20/05/2026
๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ: Two Days of Stories, Truth, and Inspiration at ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ฏ๐
For two meaningful days, January 13โ14, young journalists gathered at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Manila for the Inkblots Fellowship for Young Journalists, an event that celebrated storytelling, truth-seeking, and the evolving role of journalism in society. ๐๏ธโจ Members of the ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐' ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ (๐ฌ๐๐ฆ), took part in the fellowship, eager to learn from some of the countryโs most respected media practitioners. Representing the organization were ๐ฅ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ, ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ, ๐๐ถ๐บ ๐๐น๐น๐๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ข๐น๐ผ๐๐ฎ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ค๐๐ถรฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐. ๐ค๐ผ
Day one opened with keynote speaker ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ, who set the tone for the fellowship by emphasizing the importance of responsible, ethical, and people-centered journalism. ๐๏ธโค๏ธ Her talk was followed by discussions from ๐ฆ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ ๐ผ๐ง๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐ค๐จ, ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ก ๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง ๐พ๐ช๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค, each offering valuable insights into the realities of the profession, the power of stories, and the responsibility carried by journalists today. ๐ง ๐๏ธ
A highlight of the first day was the unexpected appearance of ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐, whose presence surprised and energized the audience. ๐๐ค Beyond the excitement, the guest speaker shared reflections that resonated with the young journalists, reminding them that influence, creativity, and truth can coexist in media. ๐โจ
The second day of the fellowship sustained the momentum with another lineup of speakers, including John Nery, Mark Anthony Reyes, Felipe Salvosa, Basilio Sepe, and Niceford Balbedina III. ๐๐ป During his talk, Nery underscored the importance of student journalism in holding institutions accountable, stating that "๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐g ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐." ๐ฅ๐ฐ His message highlighted the responsibility of young journalists to remain vigilant, critical, and committed to truth even within academic spaces.
The discussions throughout the day explored the challenges journalists face in a rapidly changing information landscape, encouraging participants to sharpen their critical thinking and uphold journalistic integrity. ๐โ๏ธ
Learning extended beyond the lecture halls as participants engaged in a breakout session after the talks, providing a space for open discussion, reflection, and shared insights. ๐ฃ๏ธ๐ญ The activity allowed young journalists to process what they had learned and connect the speakersโ lessons with their own experiences and aspirations.
The Inkblots Fellowship proved to be more than just a series of talks; it was a gathering of stories, voices, and a shared purpose. ๐๐ค Over the course of two days, participants left UST Manila inspired, informed, and more committed to pursuing journalism with ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ, ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต. โ๏ธ๐๐ฅ
Words by Akilah Bartolome
Layout by Rhealen Mae Cordero
