GoodNewsPilipinas.com has achieved a significant milestone by securing its third successive nomination as a finalist in the prestigious Lasallian Scholarum Awards. The recognition celebrates the platform’s consistent excellence in delivering impactful media narratives on youth and education. This year, an article penned by Summer Sanares, focusing on De La Salle University, was distinguished among the top 10 for its outstanding storytelling.
The awarding ceremony set for March 20, 2024, at the De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila campus, will showcase this year’s contenders for the prestigious awards, including Sanares’ “Meet Lasallian Angela Okol: How the Winner of Miss Manila Tourism Rose Above Online Hate and Shed Light on Her Advocacies,” a feature story she wrote as a student intern for Good News Pilipinas.
Sanares’ article featured an interview with Angela Okol, a fellow student in the political science program at DLSU. The story revealed how Okol overcame cyberbullying, broke stereotypes, and journeyed as a champion for sustainability and social justice.
“The most memorable thing for me as I worked on the article was that Angela Okol — someone who had achieved so much at her young age — was someone whom I could relate to. We were both students of DLSU’s political science program and I’ve always admired her from afar during our classes together,” Sanares said, revealing how she valued the story among the many articles she published on Good News Pilipinas.
“Narrating her story made me realize that, if my classmate could make such a big difference to her community, then why couldn’t I, too? I also leapt for joy when she shared to me that her family was touched by the article! More than anything, I’m so happy I was able to share to the world what she had worked so hard for,” adds the recent Summa Cum Laude graduate of DLSU.
Summer Sanares has since transitioned from being a student intern to a regular contributor at Good News Pilipinas. Her nomination in the 2024 Scholarum Awards underscores the platform’s previous victory and back-to-back finalist recognition in categories celebrating online features on youth and education.
READ the Good News Pilipinas 2022 LSA Winner: Lasallian heroes against Martial Law honored on International Day of Peace
“I feel like the recognition was La Salle’s parting gift to me since I graduated from the university and received the news that GNP was nominated all in the same week! I owe both to the mentorship of my superiors in GNP,” said Sanares in an interview following the release of the list of finalists for the LSA.
“I believe that fate truly all tied this together since the ‘Lasallian Heroes for Peace‘ article, which gave GNP its first Scholarum win, was the piece that drove me to apply for Good News Pilipinas in the first place. I was drawn to that article and the “Two generations meet online 50 years after martial law declaration in Philippines” because of their political tone. That’s why my first article was on the Commission of Human Rights webinar.
READ the Good News Pilipinas 2023 LSA finalist: These 4 Filipino Students Overcame Odds to Graduate from Top Universities
Summer Sanares is charting her career path with further studies. In the meantime, she continues to advocate for Good News Pilipinas, which recently received the Gold Anvil Award for Best Publication. “It’s important to continue sharing positive Filipino stories because these articles act as springboards that move us to action. When I interview people for my articles, I always feel inspired and fulfilled. There is so much power in a person’s story, and I’m so grateful that I get an opportunity to share it.”
READ Summer Sanares’ intern essay: Right at Home: My Experience as a Virtual Intern for Good News Pilipinas
The list of this year’s LSA finalists spans a wide range of critical topics, including, investigative pieces on the educational system’s challenges, explorations of mental health care in schools, and innovative stories on the use of AI in educational settings while also highlighting positive stories on youth and education.
Here is the Full List of the 2024 LSA Finalists showcasing their insightful explorations into pressing educational and youth-related themes.
Good News Pilipinas competes in the LSA Top 10 finalists for Outstanding Feature Story on De La Salle University:
- DLSU research links poor studies to bullying, youth alienation
Jane Bautista
INQUIRER.net - DLSU’s robotic medical aid gets Singapore patent
Jane Bautista
INQUIRER.net - DLSU’s wearable robot for stroke rehab gets international patent
Janvic Mateo
The Philippine Star - Filipino invention that could give robots human-like feeling wins robotics award in UK
Rhia Grana
ABS-CBN News - Get to Know DLSU PUSA, Where Campus Cats Found a Home at La Salle
Pia Regalado
Spot.ph - Iggy Escano hopes to have left lasting legacy in DLSU
Zachi Cruz
Tiebreaker Times - La Salle engineers develop AI-aided tech to help manage traffic
Krixia Subingsubing
INQUIRER.net - La Salle teenager highlights rise from rookie year with championship, MVP trophies
Lance Agcaoili
INQUIRER.net - Meet Lasallian Angela Okol: How the Winner of Miss Manila Tourism Rose Above Online Hate and Shed Light on Her Advocacies
Summer Sanares
Good News Pilipinas - PH online news media at ‘moderate level of disinformation risk’: study
Arra Perez
ABS-CBN News
Video recap of the finalists here:
https://twitter.com/AngieQBalibay/status/1762736853784903910
Merit-Based Awards
The merit-based awards program tapped an independent media-monitoring agency to scour youth and education stories from major print, broadcast, and online news organizations in the country.
This meticulous selection process, overseen by a committee of award-winning DLSU faculty and field experts, underscores the dedication to honor journalistic integrity and impact. The external Board of Judges includes recent MMFF winner, director Pepe Diokno; Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino Commissioner Dr. Arthur Casanova, Academe Foundation Executive Director Sachie Nadal Reyes, and DLSU faculty member Br. Richie Yap FSC.
The 19th edition of the LSA awards ceremony is set for March 20, 2024, at DLSU Manila. Themed “Youth Beat,” the merit-based award aims to amplify the voices of the youth, celebrating their identity, vitality, and perspectives. The awards will recognize both professional and student journalists across five categories, including a special segment for campus journalism.
The winners will be awarded a unique sculpture by renowned artist Toym De Leon Imao, symbolizing their contribution to journalism.
Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement by sharing Good News Pilipinas’ story and supporting our mission to highlight the positive impact of Filipinos around the world. Engage with our content, share it with your network, and help us amplify the voices that inspire change and pride in our community. Together, we can continue to showcase the strength and spirit of the Philippines.
Be part of our vibrant Good News Pilipinas community, celebrating the best of the Philippines and our global Filipino heroes. As winners of the Gold Anvil Award and the Lasallian Scholarum Award, we invite you to engage with us and share your inspiring stories. For stories Making Every Filipino Proud, reach out to GoodNewsPilipinas.com via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. LinkTree here. Let’s spread good news together!
