Inquirer, AboitizPower Name Next Batch of Journalism Scholars

MANILA, Philippines — Three junior students from the University of the Philippines (UP) have been selected as the newest recipients of the Philippine Daily Inquirer-AboitizPower journalism scholarship. UP Diliman’s Sharmaine Reyes and Rafael Quilling and UP Cebu’s Jia Christy Enad were chosen out of more than 150 applicants from across the country. The scholars are entitled to receive P50,000 financial support per semester for their two remaining years in university, for a total of P200,000 each. After graduation, they will be offered employment opportunities at the Inquirer. Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, president and CEO of the Inquirer Group of Companies, said investing in future media practitioners is a responsibility of the industry itself. “There may be uncertainty [in the media], but that’s why we believe in people more than anything … I think what today again confirms or connects us is our faith in people,” Prieto-Romualdez said during the contract signing with the scholars at the Inquirer office in Makati City on Sept. 1. Suiee Suarez, AboitizPower VP for corporate affairs, said supporting the next generation of journalists will help in making Filipinos better understand complex issues, such as those in the energy sector. Such knowledge, he added, is crucial for nation-building. “We need trained communicators who can bridge the gap between technical jargon and public understanding,” said Suarez. “Once we truly understand an industry as complex as energy, we’d be able to make informed and meaningful decisions that will help us chart our future and progress.” For the first time in the history of the Inquirer scholarship, an applicant from outside the National Capital Region (NCR) has been selected. Enad, who hails from Carcar, Cebu, said growing up far from major media hubs meant seeing narratives from her community go untold. Through the scholarship, she hopes to bring those stories to a wider audience. “I hope that more students like me, especially those from far-flung areas, would be encouraged to pursue journalism and see it as more than just something we do for competitions.” The grant will also give scholars more room to focus on their studies. Quilling, for one, has taken on freelance work to help his parents meet their household needs while pursuing his undergraduate degree. “Those hardships won’t be a hindrance to reaching my dreams,” he said in Filipino. “This scholarship will help me survive UP.” For Reyes, the grant is her way of giving back to those who have supported her through the years. “I’m really happy to have this opportunity … My mom is a single mom, so this scholarship would help ease the financial burden of studying.” Launched in 1993, the program has supported the education of nearly 100 students from some of the country’s top schools and universities, including UP, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas and University of the East. Over the years, the program’s scholars have gone on to make their mark in various fields such as the media, law, public relations and academe. Among its notable recipients are journalist Lourd De Veyra, climate and environment journalist Jhesset Enano, Inquirer Malacañang reporter Dexter Cabalza and Inquirer Day Desk chief Dewey Joseph Yap. AboitizPower partnered with the Inquirer in 2024 to expand the program’s benefits for its scholars. “It’s amazing to see that you are aware of the pressures and challenges you carry while helping your family through theirs,” Prieto-Romualdez told the scholars. “Now, you have a bigger family that you can count on.” “Because of the Inquirer Foundation and AboitizPower, I have once again been reminded that perhaps there is room for young people like me who want to write, to tell stories, and to believe that this work matters,” Enad said. /cb