VOICES ON PAPER

When the students of Bayanihan Elementary school arrived on Monday morning, a banner that read “Press Freedom Week” was flapping over the school gate

- By Zaida Marie A. Tambis

“Oh, it is the week of Press Freedom! Isn’t this the event that our teachers always said was very special not just for journalists, but for everyone who wanted to share their voice?” Rina clapped her hands in excitement.

It all began a few years back when a group of curious Grade 4 students showed love in writing stories. They scribbled poems on their pad paper or at the back of their notebooks, shared news about the school garden or the newly-opened reading nook then, and even made funny comics about classroom life.

One afternoon, Teacher Liza saw them and gathered them. She said, “Why not put all your writings together in a school zine? You can tell stories not just for fun, but to inspire others too.” That was how the Zine Writers Club was born.