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

16,000 New Teachers to Reinforce Philippine Classrooms: PBBM and DBM Greenlight Massive Hiring Push

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a sweeping move poised to redefine the landscape of public education in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) is set to welcome 16,000 new teachers to the frontlines of learning. This bold initiative, approved by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), comes as part of a national drive to decongest jam-packed classrooms and relieve the overburdened teaching force.

The dramatic expansion is rooted in the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which authorized a total of 20,000 new teaching positions. In anticipation of the upcoming school year, DepEd urgently sought and received approval to fast-track the release of 80 percent of these posts—16,000 positions—to address persistent teacher shortages across all regions.

A Presidential Priority

President Marcos’ direct order to prioritize educators and learners was a clear catalyst for the rapid mobilization. Education Secretary Sonny Angara, newly appointed and already making impactful strides, praised the swift action and support from both the President and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

“We thank President Marcos for his firm instruction to prioritize our teachers and learners,” said Angara. “These new teaching items directly respond to his call to reduce class sizes and lighten the workload of our educators on the ground.”

The President’s directive is not just an administrative decision—it’s a statement of national intent. For far too long, public school classrooms have overflowed with students, while teachers have juggled both instructional and clerical duties, sometimes handling as many as 60 to 70 students per class. This strategic hiring spree aims to turn the tide.

A Race Against Time: Fast-Tracking Recruitment

With the clock ticking toward the start of the school year, DepEd has placed its Schools Division Offices (SDOs) on high alert. As soon as the Notices of Organization, Staffing, and Compensation Action (NOSCA) are transmitted by DBM regional offices, local divisions are ordered to immediately publish vacancies and begin hiring.

This is not the start of the effort. In fact, some divisions began recruitment activities as early as October 2024, reflecting the department's foresight in preparing for this hiring wave. The applicant evaluation process has been ongoing since January 2025, with the Registry of Qualified Applicants (RQA) already brimming with potential hires.

The targeted positions are not just generic teaching roles—they're strategically allocated to critical need areas: kindergarten, elementary education, and subject-specific roles in junior and senior high school, where shortages are often most acute.

Quality Learning Starts with the Right Teachers

Beyond merely filling classrooms, the initiative aims to reshape learning dynamics. By reducing the student-teacher ratio, the government hopes to restore focus, attention, and quality to classroom instruction. Smaller classes allow for more individualized teaching, better student engagement, and improved learning outcomes.

The ripple effect is powerful: more teachers mean more time for lesson planning, more personalized feedback, and less burnout. It’s a vision of a revitalized teaching workforce—energized, supported, and equipped to elevate the nation’s learners.

Administrative Support to Lighten the Load

Complementing the influx of educators, the DBM has also begun releasing 10,000 Administrative Officer II (AOII) items. These non-teaching positions are instrumental in freeing up teachers from paperwork and operational duties, ensuring they can focus solely on instruction.

For years, Filipino teachers have worn many hats—from educators and counselors to record keepers and event coordinators. This shift signals a new era where teaching is once again the primary and sacred duty of the educator.

A Call to Action: Swift and Fair Recruitment

Secretary Angara has issued a call to all regional and division offices to expedite the hiring process while maintaining fairness and transparency. The goal is clear: complete deployment before the end of the third quarter.

Applicants included in the new Registry of Qualified Applicants for SY 2025–2026 are encouraged to coordinate with their respective SDOs for guidance, updates, and timetables.

A Turning Point for Philippine Education

This is more than a hiring campaign—it’s a historic investment in the nation's future. It is an emphatic declaration that teachers matter, that students deserve better, and that the Philippine government is ready to put action behind its promises.

As schools across the country prepare to open their doors, 16,000 new educators will step into classrooms not just to teach, but to transform lives. With chalk in hand and purpose in heart, they represent a new hope for Philippine education—one where quality, dignity, and progress are finally within reach.

