MANILA, Philippines – Rappler, in partnership with the Journalism for Nation Building Foundation (JNBF), has selected seven campus journalists for this year’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship program.

This batch marks the sixth cycle of the fellowship program, which was first launched in 2021 to support aspiring and early-career journalists. 

Named after the late investigative journalist Aries Rufo, the fellowship continues to build on his legacy of rigorous reporting on the judiciary, politics, the church, and elections. The program is designed to train emerging journalists in public interest reporting, with emphasis on governance, accountability, and information integrity. 

Before their selection, short-listed fellowship candidates were assigned research assignments as part of their screening practicum. 

The 2026 Aries Rufo Journalism Fellows

Out of over 95 applicants, the seven campus journalists selected for this year’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship showed potential for in-depth reporting and commitment to addressing critical issues in their respective communities. 

They also come from different regions across the Philippines and will be mentored by Rappler’s veteran journalists and editors, alongside intensive training on reporting corruption and accountability at the local level.

The fellows are as follows:

CALABARZON

• Lance Ariel Bustos – Sta. Rosa, Laguna
  • Intermedia Editor of The LaSallian, De La Salle University Manila
• Axel John Cainglet – Bacoor, Cavite
  • News editor of The Manila Collegian, University of the Philippines Manila

CENTRAL LUZON

• Ahyenne Neleah Estacio – Angeles City, Pampanga
  • Incoming senior editor of The Angelite, Holy Angel University
• Mark David Silencio – Malolos, Bulacan
  • Managing Editor for Administration of Pacesetter, Bulacan State University

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR)

• Eunicito Barreno – Caloocan City
  • News staffer of the Philippine Collegian, University of the Philippines Diliman

EASTERN VISAYAS

• Jennifer Jezreel Kaye Pading – Baybay City, Leyte
  • News editor of Amaranth, Visayas State University

MIMAROPA

• Vic Albert Bagaan – Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
  • Development Communication Editor of Pioneer Publication, Palawan State University

Selected fellows will undergo a hybrid training program combining online and onsite sessions at the Rappler newsroom in Pasig City.

Aside from participating in the training sessions, fellows are also expected to produce weekly community stories or multimedia outputs that highlight issues in their local areas.

As a final requirement, fellows will produce a long-form story, either investigative or in-depth, focused on accountability and the use — or misuse — of public resources in their communities. 

The four-month fellowship will run until November 2026.

Since the program’s launch in 2021, it has trained 21 Filipino community journalists and 17 Filipino campus journalists. Rappler has also trained 10 Southeast Asian journalists through the #FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship. – Rappler.com