Ilocos Sur Rises as Talent Capital of the Philippines: Youth Brilliance Unleashed at NSPC and NFOT 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Beneath the timeless charm of Spanish-era architecture and the echo of horse-drawn kalesas, history is not just being preserved in Ilocos Sur—it is being made.

This week, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Vigan City is not merely a postcard-perfect destination. It has transformed into the pulsating heart of the Philippines’ youth creativity as it hosts the 2025 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) and National Festival of Talents (NFOT)—a dual convergence of intellect, artistry, and innovation drawing over 5,500 young visionaries from every corner of the archipelago.

With the official opening of the conferences, Ilocos Sur proudly takes on the mantle as the "Talent Capital of the Philippines." The week-long celebration is a testament to the resilience, promise, and boundless potential of Filipino youth, especially in a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of media and creative industries.

Empowering Voices in the AI Era

Carrying the powerful theme “Empowering Filipino Youth: Unleashing Potentials in Journalism and Creative Industries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” NSPC and NFOT 2025 challenge the next generation not just to compete—but to lead.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara set the tone at the opening rites, declaring that the nation must leave no student behind. “Gusto po ni Pangulong Marcos ay walang naiiwan sa ating sistema ng edukasyon,” Angara said. “Kaya’t pino-promote po natin itong events at competitions para mahasa nang husto ang ating mga kabataan.”

More than just contests, these platforms are shaping futures.

3,300 campus journalists from various regions are locked in friendly but fierce competition in editorial writing, photojournalism, collaborative publishing, and broadcast categories. Meanwhile, 2,200 student creatives are illuminating the stage in TLE exhibitions, performing arts, innovation challenges, and more.

Jessica Soho’s Challenge to the Youth

The gravitas of the event was further elevated by keynote speaker Jessica Soho, one of the country’s most respected broadcast journalists. With candor and conviction, she urged participants to wield their pens, cameras, and microphones not just with skill—but with responsibility.

“I-focus niyo rin ang inyong energy at mga camera sa mga isyu at problema sa komunidad o lipunan na kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin,” Soho emphasized. “Lalo na kung ang nakasalalay ay kaligtasan at kapakanan ng marami.”

In an age flooded with misinformation, her call to “tell true and necessary stories” resonated like a call to arms for truth-seeking warriors.

NSPC: Where Journalism Meets AI

While most NSPC competitions took place on May 20, today’s final rounds include TV Scriptwriting and Radio Broadcasting.

But beyond the competition, innovation takes center stage. A special Mobile Journalism Exhibition on May 22 will explore how technology redefines storytelling. Meanwhile, crucial discussions on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and AI in Journalism—led by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and Assistant Professor Vengie M. Ravelo of Western Philippines University—will empower students to ethically and effectively navigate the evolving media landscape.

NFOT: Building Future-Ready Filipino Innovators

Simultaneously, the NFOT highlights the prowess of young minds in Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), with performances and demonstrations that echo not just creativity, but future readiness.

DepEd Secretary Angara emphasized the role of such platforms in preparing students for the future:

“The NFOT is about shaping a workforce ready for the future. DepEd will continue to push for the integration of future-ready skills like AI, coding, and digital innovation into the basic education curriculum.”

Indeed, the festival is a laboratory of innovation, a stage for the nation’s young coders, engineers, artists, and culture-bearers to shine—and shape the country’s destiny.

Eyes on the Prize, Hearts on the Mission

Region XI (Davao Region) holds the current title in NSPC, having dethroned the nine-year reign of CALABARZON. Meanwhile, Region IV-A (CALABARZON) reigned supreme in last year’s NFOT. As this year's competitions heat up, the question remains: who will rise as the new champions?

All eyes now turn to the NFOT awarding ceremony on May 22 (Thursday), followed by the NSPC awarding and closing program on May 23 (Friday)—where glory, recognition, and dreams will converge.

Ilocos Sur: A Cradle of Culture and Creativity

For one radiant week, Vigan is more than a heritage site—it is a sanctuary where tradition meets transformation, where past and future converge.

By bringing together the brightest youth in journalism and the creative arts, DepEd and its partners are not just celebrating talent. They are fueling a movement. A movement where the Filipino youth, empowered by technology and guided by truth, claim their place as the torchbearers of a new era.

In Ilocos Sur, that movement is alive—and the nation is watching.

Article by Wilma Quintans Del Rosario, founder of Wazzup Pilipinas – The Pambansang Blog ng Pilipinas

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