Toxic Gratitude: Zero Waste Group Urges Newly Elected Leaders to Rethink ‘Thank You’ Tarpaulins

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a mountain of discarded plastic lies an inconvenient truth: our democracy, while vibrant, leaves behind a trail of waste that chokes not only our landfills but also our hopes for a sustainable future.

At the heart of this environmental crisis is an all-too-familiar sight—colorful tarpaulins bearing smiling faces and promises of change, now rotting in heaps and dumps, their purpose served, their consequences lingering. Yet just as these relics of campaign season are being gathered and hauled away, a new wave is rising—this time, in the form of “thank you” tarpaulins.

But a loud and urgent plea rises above the din.

The EcoWaste Coalition, a staunch advocate for a zero waste and toxics-free society, is calling on all winners of the recent May 12 midterm elections: Don’t say “thank you” with plastic. Say it with impact. Say it with purpose. Say it without polluting the planet.

A Toxic Aftermath of Democracy

Following a recent Commission on Elections (COMELEC) inspection at Payatas, Quezon City, piles of election waste await their final fate. According to COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, 64.5 tons of election-related trash were collected from Metro Manila alone—most of it plastic tarpaulins that are neither biodegradable nor safely recyclable.

Worse, these tarpaulins are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC)—a plastic laced with toxic additives such as cadmium and phthalates, which pose health risks and resist decomposition for decades, if not centuries.

This grim scenario, says EcoWaste Zero Waste campaigner Cris Luague, could become even more disturbing as a new wave of “thank you” tarps begins appearing on utility poles, public walls, and even trees, just weeks before newly elected officials assume office on June 30.

Stop the Plastic Praise

“The post-election campaign clean-up has yet to be completed, and we’re already seeing more tarps thanking voters,” Luague lamented. “We must not celebrate victory by polluting the very communities we vow to serve.”

The EcoWaste Coalition's message is clear: ditch the plastic gratitude.

Rather than contributing further to the toxic load already plaguing urban centers, newly elected leaders are urged to explore sustainable, creative, and meaningful alternatives.

12 Ways to Say “Thank You” Without Trashing the Planet

To spark a shift in culture and consciousness, the group offers 12 alternatives to the wasteful “thank you” tarpaulin:

E-greetings via social media, websites, and video messages.

Tree-planting drives to offset campaign-related carbon footprints.

Community clean-ups, especially in clogged urban waterways.

Feeding sanitation workers, the unsung heroes of post-election cleanups.

Joining Brigada Eskwela to repair and clean schools (June 9–13).

Distributing school supplies to underprivileged students.

Donating waste bins to public spaces for proper segregation.

Sponsoring art murals using non-toxic, lead-safe paints.

Providing free health services in underserved areas.

Supporting community pantries and feeding efforts.

Improving local public services—from transport to healthcare.

Championing justice-based projects addressing poverty, health, climate, and gender issues.

Each of these actions not only expresses gratitude but also uplifts communities in tangible and lasting ways.

Gratitude with Responsibility

“Campaign waste must no longer be treated as a necessary evil of democracy,” the group emphasized. “It is a challenge that demands foresight, creativity, and above all, accountability.”

The group also underscored the urgency of adopting environmentally acceptable materials as defined in Republic Act No. 9003 and COMELEC Resolution No. 11111, which encourage the use of reusable, biodegradable, non-toxic, and recyclable materials.

In a world teetering on the edge of climate catastrophe, even a small shift—from PVC tarpaulins to tree seedlings or school kits—can resonate powerfully. It’s not merely about reducing waste. It’s about reframing the very essence of leadership: to serve, not just constituents, but the Earth they stand on.

A Call to Action

The Wazzup Pilipinas founder joins EcoWaste in urging all poll winners to rise above the plastic politics of the past and usher in a new era of eco-conscious governance.

The real “thank you” the people deserve isn’t printed in vinyl—it’s etched in action. It's time to turn gratitude into green deeds. Let our first promise to the electorate be one of stewardship, sustainability, and respect—not only for votes cast, but for the planet we share.