Roster: Rappler journalism fellowships alumni

Rappler, in partnership with the Journalism for Nation Building Foundation (JNBF), spearheads Rappler Journalism Programs through the #FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship for Southeast Asian newsrooms and the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship for Filipino community and campus journalists.

These fellowship programs aim to equip participants with the tools needed to tell impactful stories and combat disinformation, both locally and internationally.

The Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship provides opportunities for campus journalists to mentored by veteran journalists, and for community-based journalists to further hone their craft. The #FactsMatter fellowship, meanwhile, gives Southeast Asian journalists the opportunity to better understand digital media, their impact on conversations about critical issues, how these could be manipulated, and how this manipulation can be prevented. 

All fellows are exposed to various tools that help fight disinformation and get the chance to write fact-check articles that debunk lies being spread in their respective communities.

Since their launch in 2021, the Rappler Journalism Fellowships have trained a growing network of journalists committed to impactful storytelling. Rappler’s alumni fellows include campus journalists, community reporters, and media practitioners from across the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Meet the fellows

Here’s a listrundown of the journalists who successfully completed the program:

September 2024 – January 2025

Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship

COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS

• Rjay Castor – Daily Guardian (Iloilo City)
• Max Limpag – Freelancer (Cebu)

CAMPUS JOURNALISTS

• Angelee Kaye Abelinde – The Bicol Universitarian (Naga City)
• Reinnard Balonzo – CEGP – Bicol (Legazpi City)
• Cris Fernan Bayaga – Lanog Publication (Cebu City)
• Efren Cyril Bocar – Amaranth (Llorente, Eastern Samar)
• Lyndee Buenagua – UPB Outcrop / Highland 360 (Baguio City)
• Lara Sophia Ranas – The Nationalian Clarion (Guagua, Pampanga)

#FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship

• Sulaiman Bin Daud – Mothership (Singapore)
• Artika Farmita – Cek Fakta Tempo (Indonesia)
• Chan Thul Prak – Kiripost (Cambodia)

November 2023 – March 2024

Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship

COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS

• Wenilyn Sabalo – SunStar Cebu (Cebu City)
• Ivy Marie Mangadlao – Mindanews (Butuan City)

CAMPUS JOURNALISTS

• Lance Arevada – Matanglawin Ateneo (Binangonan, Rizal)
• Jed Nykolle Harme – Eamigas Publication (Kalibo, Aklan)
• Jerry Yubal – Amaranth (La Paz, Leyte)

#FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship

• Chanapat Komlongharn – The Nation (Thailand)
• Jonathan James Meadley – Laotian Times (Laos) 
• Fiona Tan – Mothership (Singapore)

February 2023 – May 2023

Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship

COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS

• Lucelle Bonzo – Davao Today (Davao del Sur)
• Ferdinand Zuasola – Freelancer (Davao Oriental)
• Cong Corrales – Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Cagayan de Oro)
• John Sitchon – Rappler (Cebu)
• Francis Allan Angelo – Daily Guardian (Iloilo)
• Mari-An Santos – Freelancer (Manila)

#FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship

• Nang Yoon Eain – Mizzima Media Group (Myanmar)

August 2021 – May 2022

Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship

COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS

• Grace Albasin – (Bukidnon)
• Maria Frencie Carreon – ​​(Zamboanga City)
• Froilan Gallardo – (Cagayan de Oro City)
• Joann Manabat – (Pampanga)
• Antonio Manaytay – (Zamboanga Sibugay)
• Ahikam Pasion – DWCM Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan (Pangasinan)
• Rommel Rebollido – (South Cotabato)
• Sherwin De Vera – Northern Dispatch (Baguio)
• Joseph Bernard Marzan – Daily Guardian (Iloilo City)
• Brynch Bonachita – Aninaw Productions (Cebu)
• John Michael Mugas – Philippine Daily Inquirer (Ilocos Norte)

August 2021 – April 2022

#FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship

• Wongpun Amarinthewa – The101.world (Thailand)
• Tonggo Simangunsong – Freelancer (Indonesia)
• Trang Hong Vu – Freelancer (Vietnam)

Alumni Spotlight

Alumni fellows also shared their experiences during the program. Here are some of them:

• [OPINION] From campus reporting to community impact: My Rappler journalism fellowship story
• [OPINION] The Aries Rufo Fellowship made me feel like a real journalist
• [OPINION] Making the important interesting: My Rappler journalism fellowship experience
• [OPINION] To honor Aries Rufo
• [OPINION] What it means to have a voice through my community’s stories

If you are interested to support and help more journalists in their work through trainings like these, send an email to fellowships@rappler.com.

– Rappler.com