11/03/2026
๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐
๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ
Plane. Bag. Notebook. Dreams.
Christian P. Jaud, Managing Editor of The Signal Publication, stepped onto the tarmac in the early hours, boarding a plane that would carry him not just across the skies, but toward a destiny he hadnโt planned. At first, he didnโt aspire to be National Secretary of the National Campus Journalistsโ Coalition (NCJC) 2026. He only wanted to represent the Visayas region. Nothing grand. Nothing national. Just a voice.
Fate, however, had other plans.
As the plane climbed above the clouds, Jaud reflected on his journey. The countless hours in the office. The workshops for elementary and high school students. The belief that awareness is the first step toward progress. He thought of the students who had listened to him, learned from him, and begun to see the world through a sharper lens. That beliefโthe conviction that knowledge empowersโwould guide him in Manila.
At the 4th Campus Journalism Convention 2026, held March 6โ8 at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, the stakes were clear. Hundreds of student journalists. One of the many national position. A platform to influence, inspire, and lead. By the time the votes were counted, Jaud had been officially elected National Secretary of NCJC 2026 under Transforming Advocates and Champions (TRAC) Philippines. His peers recognized what fate had already whispered: he deserved more.
โIt is a must to make everyone aware, because I firmly believe that awareness is our very first step to success and progress,โ Jaud said, his words carrying the weight of purpose he had long championed.
Jaudโs vision has always extended beyond headlines. From managing The Signal Publication to mentoring aspiring journalists in workshops, he teaches students to write, analyze, and question. He blends governance and advocacy as Governor of the College of Engineering and Architecture Student Council (CEASC) of ISAT U, showing that leadership is not just a titleโit is a responsibility to guide, empower, and inspire.
As the plane touched down in Manila, it was more than a landingโit was the start of a journey that would leave a mark. Like the contrail stretching behind a jet in the dawn sky, Jaudโs leadership promises to leave a lasting impact, a visible path for others to follow, reminding student journalists across the Philippines that courage, vision, and awareness can elevate not just one person, but an entire generation.
He came home with yet another duty, his quill drawn like a sword so voices could be heard. He took flight, soaring through uncharted skies.
___
via Jiero M. Fernandez
photos | Charles Joser Gargaritano
