FOND OF drawing and sketching, Chester M. Alipio, an incoming fourth-year civil engineering student, applied as illustrator for Sirmata and took the qualifying examination last year. He was, however, not chosen for the post. Alipio did not lose heart. If at all, he became even more determined to hone his skills so he can eventually be part of what is acknowledged as the best student publication in the region.

And so on May 20-22, Alipio joined 49 other participants in the 1st Sirmata Student Journalism Workshop held at the University Training Center. The event, which aimed to further the skills of both current and prospective student journalists, had the theme, \"Campus Journalism: Cultivating Green Minds (Isang Pagtugon sa Daing ni Inang Kalikasan)\".

Celestina Calonge Paz, DWFB Radyo ng Bayan station manager, trained students on writing feature stories while Herdy L. Yumul, CAS instructor and Ilocos Times columnist, lent a hand on opinion-editorial writing. Sirmata adviser Brian Corpuz, who served as the paper’s editor in chief in 2003, facilitated the session on sports writing.

Other Sirmata alumni who also came to share their expertise were: Roberto Jose Domion Jr. on comic strip drawing, literary graphics, editorial cartooning, and photojournalism; Marian Reina Lorenzo on news writing; and April Rafales on literary writing.

Prof. Henedine Aguinaldo, director of student services, revealed that the workshop is a \"dream come true\" for Sirmata. She said that previous editorial boards had wanted to conduct the said activity, but it is only now that the workshop materialized.

Incumbent editor in chief Eloisa D. Felipe was pleased that though held during summer break, the workshop was well attended, and even attracted a good number of incoming freshmen.

Aguinaldo and Corpuz also bared plans of making the workshop a yearly event, and of naming it in honor of Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico, who initiated the founding of Sirmata in 1983. Pablico, a well-respected writer in a number of national and international publications, passed away last month at 70.