KEEPING BEAM STEADY | Viaticus rallies digital-centered journalism for truth
Quick Summary
- Morning talks followed by afternoon hands-on workshops to translate theory into practice.
- Four speakers led topic-specific sessions and workshops, ensuring continuity between lecture and practice.
- Focused on strengthening digital, news, sports, and conflict-sensitive literary journalism skills for participants.
Viaticus held a one-day seminar-workshop, “Anchored in Truth: Direction Rooted in Light,” on Wednesday at SHL 413, LPU Davao. Four resource speakers led talks in the morning and workshops in the afternoon on digital news publishing, news writing, sports writing, and literary and conflict-sensitive journalism. The program ran from 8 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.
DAVAO CITY — To sharpen skills in digital news publishing, news writing, sports writing, and literary and conflict-sensitive journalism, Viaticus held a seminar-workshop, “Anchored in Truth: Direction Rooted in Light,” on Wednesday at SHL 413, LPU Davao.
The program ran from 8 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. and covered four topics: digital news publishing, news writing, sports writing, and literary and conflict-sensitive journalism. Each topic was taught as a 45-minute talk in the morning and a one-hour workshop in the afternoon.
Registration opened at 8 a.m., followed by the opening prayer and the Philippine National Anthem at 8:30 a.m. Jamie Louise U. Cayabyab delivered the opening remarks at 8:40 a.m. Butch Orpeza, Viaticus editor in chief, then introduced the resource speakers at 8:50 a.m.
Lord Vincent Van Mendoza opened the talks at 9 a.m. with a session on digital news publishing. Salvador Aquino followed at 9:45 a.m. on news writing, and Justine Jones Notarte spoke at 10:30 a.m. on capturing action through sports writing. Cayabyab closed the morning at 11:15 a.m. with a talk on literary and conflict-sensitive journalism.
“This is the first time Viaticus has organized a workshop of this kind, making it a significant milestone for our publication,” said Butch Orpeza, Viaticus editor in chief. “What makes this initiative even more meaningful is the opportunity to learn not just from one, but from four distinguished speakers, each bringing an impressive background and proven experience in their respective fields.”
Orpeza said the event was “more than just a workshop,” calling it a chance “to broaden our perspectives, strengthen our journalistic skills, and gain valuable insights” that campus journalists can carry into their work. Beyond developing their craft, he said, the experience also lets them “grow as leaders, become more confident in our responsibilities, and better understand the impact and purpose of journalism.”
Orpeza added that he hopes the workshop becomes a stepping stone toward a more knowledgeable, competent, and empowered generation of student journalists within Viaticus.
Participants broke for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Afternoon registration opened at 12:45 p.m.
Closing remarks followed at 5 p.m., and the program concluded with a group photo at 5:05 p.m. The event ended at 5:10 p.m.
Viaticus is the official college student publication of LPU-Davao.
Program at a Glance
| Time | Event | Person in charge |
|---|---|---|
| 8-8:30 a.m. | Registration | Secretariat |
| 8:30-8:40 a.m. | Opening Prayer and Philippine National Anthem (AVP) | — |
| 8:40-8:50 a.m. | Opening Remarks | Jamie Louise U. Cayabyab |
| 8:50-9 a.m. | Introduction of Resource Speakers | Butch Orpeza, Viaticus editor in chief |
| Morning Talks | ||
| 9-9:45 a.m. | Talk 1: Digital News Publishing | Lord Vincent Van Mendoza |
| 9:45-10:30 a.m. | Talk 2: News Writing | Salvador Aquino |
| 10:30-11:15 a.m. | Talk 3: Capturing Action through Sports Writing | Justine Jones Notarte |
| 11:15 a.m.-noon | Talk 4: Literary and Conflict-Sensitive Journalism | Jamie Louise U. Cayabyab |
| Lunch Break | ||
| noon-1 p.m. | Lunch Break (afternoon registration opened at 12:45 p.m.) | Secretariat |
| Afternoon Workshops | ||
| 1-2 p.m. | Workshop 1: Digital News Publishing | Lord Vincent Van Mendoza |
| 2-3 p.m. | Workshop 2: News Writing | Salvador Aquino |
| 3-4 p.m. | Workshop 3: Capturing Action through Sports Writing | Justine Jones Notarte |
| 4-5 p.m. | Workshop 4: Literary and Conflict-Sensitive Journalism | Jamie Louise U. Cayabyab |
| Closing | ||
| 5-5:05 p.m. | Closing Remarks | — |
| 5:05-5:10 p.m. | Photo Ops | All |
FAQ
What was the theme of the seminar-workshop?
The event was themed “Anchored in Truth: Direction Rooted in Light.” Viaticus held it Wednesday, Nov. 11, at SHL 413, LPU Davao.
Who were the resource speakers, and what did each cover?
Lord Vincent Van Mendoza handled digital news publishing, and Salvador Aquino handled news writing. Justine Jones Notarte covered sports writing, and Jamie Louise U. Cayabyab covered literary and conflict-sensitive journalism. Each speaker led both a talk and a workshop on their topic.
How was the program structured?
The morning had four 45-minute talks from 9 a.m. to noon. After lunch, four one-hour workshops ran from 1 to 5 p.m. in the same order as the talks.
Who opened the program and introduced the speakers?
Registration ran from 8 to 8:30 a.m., followed by the opening prayer and the Philippine National Anthem. Cayabyab gave the opening remarks at 8:40 a.m., and Butch Orpeza, Viaticus editor in chief, introduced the resource speakers at 8:50 a.m.
When did afternoon registration open?
It opened at 12:45 p.m., during the noon to 1 p.m. lunch break and 15 minutes before the first workshop began.
How did the program end?
Closing remarks followed the last workshop at 5 p.m., and a group photo was taken at 5:05 p.m. The program ended at 5:10 p.m.
Vince is a digital marketing specialist, event host, and content creator based in Davao City, Philippines. Known for blending creativity, communication, and strategy, he helps brands and organizations strengthen their digital presence through compelling content and smart marketing practices. He specializes in SEO, content creation, social media management, pay-per-click advertising, and email marketing—turning ideas into content that builds visibility and helps businesses grow online. Outside of work, he loves to watch Netflix on weekends.