took this opportunity to share a bill that he authored and will soon file in the Congress proposing that Computer Science must be included in the curriculum of STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

“In this digital age where children grow with cellphones, computers, tablets and internet, napaka importante po na ma-instill natin sa kanila ang tamang foundation and ideology ng computer science na magagamit nila in the near future.”, the Congressman highlighted.

Fusing journalism, culture and history, the BNHS Arts students once again took the spotlight in a majestic song and dance number which accentuated the lives of Cayetano Arellano, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who happened to be a local of Udyong (now Orion) and that of Tomas Pinpin, a printer, writer and publisher from Abucay, and the first Filipino printer and also referred to as the Prince of Filipino Printers; and the different ethnic groups in the Philippines encapsulated in a Filipino-pride themed presentation.

Former Board Member Mr. Gaudencio Ferrer, in his short but inspiring message emphasized the power of journalism in all aspects of life.

Finally, Officer-in- Charge, Office of the Assistant Regional Director Nicolas T. Capulong, CESO V formally declared the opening of the RSPC 2016.

Dr. Carolina S. Violeta, Superintendent SDO of City of Balanga and Mr. Jessie D. Ferrer, CESO V, Schools Division Superintendent of DepED Bataan received plaques of appreciation for their efforts in hosting this year’s RSPC.

Immediately after the opening ceremonies, individual and group competitions will be held simultaneously in the following venues: Tomas Pinpin Memorial Elementary School in Abucay, Pablo Roman National High School in Pilar, Bataan National High School, Bataan Heroes Memorial College and City of Balanga High School all in the City of Balanga.