BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

The Ilocos Region will take center stage this May as the Department of Education (DepEd) brings three of its biggest flagship co-curricular events—the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), the National Festival of Talents (NFOT), and the Palarong Pambansa— to the home region of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Through Bagong Pilipinas, we will meet our greatest obligation to our youth, to mold them into critical thinkers, problem solvers, and brave visionaries for their country,” the President stated.

These programs highlight youth excellence in journalism, the creative industries, and athletics, aligned with the President’s vision of empowering the youth to lead, create, and inspire.

“These are platforms that empower our youth and help prepare them for a rapidly changing world,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said. “Bringing these national gatherings to Ilocandia reflects our belief in regional inclusivity and shows how communities like Ilocos are key partners in building a future-ready education system.”

NSPC and NFOT 2025

DepEd will hold the 2025 NSPC and NFOT in Ilocos Sur from May 19 to 23, 2025 with the theme “Empowering Filipino Youth: Unleashing Potentials in Journalism and Creative Industries in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).” 

The twin events aim to equip young campus journalists and talents with the knowledge and skills to excel in journalism and creative industries while adapting to innovations brought about by AI.

In NSPC, over 3,330 delegates, composed of student-journalists, coaches, judges, and officials will participate in various individual and group categories in English and Filipino. Events include news writing, editorial writing, sports writing, photojournalism, radio and TV broadcasting, and online publishing, among others.

For this year, there will be an exhibition event for Mobile Journalism. Concurrent sessions on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and AI in Journalism will also be conducted, to be facilitated by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and Western Philippine University’s Assistant Professor Vengie M. Ravelo. 

For NFOT, activities span from performing arts and culinary exhibitions to digital and industrial design, in alignment with DepEd’s K to 12 curriculum exits and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904).

Approximately 2,200 delegates of NFOT will take part in both individual and group competitions across diverse learning and talent domains, including Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), Music and Arts, Social Studies, Languages and Literacy, Religious and Cultural Education, Inclusive Education, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

NFOT will also introduce new and expanded contest categories, including tasks that involve using productivity tools and assembling various technical components, while teacher development sessions will be conducted during the week. 

Palarong Pambansa 2025

From May 24 to 31, 2025, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, together with DepEd Region I, and the Schools Division Office of Ilocos Norte, will serve as the host of the 65th Palarong Pambansa with the theme “Nagkakaisang Kapuluan.” 

The Palaro will feature 24 regular sports including athletics, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, taekwondo, and swimming. Additional events include demonstration sports such as weightlifting and futsal for girls, as well as an exhibition event in kickboxing. A special games category for athletes with disabilities will also be held, featuring para-athletics, para-swimming, bocce, and goalball.

Around 1,777 medals will be awarded across the regular sports, demo sports, and para-games. 

In a celebration of Filipino heritage, the games will also include Palaro ng Lahi—a showcase of traditional Filipino games to promote cultural preservation among the youth.

*All Photos from DepEd