Pins were fastened and vests laid on the shoulders of 177 student-communicators from Cebu Normal University (CNU) as they prepared to begin their actual field training.
The Department of Communication and Media Studies (DCMS) held its third send-off ceremony at the Capitol Social Hall, conducted in two batches, to honor students from its various programs.
More than a rite of passage, the pinning marked a turning point: from theory to practice, from campus corridors to communities, newsrooms, studios, agencies, and schools.
During the morning ceremony, 95 students were recognized: 37 from Journalism, 26 from Film and Media, and 32 from Media and Information Literacy Education (MILE). In the afternoon, 82 more students from Integrated Marketing Communication and Press Relations (IMCPR) and Broadcast Journalism (BJ) took the stage, welcomed by proud families, mentors, and peers.
For many of the interns, the moment carried both excitement and uncertainty. Ahead lies the fast-paced and often unpredictable world of media where deadlines loom, narratives shape perception, and responsibility weighs heavily.
CNU President Dr. Laurence Garcia called on the student interns to rise above the noise of today’s media landscape and become communicators guided by truth, integrity, and service.
In a pre-recorded message, Garcia reminded them that they are entering “a world where attention is cheap but truth is costly,” describing a society saturated with content yet lacking genuine understanding.
Despite the challenges, he urged them to be bold and brave.
“The challenge before you is not merely to become skilled media practitioners. The challenge is to become communicators with conscience, focused on what truly matters, using your voices not for vanity but for service, and not for influence alone but for impact,” he said.
He emphasized that the nation needs more than content creators, “it needs storytellers who restore hope, journalists who defend the truth, and media practitioners who amplify marginalized voices, challenge oppressive systems, and affirm shared humanity.”
Addressing the interns’ uncertainties, Garcia underscored the value of humble beginnings, noting that success is not defined by perfection at the start but by the courage to persevere despite setbacks.
As they step into newsrooms, production studios, agencies, and communities, he encouraged them to carry the “fire of bidlisiw,” to pursue truth boldly, to uphold integrity, to listen with compassion, and to measure success not by recognition but by lives touched and change created.
“You are not just interns completing academic requirements. You are future builders of narratives, defenders of truth, and voices of generations navigating uncertain times,” he said.
Moreover, Dr. Joseph Elvir Tubilan, DCMS faculty member and former Vice President for Research, Planning, Innovation, Communication, and Extension, grounded the celebration with a reminder of the profession’s ethical foundation.
“Be professional. Practice accuracy and truth at all times. Be neutral,” he said, underscoring that skill without integrity weakens the very purpose of communication.
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