CAGAYAN de Oro City — Three student journalists from Maltana National High School in Tampakan, South Cotabato earned spots in the 2026 Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) after placing in the top ranks of their respective categories at the Division Schools Press Conference on Sept. 6–8.
Heart Shane Palec qualified in copyreading and headline writing after placing fourth, while Joyce Amosco finished fourth in photojournalism. Queen Claudio also secured a regional slot with a fifth-place finish in editorial cartooning.
The three will represent their school at the regional competition, where they will compete against top student journalists from across the region.
Other Maltana NHS students also placed in the division contest. Andrea Michelle Balbuena ranked sixth in sports writing, while Kierstein Mae Nabarte finished seventh in feature writing.
The school’s official student publication placed third overall in the school publication contest.
It ranked second in the news page, third in the sports page, fourth in layout, fifth in the science and technology page, and sixth in the editorial page.
School advisers Juvelyn Giducos and May Gabito Barrios trained the student journalists, with support from principal Jane Bañaga, faculty members, and parents.
The results give Maltana NHS three representatives for the regional press conference while placing its student publication among the division’s top school papers.
