USeP’s MALit Student from Sarangani earned top recognition for his Agriculture Feature Story under Regional Category at the 16th Bright Leaf Agricultural Journalism Awards held in Fairmont Hotel, Makati City on November 13, 2023. 

Genory Vanz Alfasain, a graduate student of the MALit program, reigned over 500 promising entries along with other 11 awardees with his award-winning feature story entitled “Rey John Basco’s Journey to Empower Coffee Farmers”.

Alfasain’s composition highlighted Basco’s trailblazing journey as a young coffee farmer from Region XII who sought to become an independent coffee producer upon realizing that trading with other companies was not a sustainable market practice.

By translating the revolutionizing venture of Basco and his family, Alfasain accentuated the daily efforts of farmers with their evolving methods and advancing strategies in the coffee industry of Sultan Kudarat towards ensuring a quality and profitable farm produce.

Alfasain’s steadfast advocacy and initiative in supporting local farmers through volunteer works, offering digital media and PR services for the coffee industry and other agricultural sectors in SOCCSKSARGEN, faithfully affirmed his highest placement in the competition. 

In an exclusive Zoom interview, Alfasain seemed to be filled with astonishment: “It was an unexpected recognition because I simply take pleasure in doing voluntary causes. Being recognized for the things that I love doing and also having an award-giving body acknowledging journalists and writers in agricultural industries is a major breakthrough”.

The Bright Leaf Awards is an annual recognition program that celebrates excellence in agriculture journalism in the Philippines. It aims to honor outstanding journalistic work in print, radio, television, and online mediums that highlight and promote the agriculture sector’s achievements, challenges, and innovations.

Article by: Jay – Ar Samonte Marquez & Mary Rose Apit Lano, MA-Lit students