By Lana Laurel

FEU Advocate representatives placed second in three categories at the Organization of Student Services Educators, Inc. (OSSEI) National Conference in Campus Journalism and 20th Writing Competition held at the Baguio Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City last September 25 to 27. 

The OSSEI September 2025 FEU Advocate representatives were Publicity and Promotions Coordinator and Probationary News Writer Julliane Nicole Labinghisa, Head Layout Artist Officer-in-Charge Phoemella Jane Balderrama, and Junior Photojournalist Melvin James Urubio. 

Labinghisa achieved second place with her investigative report titled ‘Failed flood control projects of Manila flood streets and educational compromises,’ which did a comprehensive dive into the ongoing flood control corruption case in the Philippines, explaining its major negative effects on the education systems within universities in Manila.  

Additionally, Balderrama earned the same placement in her editorial piece titled ‘Sino ba talaga ang Geng Geng?’ that asks its audience to distinguish who acts like the typical ‘Geng geng’ more, the citizens or the Philippine government.

Alongside their achievements, FEU Advocate placed second overall in the Most Multi-Platform Engagements Online Publications Division.  

This year’s categories included Editorial Writing, Investigative Report, Feature Story Writing, Sports Report, Science and Technology Report, Best Published Editorial Cartoon, and Best Published News Photograph. 

The student publication previously won First Prize for Most Multi-Platform Engagements in September 2024 and First Prize in Editorial Writing for Jasmien Ivy Sanchez’s ‘Balota, Balita, o Balato?’ in March 2025. 

OSSEI is an annual conference that invites campus publications to participate in a series of lectures and workshops led by various media practitioners. 

(Photo by Enrico Cabalfin/The Paulinian)