Development communication specialists, Joshua P. Mendoza and Carlo G. Dacumos, of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have been recently recognized for their excellence in journalism and photography.
Mendoza, science research specialist and Climate Tracker Asia reporter, won the Best Online Story award at the 17th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards for his report on the potential role of climate change in the migration of fall armyworm in the Philippines.
Published in November 2023, the story focused on the adverse effects of climate change on the fall armyworm infestations and the actions researchers are taking to combat this pest and ensure rice production is protected.
Growing up in Nueva Ecija, Mendoza experienced how weather conditions like storms, floods, and droughts negatively affected Filipino farmers, motivating him to write about these topics. Through his interviews with the researchers, he learned that climate change has altered the migration patterns of pests, making it a growing agricultural threat.
Mendoza shared that his winning story is for the Filipino farmers who are affected by climate change. Furthermore, he credited his involvement with the Emerging Journalists Network and Climate Tracker Asia for giving him the opportunity to amplify the struggles of farmers and raise awareness about agricultural challenges.
Meanwhile, Dacumos, creative arts specialist II, won the Grand Winner in the Drone Category at the PAGCOR Photography Contest and received the Circle of Excellence award in the SinagLarawan Photo Contest 2024.
Dacumos’ winning piece “Rice in Bar Graph” showed a stunning aerial view of rice fields, while his photo “Bamboo and Beyond: A River of Enterprise” featured bamboo raftsmen working in the river. It was their struggle and dedication that inspired him to capture their overlooked roles in our country.
At 54, Dacumos said his love for photography keeps him going to capture meaningful moments despite challenges.
Winning these awards was not just a personal achievement for him but also brought recognition to the photography club he founded at PhilRice, the Association of PhilRice Photographers.
