17-yr.-old student from Rizal, Kalinga is 2026 Most Outstanding Campus Journalist in the Philippines 

FEATURE

At an age when most students are just beginning to dream about their future, Marian Cuevo has already turned hers into reality—closing her high school journey with a national recognition that placed her, and Kalinga, on the country’s journalism map.

Cuevo, the outgoing Editor-in-Chief of Ang Bandilyo, the official school publication of the Rizal National School of Arts and Trades (RNSAT), graduated from high school on March 30, 2026, with high honors.

While she concluded her secondary education with exemplary academic performance, Cuevo had one more mission to fulfill before fully transitioning to college — to represent the Cordillera region in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), the highest annual journalism competition in basic education, held from April 13 to 17 in Ormoc City, Leyte.

She qualified for the national stage after emerging victorious at the regional level in Bangued, Abra in March 2026.

Bringing with her a portfolio of remarkable innovations that contributed to strengthening the writing and documentary practices of fellow student journalists — and initiatives that benefited communities in Rizal — Cuevo earned one of the competition’s most coveted recognitions: the Most Outstanding Campus Journalist award.

The recognition marks not only a personal milestone for Cuevo but also a historic first for the Schools Division of Kalinga, as it is the first time a student from the province has received the prestigious citation.

In an interview, her coach, Maynard Carbonel, recognized as the Most Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Kalinga Division, shared that it took months to compile Cuevo’s portfolio, which showcased her contributions as a young campus journalist. The rigorous process, however, paid off as she first earned the distinction at the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC), and later at the NSPC.

As her coach, Carbonel expressed pride in Cuevo’s historic achievement and hopes that her journey will inspire more young writers across the province.

“Through this, I hope we can inspire and encourage more learners or campus journalists to join campus journalism. And I hope we can produce more outstanding journalists in the province of Kalinga,” he said.