Sinag Printing Press: 2nd Sinag Journalism Training Seminar a big success!

February 12 was indeed one of the most awaited days for the future journalists of Calamba City as this was the date for the 1st leg of the 2nd Sinag Journalism Training Seminar. The said seminar was held at the the Lina Lajara Chipeco Auditorium in Central 2 Scchool, Calamba and was crowded with 114 students from 25 different elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, in Calamba City, Laguna.

The Sinag JTS are free journalism seminars that the Sinag Printing Press started in 2008 as part of its company's social responsibility program. The first Sinag JTS was a big event with more than a thousand participants who came from public and private schools in Calamba.

As with the 1st Sinag JTS, the Dep-Ed Calamba Division, headed by Dr. Myrna Pamplona, was the co-sponsor for the free seminars. The big difference in the Sinag JTS re-launch for 2011 is that both Sinag and the Dep Ed agreed to limit the number of participants so as to preserve the quality of the seminars and writing workshops for the students. Nevertheless, even though the number of participants were limited, the number of schools invited, both public and private, were not limited by the sponsors.

The Sinag JTS was a whole day event with lectures in the morning and writing workshops in the afternoon. The topics for the 1st leg of the seminar were Editorial and Opinion Writing and the invited experts for these topics were Mr. Renato C. Asa and Ms. Ilang-Ilang Quijano, both writers of Pinoy Weekly and alumni of UP Diliman and UP Manila respectively. The speakers creatively shared writing techniques and their experiences in the world of Journalism.

Also launched in the February 12 Sinag JTS was the first ever seminar on Yearbook production by Sinag owner, Raia Dela Pena-Landicho. Entitled "On Yearbook production from start to finish," the free seminar was given to school teachers and administrators who accompanied their students to the event. Over 30 teachers/school administrators came and most of the participants agreed that it was a very helpful seminar on the process of yearbook production and management.

"This year we thought of adding our own free seminars for teachers and school owners based on our expertise and that is yearbook production. The seminar was based on a booklet I had written for clients who are new to yearbook production. We believe that this would be a great help for schools since not all teachers or school administrators are familiar with the process of its production," said Dela Pena-Landicho

Encouraged by the success of the first seminar for teachers launched by Sinag, they will launch another seminar on the 2nd leg of the Sinag JTS this coming February 26, the next seminar will be "Tips on making creative sales and marketing print collaterals for your school" also to be given by Ms. Dela Pena-Landicho.

A feedback questionnaire was given out to the participants during the Sinag JTS and the results of that assessment form were all overwhelmingly positive. Many participants hoped that more free seminars will be given by Sinag in the years to come.

"It was important for us to get an assessment on the seminar we had re-launched, so we made sure to give out a feedback questionnaire to the participants during the event, I'm glad to say that all of the response from the participants were heart-warming and positive. They all expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the event. The result of the assessment from the February 12 seminars was a really good sign for us. It meant that our recipients really believe in what we do," said Sinag's head coordinator Shara Jane Falceso.

Most of the participating schools in the Sinag JTS are expected to come again and participate on the second leg of the Sinag Journalism Training Seminar to be held this coming February 26, 2011 (Saturday) at the LLC Central 2 School, Calamba City. Topics this time would be on News and Features Writing and Editorial Cartooning.

The Sinag Publishing and Printing Services wants to inform everyone that the second leg of the Sinag Journalism Training Seminar is still open to all elementary and secondary school in Laguna who would want to be trained in the field of journalism.

“Again, we’d like everybody to know that these seminars are absolutely FREE. No registration fees will be collected from the participants. Just make sure to bring your own food and writing materials,” added Sinag owner Ruel Landicho.

Special thanks is given to the following schools who participated on the Sinag Journalism Training Seminar last February 12, 2011:

1. Bunggo Elementary School
2. Calamba Bayside National High School
3. Calamba Elementary School
4. Calamba National High School
5. E. Barretto Sr. Elementary School
6. Jose Rizal Memorial School
7. J. Platon Elementary School
8. Laguerta Elementary School
9. Lawa National High School
10. Mayapa Elementary School
11. Palo Alto Elementary School
12. Palo Alto National High School
13. Post Elementary School
14. Sampiruhan Elementary School
15. Tiyani Elementary School
16. Tulo Elementary School
17. Grand Rose Montessori Center
18. Canlubang Christian School
19. Liceo de Calamba
20. Integrated Montessori Center
21. ICCS-Calamba
22. Sta. Cecilia Catholic School Foundation, Inc.
23. Laguna College of Business and Arts
24. Asian Computer College-Main
25. Asian Computer College-Annex

Below are pictures from the 2nd Sinag Journalism Training Seminar, Feb. 12, 2011