TWO JOURNALISM alumni were recognized in an agricultural journalism awards ceremony last March 22.
Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas, who graduated in 2016, and Louise Maureen Simeon, who graduated in 2015, won second and third best agriculture beat reporters in the 2016 Philippine Agriculture Journalists – San Miguel Corp. Binhi Awards.
Arcalas, a former Varsitarian writer, said journalists need to show Filipinos the importance of agriculture through their writing.
“Bilang mamamahayag kailangan mailahad at maipaliwanag sa mambabasa kung ano bang tunay na estado ng ating agrikultura,” Arcalas said.
“`Yung kahirapang dinadanas ng magsasaka upang makapag-ani ng palay, `yung mga usaping pangkalakalan ng ating bansa tulad na lamang ngayon, sunod-sunod ang balita ukol sa mga milyon o bilyong mga agricultural deal ng bansa,” he added.
The Binhi Awards is open to print and online journalists, Categories include best agriculture news story, best agriculture feature story, best environment story and climate story of the year.