The 2025 Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) officially kicked off on February 7th, and on February 8th, saw the exciting culmination of the individual Elementary and Secondary level Sports Writing Contest at Toledo National Vocational School.  The event provided a unique blend of insightful lectures and hands-on experience, shaping the next generation of sports journalists.

Leading the charge was Mr. Emmanuel “Manny” Villaruel, a lecturer and judge who stressed the paramount importance of reader-centric writing. He emphasized the need for meticulous attention to detail, unwavering fairness, and accuracy—cornerstones of credible sports reporting.  Beyond the written word, Villaruel highlighted the crucial skill of insightful questioning as the foundation of strong reporting.

As soon as the lecture session ended, two of the 2025 CVIRAA qualifiers from Awihao National High School showcased their athletic prowess during the game viewing session. Kyrie Eleison Canillo from Team Loopers and Christ Rafael Lumantao, Team Spin Master, went all out in the Best of Five matches, inspiring our sports writers with their performance. Throughout the game, sports writers diligently took down notes, capturing key highlights and game-changing plays that defined the match.

After the intense showdown, writers were allowed to interview players and coaches as they tried to gain deeper insights into the athletes’ strategies mindsets, and overall experience. Through hands-on experience, they learned to refine their reporting skills practice formulating insightful questions, as emphasized in the lecture, and understand the importance of firsthand accounts in sports journalism.

The event brought together young sports writers from different public and private schools of Toledo City Division, joined by their dedicated coaches, who played an essential role in mentoring and preparing them for the competition.

This endeavor was made possible through the effort of the Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Irwin Lagura, EPS – English, Mrs. Jesyl C. Ruiz, and EPS – Filipino, Mrs. Jovelyn Quindao whose support and passion for DSPC continues to inspire excellence for the young writers, School Paper Advisers, and coaches.

This year, the Schools Division of Toledo City will recognize the top five sports writers on February 14 at North City Central School. Among them, only the Top 3 writers will advance to the next level of the competition at the Regional Schools Press Conference in Siquijor, scheduled for February 24 – 28, 2025.

🖊Glendon M. Quimada – TI, ANHS
📷 Rowel Reponte – MTII, TNVS