09/07/2025
| A LEGACY PENNED IN INK
In a span of only one school year, what began as a modest collective of young journalists evolved into a rising vanguard of truth-seeking and principled storytelling. The Innovator Jr., Far Eastern University Dilimanโs official publication, has charted a bold path from its humble beginnings to becoming one of the most recognized contenders in campus journalism.
The journey commenced at the Association of Private Schools Administrators, Inc. (APSA) First Writing Contest held on October 18. Competing among 22 schools across Quezon City, FEU Diliman was heralded as the 4th Top Performing School overall and the 3rd Top Performing School in the Filipino category. A total of 16 students across junior and senior high school received distinctions for their prowess in various individual events. This triumph marked the universityโs first-ever journalism trophiesโsetting into motion a legacy not merely of accolades, but of purpose-driven reporting and peerless commitment to craft.
The momentum surged forward in November during the District VI Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC), where FEU Diliman made an indelible impression. Across both English and Filipino categories, the campus journalists collectively garnered 20 individual medals. These were complemented by commendable feats in the Collaborative Desktop Publishing (CDP) contests. In the Filipino category, the publication secured first runner-up, alongside multiple awards in news, opinion, feature, sports layout, and visual design. The English CDP team also achieved 2nd runner-up for its opinion page. Through both written word and visual composition, these results spoke volumes about the publicationโs depth, range, and disciplined preparation.
Following this, the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) became another historic milestone. FEU Diliman ranked 6th overall among 52 participating schools and placed 4th in the English category, with 12 students securing awards across various genres. Notably, The Innovator Jr. earned 4th place in Feature Page, 7th in News Page, 8th in both Editorial and Sci-Tech Pages, and 10th in Sports Page. Aghimuan, its Filipino counterpart, earned 4th place in Best School Publication, with distinctions such as 1st in News Page, 2nd in Sports Page, and 9th in Best Layout. Notably, the Filipino CDP team secured 4th place, once again proving the power of collective output in visual journalism.
With the turning of the year came another milestone. At the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC), The Innovator Jr. once again defied the odds. Among schools across the National Capital Region, it secured 9th place in the Editorial SectionโEnglish Secondary Category. A team that only months prior had not existed on any official roster was now making its mark across regional platforms, staking its claim in the larger narrative of campus journalism. And in a landmark triumph for the school, two student journalists from FEU Diliman had also qualified for the Regional Schools Press Conference, affirming the institutionโs emergence not just as a contender at the regional level, but as a force in the Philippine campus press.
Yet, beyond the victories and medals, the true achievement lies in the culture The Innovator Jr. has cultivatedโa culture of precision, of discernment, of writing not merely for accolades but for impact. The members did not merely train to compete; they trained to question, to verify, to narrate with integrity. What glues this collective together is not just talent, but the understanding that every headline must serve clarity and every article must echo truth.
But achievements cannot be measured by medals, trophies, and certificates alone. The Innovator Jr. spent the school year not only competing, but covering. The publication thrived in its role as an anchor of student voice as it successfully covered pivotal events such as SigTalkas, Sportsfest, Foundation Week, and more, ensuring that institutional memory is not only preserved but documented with substance and clarity. Each article serves as a mirror, reflecting the pulse of the campus while upholding its motto: Our voices shall unite through ink and insight.
The school year 2024 to 2025 is not just a record of awards. It is a chronicle of endurance and ambition, of student journalists stepping into the responsibilities of public discourse. From the first byline to the latest headline, The Innovator Jr. has not only highlighted milestonesโit has created them.
And as the ink dries on this transformative year, one thing is clear: the story of The Innovator Jr. is only just beginning. The names may change, the staff may turn over, but the standard has been setโunyielding, unflinching, and unmistakably bold.
The pen remains in steady hands. History, it seems, has found new authors.
Written by Jamie Anne Manejero
Publication Material by HR Dionisio
