By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Congratulations to Ray Angelo Jagna-an and Pierre Jhun San Pedro of The Central Echo for being recognized as outstanding campus journalists at the Philippine Information Agency’s 48th IWAG Awards.
Two staff members from The Central Echo, the official student publication of Central Philippine University, have been named as awardees in the Philippine Information Agency’s (PIA) 48th IWAG Awards. Editor-in-Chief Ray Angelo Jagna-an and Features Editor Pierre Jhun San Pedro were officially recognized through PIA Western Visayas’ social media announcement on May 19, 2025.
Through its official Facebook page, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Western Visayas announced the 13 exceptional graduating college campus journalists who have demonstrated unwavering dedication to campus journalism, academic excellence, and meaningful community engagement.
“Super proud of us and everything we’ve gone through—every late night, layout panic, article burnout, and all the laughs in between. What started with nervous hopes turned into something so much bigger than we imagined,” San Pedro wrote on his Facebook post.
These young leaders are celebrated as shining examples of what it means to be true advocates of journalism and development communication (DevCom), using their voices and platforms to inform, inspire, and influence change.
Jagna-an, in a social media post, shared that this marks his second time receiving such an award. “In college, I finally found my home in The Central Echo—something I still can’t fully believe, even now. It was a childhood dream I quietly held onto, and now, with just a few months left, I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that I’ve lived it—that I made it here. Balancing journalism and nursing was never easy, but both taught me that storytelling, like caring, is a form of service. for four years, I’ve been with CE—the publication has shaped me in more ways than one. it introduced me to people I’ll always be grateful for.”
Since its establishment in 1977, the IWAG Award has honored campus paper writers across Region VI who have distinguished themselves in the fields of journalism, academics, and civic involvement. The program reflects PIA’s enduring commitment to nurturing communicators who champion national development through credible storytelling and active community participation.