Loud laughter echoed off the walls of CASS E53 as old friends shared inside jokes, while a sense of excitement filled the room as a brand-new chapter for the student publication was officially unfolding.
This was the scene at the CASSayuran’s Onboarding and Townhall Meeting held on Friday, October 2. What was called an orientation turned into something much bigger. It showed what truly keeps a student publication alive—not just paper and ink, but passionate people who are ready to speak, listen, create, and own the stories they tell.
Bea Faye Eumague, the Associate Editor for the Writing Unit, welcomed everyone aboard. She described CASSayuran as a pioneer and a safe space where the voices and ideas of CASS students can truly be heard. She reminded everyone that behind every news article are real human experiences and real people.
Former Editor-in-Chief, Samuel Adrian Guerra, also shared his own story, remembering the time when he first stepped into a then-new era of being a journalist at CASSayuran. He pointed out that CASSayuran became the place where he truly grew.
“The members are the sole reason for the publication to function. Actively challenge yourselves to aim high,” Guerra said, before passing the leadership to the new Editor-in-Chief, Jocel Mae Latris, who also discussed her inspiring journey as a shy freshie all the way from Cotabato who wanted to join CASSayuran.
For Latris, however, taking the helm is not simply about carrying on a legacy. It is also about giving CASSayuran a stronger presence and becoming a publication that its community can rely on. She hopes to see the publication grow more visible, credible, and lively, while encouraging more students to discover their place within it.
Beyond the campus, she sees student journalism as a responsibility to remain attentive to the world around it. “I do believe student publication is not just serving the student nor the community in college but to care sa unsa ang nasa palibot in general,” Latris shared, emphasizing that change begins with how people understand and view journalism.
The event was not just about formalities. It also encouraged all members to build camaraderie and feel the warmth of a publication family. Everyone danced, sang, and posed during games, showcasing the connection that the townhall had already begun to build.
When the games ended, it was time to talk about how CASSayuran actually works. Good storytelling needs discipline, and the new leaders were ready to show the way.
Latris introduced CASSayuran’s system for tracking tasks to the new members, reminding everyone that freedom to write goes hand in hand with responsibility.
After her, Managing Editor Alira Faith Gonzales explained the rules outlined in the CASSayuran Constitution. The room grew quiet as she listed the important points, serving as a reminder that while a published article may look easy to read, the hard work behind the scenes takes real commitment.
That commitment is exactly what drives Fritz Arkley Alidon, the new News-Sports Department Head. He has loved journalism since he was a kid.
“Ever since I was young, I started expressing my truth on paper, and that's where News Writing met me,” Alidon shared. Coming into college, he did not want to lose that spark. He joined CASSayuran to keep growing.
“I want to become a flexible journalist, learning from my fellow members. I want not just to learn, but to live the experience and taste every inch of what CASSayuran has to offer.” he added.
After a fun "Best Dressed" contest that showed off everyone's style, Mr. Romel Sencio gave the final closing message. He brought the whole day together with one simple, powerful phrase:
“Let's bring the same passion and dedication to CASS—for CASS, and by CASS.”
With that, the event came to an end.
But in a newsroom, an ending is always just a new beginning. For the old editors, it was a beautiful goodbye. For the new leaders, it was the start of an exciting responsibility. And for the fresh recruits, it was an open door to find where their voices belong.
Soon, the chairs will be stacked, the lights in CASS E53 will turn off, and the day will become a memory. But the page ahead is still wide open. It is unwritten, unfinished, and waiting.
As CASSayuran starts this new term, its next chapter begins with a united community that is fully ready to write it.
Written by Meriam Capayas
Proofread by Fame Orong
Photos by Jocel Mae Latris, Sheizel Ann Gomez and Samuel Adrian Guerr
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