Atom Araullo's documentary 'Batch 2020' bags Lasallian Scholarum Award

"The Atom Araullo Specials: Batch 2020" has won the award for Outstanding "Video Feature Story on Youth and Education at the 16th Lasallian Scholarum Awards held virtually on March 26, 2021.

The GMA documentary tells four stories on the struggles of Filipinos in the education sector as they try to meet its demands amid the new normal.

It touches not only on how COVID-19 hampered the reopening of classes in the Philippines, but also the students and educators who refuse to let the pandemic stop them from reaching for a brighter future.

Atom's "Batch 2020" was among nine features from GMA that were considered for this year's "Outstanding Video Feature Story on Youth and Education" category.

The 10 finalists include:

• "RTx: Magkakapatid, naghihiraman sa isang cellphone makapag-aral lang sa online class!" (GMA News and Public Affairs)
• "Better Normal PH: Project WIFI: Ayudang free WIFI para sa estudyanteng Pilipino" (GMA News)
• Better Normal PH: Edukasyon sa "New Normal" (GMA News)
• “Better Normal PH: Bayanihan para sa online class shed” (GMA News)
• "Better Normal PH: National Teacher's month hindi ramdam ng mga guro ngayong new normal" (GMA News)
• "Better Normal PH: Paano hihikayatin ang mga kabataang magbasa ngayong quarantine?" (GMA News)
• "Better Normal PH: Project WIFI: Ayudang free WIFI para sa estudyanteng Pilipino" (GMA News)
• "I Juander: Ano ang lagay ng pag-aaral ni Juan ngayong pandemya" (GMA News TV)
• "Bakit mahirap para sa mahihirap ang back to school ngayong new normal?" (NXT, ABS CBN News)

Meanwhile, GMA News Online's online feature "Here's how schools can move forward amid COVID-19 threat, experts says" by Kaela Malig was among the finalists for Outstanding Online Feature story on Youth and Education.

De La Salle University held the Lasallian Scholarum Awards in recognition of outstanding coverage of Filipino youth and education stories.

This year’s theme, “Adapt-Ed: Youth and Education in the Time of Pandemic,” looks for stories that are pressing, innovative, and inspirational, on print, online, and television media, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stories that came out from January to October 2020 were taken into consideration. —JCB, GMA News