■ Karen Ann Macalalad
Collegian Kultura writer and incoming senior Statistics student Sanny Boy Afable is the next editor-in-chief of UP Diliman’s official student publication for the academic year 2017 to 2018.
Afable bested three other contenders in the Collegian editorial examinations last April 29, scoring a total of 78.8 points against Jayson Edward San Juan, Andrea Joyce Lucas, John Daniel Boone, and Sheila Ann Abarra. Afable topped all the categories which included editorial writing, news writing, and layout.
Law student San Juan lost to Afable by 7.6 points, after placing last in the layout category. Meanwhile, English Studies student Lucas came in third with a score of 69.6, only 1.6 points lower that San Juan’s aggregate score.
Journalism student Boone placed fourth after getting 65 points, while Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Filipino student Abarra placed fifth with 64.2 points. Law student Jose Angelo Manuel who is also a qualified contender did not push through with the examinations.
The editorial writing component comprises the bulk of the aggregate score of the examination with 70 percent, followed by news writing and layout with 20 and 10 percent, respectively. Examinees were assigned this year to write an editorial about the topic “Reforming the Philippine Collegian.”
In his editorial titled “Bagong Paglalayag,” Afable recognized the challenges the publication is facing which include the decreasing number of student members. “Gumagaod ang Philippine Collegian sa kahingian ng panahon, kaya kailangan din nito ng mga bago at mas matibay na makinarya sa pagsuong nito sa mga bagong alon,” he wrote.
Afable also cited the rise of fake news in social media which translates to a bigger responsibility for the publication to raise the discourse. “Nananatili pa ring hamon sa Collegian ang pagtagpuin ang iba’t ibang ideolohiya sa pamantasan, at higit na maging lunsaran ng mas makabuluhang mga diskurso,” he added.
In an interview, Afable said the Collegian will stay true to its brand of critical and fearless journalism in its 95th year. “Now more than ever, it is Kulê’s duty to draw the line between truth and lies at a time when their distinction is obscured,” he said.
College of Mass Communication (CMC) Dean Elena Pernia chaired this year’s Board of Judges which consists of the following: assistant professor Ryan Oliva of the College of Law and Marichu Lambino of CMC serving as faculty judges, and Journalism major Mark Kevin Reginio and Film major Patricia Ann Pamintuan as student judges.
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