GMA Integrated News, 'Firefly' bag Lasallian Scholarum awards on youth, education

Outstanding online feature story on youth and education
"The Cost of Miseducation"
Giselle Ombay
GMA News Online

Outstanding video feature story on youth and education
"Silid-aklatan sa Lansangan"
Zay Arguelles, Lilian Tiburcio, and Jenica Villanueva
DigiDokyu, GMA Integrated News

Outstanding feature film on youth and education
"Firefly"
Zig Dulay, Nessa S. Valdellon, and Angeli Atienza
GMA Pictures, GMA Public Affairs

The Board of Judges for this year's awards is composed of Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) commissioner Arthur Casanova, National Youth Commission executive director Leah Villalon, university fellow Clodualdo del Mundo Jr, Bato Balani Foundation Inc. managing director Natalie Christine Jorge, and DLSU faculty member Richie Yap.

For the Outstanding Film Feature category, the film screeners are Dr. Shirley Lua, film critic and associate professor of literature at DLSU; Dr. Frances Sangil, film critic and assistant professor of literature at DLSU; filmmaker and writer Ida del Mundo; and Liza Diño-Seguerra, executive director of the Quezon City Film Commission.

All the top honorees received trophy sculptures designed and crafted by renowned artist Toym de Leon Imao.

In-depth, impactful

GMA News Online's three-part series won the Outstanding Online Feature Story on Youth and Education "for its clear depiction of the pervasive issues surrounding [the country's] educational system." The series was reported by Ombay and produced by Val Veneracion.

"We delved into the Year One report of the EDCOM II. So du'n, mas hinimay namin kung ano 'yung mga naging problema sa education in the past few years. It's a bit uncomfortable pero nabigyan namin ng hustisya kung ano talaga ang tunay na estado ng education system sa bansa natin," Ombay said.

(We delved into the Year One report of the EDCOM II. In our report, we looked into the problems facing the education system over the past few years. It's a bit uncomfortable but we were able to give justice to the task of shedding light on the state of the country's education system.)

Meanwhile, DigiDokyu's entry won "for its heartfelt and honest narrative of one man’s genuine concern to educate the youth."

Arguelles, executive producer of "Silid-aklatan sa Lansangan," said the award was a validation of the work being done at GMA Integrated News' DigiLab.

"GMA has always been a home for in-depth and impactful documentaries, and we are proud to be carrying that tradition into the digital space. We are grateful to be afforded the opportunity and platform to innovate and experiment for digital-first executions and storytelling," she said.

Firefly

A first in this year's awards was the introduction of the new category on film, which was won by the acclaimed Kapuso movie "Firefly", starring Euwenn Mikaell, Alessandra De Rossi, Dingdong Dantes, Miguel Tanfelix, Ysabel Ortega, Epy Quizon, and Yayo Aguila.

GMA Public Affairs Senior Assistant Vice President Angeli Atienza said the team behind "Firefly" is honored and proud to be the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Feature Film on Youth and Education award.

"Maraming salamat (Thank you) Lasallian Scholarum Awards for this recognition and for this inspiration to keep on making more movies that will hopefully resonate with our viewers," Atienza said in an interview.

Hayag

The theme for this year's awards is "Hayag," which highlights media practitioners' role in upholding truth for the pursuit of justice, peace, and the development of a sustainable society.

According to the competition website, the Lasallian Scholarum Awards is "De La Salle University's flagship program that recognizes outstanding media coverage of Filipino youth and education issues by the national media and campus press."

"The LSA honors the zeal and dedication of the country's journalists in their pursuit of truth. Amid the rise of social media and AI and in the fight vs. fake news, De La Salle University dedicates the LSA to them, in our shared mission to deliver stories that bring hope and spark change in our society," the website said.

An exhibit of the Lasallian Scholarum Awards in the past 20 years is on display at the DLSU Libraries throughout the month of March.

Click here to learn more about the La Sallian Scholarum Awards. — Giselle Ombay/ VDV, GMA Integrated News