TSH pioneers Saniata; gathers UPang-wide CJs

Igniting a new chapter in campus journalism, PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang)'s The Students’ Herald (TSH) marked Saniata: The First Flame’s debut, bringing together scribes from both the Dagupan and Urdaneta campuses at the CMA Banquet Hall on June 24-26, 2026.

Leading the three-day UPang-wide seminar, workshop, and press conference, TSH, along with Ang Dagitab, The Flaming Courier (TFC), The Senior High School Advocate, and The North Star, honed their journalistic skills and ignited their burning passion to amplify voices of the many.

Guiding the journalists were the following resource speakers: Ms. Angelika Aquino—Feature Writing; Mr. Mohamed Ardaniel Swandi, PhD—News and Sports Writing; former TSH Editor-in-Chief Mark Daniel Barcelona—Opinion/Editorial (Op/Ed) Writing and Photojournalism; and TSH Associate Editor for Online Bea Andrea Jimenez—Development Communication (DevComm) Writing.

Journos acquired knowledge and showcased their skills as they underwent a lecture and workshop per day: Op/Ed, News, and Feature Writing for day 1; Photojournalism, DevComm, and Sports Writing for day 2; and a mini press conference for day 3.

“We’ll find teamwork in chaos,” Mark Ezekiel Casipit, TFC editor-in-chief, expressed during the random picking of members for the tabloid-making the next day.

True to his words, Vox Rubra, The Golden Envoy, The Sceptre, and The Voyagers applied their new learnings and takeaways over the 2-day lectures and camaraderie over the 5-hour and 30-minute tabloid making.

The Sceptre triumphed and swept all awards—from best tabloid section pages to bagging the overall championship. Individual categories and highest individual performers were also recognized and given accolades.

Reiterating the main point of campus journalism, TSH Technical Adviser Jolina Gamboa instilled that journalism goes beyond awards, press conferences, and contests; true journalism is when you have the courage to pursue the truth, discipline to verify the past, humility to learn from mistakes, empathy to tell stories that matter, and integrity to choose what is right over what is easy.

Like the theme "Forged by Fire, United by Truth," journalists are expected not just to carry the flame but to ignite it further by practicing journalism ethics and striving to be more.