CLIMB Campus Journalists Represent Youth at Senatorial Press Conference in Batangas City

Two student journalists from CLIMB, the official student publication of Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas, represented the voice of the youth during the press conference of senatorial candidates under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas held on May 3, 2025, at the Batangas City Convention Center. Editor-in-Chief Yishin Dane Gutierrez seized the opportunity to pose a question directly to the candidates, highlighting the urgent concerns of the youth sector, particularly on the accessibility and sustainability of scholarship programs in the country. In response, the senatorial candidates—including Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr., Erwin Teshiba Tulfo, Francis Nepomuceno Tolentino, Benjamin "Benhur" de Castro Abalos Jr. and Vicente "Tito" Castelo Sotto III—affirmed their commitment not only to strengthen national scholarship programs but also to support local scholarship initiatives that aim to benefit more Filipino students across the country. Meanwhile, Lead Photojournalist Djannah Valdez captured key moments of the press conference to document this milestone for both the publication and the institution. The presence of CLIMB in such a high-level political dialogue reflects the growing involvement of student journalists in shaping conversations that matter to the Filipino youth. The same press conference was also attended by various local and national media teams. Other issues—such as transportation, traffic congestion, environmental problems, political dynasties, and the healthcare system —were also raised and discussed.